Page 52 of Somewhere We Belong

We took our pastries to a grassy area and sat down to enjoy the croissants and our drinks. We polished off two croissants each, listening to the woman band on the stage that was doing covers. They played great songs until one of Sol’s favorite songs came on.

“Boots Stop Working” played and we joined the few who were line-dancing to this song. Sol and I sang along as we danced, being goofy. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift came on and we continued to dance. Sol’s version of dancing was jumping up and down, occasionally shaking her hips. I laughed while taking a video of her, enjoying seeing her like this. She giggled as she sang, looking carefree, just how I wanted her to be. If there was one thing I did with my life, it was to make sure she enjoyed life to the fullest and try to ease the loss of not having a dad.

“Too Much” by the Spice Girls played and Sol squealed. I had transferred my love of Spice Girls onto her and I couldn’t be more proud. It was a slower rendition, so I picked her up and we slow-danced.

We sang the first verse together when someone tapped me on my shoulder. My smile faded when I saw Atlas with Colt and Theodore on the side of the dance floor.

“You mind if I cut in, Sol?” Atlas asked, holding his hand out to me.

“She’s all yours!” Sol pushed herself off of me, running into Theo’s arms.

“Can they take her to play games?” he asked. “They won’t be too far.”

I nodded, too stunned to say anything. He waved to the guys as Sol squealed, waving to me. Atlas slid his hand around my waist bringing me closer to slow dance. My hand rested on his shoulder, and I stared at my nails, feeling his gaze on me. I couldn’t look at him because I didn’t know what I'd see. Theodore’s kiss had branded me. The first time I panicked, thinking I had ruined their relationship, the second time he told me to look at the men who he was in a relationship with.

What game were they playing at?

“Say something.” Atlas’ velvet voice teased me to look up at him, but I held strong looking over his shoulder to where Sol and the guys had gone.

“I’m confused,” I said truthfully.

“So are we.” He let go of my waist, tilting my chin up to look at him.

He didn’t look confused, he looked like a man on a mission, like the man I met that stormy day. He had changed so much in that small amount of time, and had only gotten more good looking. He was also almost nine years younger than me. They were all younger than me.

“I don’t know what you want?”

“Well, if you would talk to us maybe you'd find out,” he said, tucking a hair behind my ear. “We've gone to the house, and youhaven’t been home. I even stopped by for a haircut and you were busy.”

My cheeks flushed. I had been avoiding them. I even went so far as to bring Sol to work with me at the bar. If I ran away, we couldn’t talk about them ruining my date or about my feelings and what was going on.

“Maybe I was angry you ruined my date,” I clipped.

“Then why let Theo kiss you?” he countered.

“Who could resist a kiss from Theo? I am only a woman.” A woman who had needs and Theo checked all of my boxes. I didn’t say that, of course, even though I wanted to, just to see his reaction.

He chuckled. “You are right, anyone who would refuse that man is an idiot. He’s warm, kind and there's something so endearing about him. Theo is one of the best men I know. If you needed a shirt, he would give you one off his back.”

“Exactly, but it was a mistake,” I said the words, except they felt like dust in my mouth.

As much as I told myself it was a mistake, my heart wouldn’t believe it.

“Is that why you’ve been dodging us, because it was a mistake? Or did we make you feel something?”

His gaze was penetrating, like he could see right through me. I had to look away or else he would see the truth.

“What’s this, we? Colt can’t possibly be part of that.” I ignored his question.

“And what if he is?” He spun me around as the last note hit and a new song came on, a little more upbeat.

I shook my head because Colt didn’t like me. We didn’t like each other. This had disaster written all over it.

“Just talk to us, or just listen to us,” he pleaded.

Atlas and I were the only ones not dancing as we got looks from the other dancers since we were in the way. I could hearthem out and then shut them down, but a part of me didn’t want to shut them down. What would it be like to have three boyfriends? I was exhausted just living on my own and taking care of Sol. I don’t know if I would have the energy for the three of them.

They could entertain themselves.

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