Page 110 of Somewhere We Belong

“It was so fucking stupid,” she mumbled.

“I think you guys need to rest,” Colt said, studying me. “Atlas looks dead on his feet and you should rest before we go pick up Sol, ok?”

We nodded as Colt took our hands and led us to the bedroom. After showering and changing, I climbed into bed behind Nova who was watching TV. Colt had left to go check on Theo and while I wanted to go with him, once I got into bed with Nova, I fell right to sleep.

One day passed and the tension in the house was becoming too much. Colt tried speaking to Theo and he said he needed time. He was quiet and reserved when he had dinner with us, only giving smiles to Sol. I was tired of waiting around and tomorrow we would be going on a hike with Sol and her class. We needed to solve this because I hated the tension, and I needed us to be ok.

He always showered when he came home so I was waiting in the bathroom for him. I waited for about forty-five minutes before I heard our bedroom door open, and I put away my phone.

Theo walked in, and as he was taking off his shirt, it momentarily turned me into putty at the sight of his gorgeous body. He headed to the shower, and turned it on, still oblivious to me sitting at the vanity that Nova used while she was here.

He spun around, and froze when he saw me. His expression went from angry to nervous to sad. We stared at each other, hoping that the other person would talk first, but that wasn’t the case.

“Theo,” I whispered, as my lip trembled. “Please talk to me.”

“You should go,” he said, his voice hoarse.

I wished I could tell him I wasn’t going, but a part of me still wanted to do this, but at what cost? It wasn’t just us anymore. I had a little girl and an amazing woman to think about too.

“I’m not sure,” I said truthfully. “It’s something I have always wanted to do.”

“I know, I remember when you were talking about residency you always talked about doing medical research,” he said. “I always hoped we would be enough.”

“Theo you?—”

“No, Atlas, you are a fucking brilliant person and you’re wasting your talent here with me.” He ran his hand through his hair, and pulled at the ends, something he only did when he was really stressed. “You could change the world except you’re here in this small town, only because I came here. I have no right to ask you to stay or Nova and Colt.”

“What are you saying?” My heart pounded.

“I’m saying that you three should go to San Francisco,” he said solemnly. “I don’t do well in bigger cities, the noise and the traffic and… I like my quiet life here.”

“Wait, what are you saying?” I snapped, panic clawing at me.

“I’m saying you should go and take them with you,” he said with more conviction. “Nova and Colt aren’t meant for this small town and I know they would do well there too.”

“Theo, that’s not what’s going to happen,” I said, regretting applying for that position. “We are not going to do that.”

“You should,” he said, unbuckling his pants. “It’s the best thing for them too.”

“No, if I take this position then I’m doing it alone,” I clipped. “I’m not going to uproot everyone for me, and I don’t think you should be giving up on everyone for me too.”

“Atlas,” Theo said, cupping my cheek.

My tears blurred my vision, and I blinked rapidly to shed them so I could see him. I needed Theo just like I needed Colt, Nova and Sol.

“I shouldn’t have applied,” I sobbed, as he pulled me towards him.

“Atlas, you were destined for greatness, not being some small-town doctor,” he said, as I laid my head on his chest, holding him tightly.

“Being a doctor is enough, this was always a stupid dream, and my life means nothing without you guys,” I cried, feeling like I had made the biggest mistake.

“Atlas, you're young, you have your entire life ahead of you and you became a doctor so young, you can’t waste away here. I know you are supposed to change the world,” he said, kissing my temple.

“No, I can’t leave,” I said more confidently. “This was all a stupid mistake.”

“I think we need to talk to everyone,” Theo suggested.

“No, we don’t, I’m not going,” I said, pulling away. “Anyways, we have Sol’s hiking trip tomorrow, and I don’t want to ruin that for her. It’s going to be a beautiful day, and we are going to have fun.”

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