Page 46 of Atlas
“You belong in your home in your bed.” She states firmly, and I hear the sound of her locking the door. “You don’t need to spend the night on the couch, feeling like shit and then have no way to get to your community service in the morning so, I’m coming to get you. I’ll be there in twenty minutes, baby.”
“Okay,” I say softly as I try to decipher the overwhelming feelings I have flooding through me. “Thank you.” I end the call and look down at my knees as I try to process everything.
“What’s up, At?” Ash asks.
My home. My bed. Baby.
I rub my chest where I feel pressure as I continue to stare at the floor. My home and my bed, that I share with her. Technically, she and I haven’t slept in that bed together for a full night, but after the amazing sleep at the farm with her in my arms, I refuse to sleep in a bed without her. I’ve never felt so calm, so safe or loved
Loved?
Is that what I feel from her? I don’t know, but I do know, on my end, what I feel for Ren is so much stronger than anything I’ve ever felt before. She is my morning, noon, and night. My rainbow and my shooting star. She is all I’ve wanted for so long, and now I've had her, and I just want her more. I want her mind, body, and soul. I want her heart.
“At?” Ash snaps his fingers, pulling me out of my thoughts. “What’s going on?”
I look up at him with wide eyes, “I… I’m in love with Ren.”
Chapter 19
Lauren
“Okay, so, in most romance novels, there comes the time where the main character meets the love interest. Typically, that’s met with some over the top feeling inside them, some pull the feel towards that character. It’s like- “their eyes lock and suddenly her breath hitches as she feels her heartbeat quicken and a warmth run through her”. I know, I’ve written this scene a hundred times. The scene is unrealistic, you cannot meet someone and in four seconds your body has decided that they are your soulmate. It doesn’t work this way, and it’s only written like this because us authors have to make a lot happen, typically in less than a hundred thousand words. So, to speed things along, certain parts of the story wind up being embellished. Or so I thought.”
Closing the book, I can’t help but giggle at the chorus of groans that follows.
“C’mon Lauren!” The older woman sighs in a way that reminds me of a teenager. I laugh lightly as I place the book in my bag.
“I’m sorry, guys! Atlas is almost done and I’ve got a doctor's appointment today, otherwise I swear I would stay.” I say apologetically as I stand up, trying to ignore the dizziness I feel. I see Atlas sitting over at the table with Howard and head over. Bending over, I give Howard a hug around his arms. “Howard, you’re looking handsome as ever.”
Howard laughs roughly as he pats my arm. “You sure you don’t want to leave him and come marry me?”
I look over at Atlas. He’s horribly hungover and looks like he hasn’t slept in days. The poor guy was up most of the night puking his guts out, along with some atrocious tea that Ash’s sister gave him.
“I would, but this is what he looks like when he’s without me.” I say, gesturing to the greenish hued man before giving Howard a kiss on the cheek.
Atlas looks up at us and gives a pained smile. “It’s true, I’d die without her.”
I feel goosebumps at his comment and have to shake off the fluttery feeling. Reaching in my purse, I pull out a container and hand it to Howard without the staff noticing. “Chocolate and peanut butter fudge.” I say low, and Howard beams brightly before looking at Atlas.
“You treat her right or I’ll come out of this wheelchair and beat your ass, boy. Don’t think I won’t either. I got one more left in me.”
Atlas chuckles and shakes his head. “Never Howard. I’ll lay down and die first. You ready, Princess?”
I nod and we say our goodbyes, and Atlas talks to the woman at the front desk before we leave the building.
“How’s your sugar?” Atlas asks as we get into the car. Before I can answer, he looks on his watch and pulls up my monitoring app. He frowns and reaches in my glove compartment, pulling out a little bottle of juice. “You are getting low, princess.”
Snatching the bottle from him, I crack the seal and take a drink. “I am aware.”
“Okay, I’m sorry, I was just trying to help.” His words fill me with guilt, and I let out a long sigh.
“No, I’m sorry. I’m just tired and frustrated. I have to go to the doctor and now I’m low. I shouldn’t take it out on you though. Let me finish my juice and I’ll take you to the bar to get your motorcycle.” I watch as Atlas gets out of the passenger side, rounds the front of the car before opening my driver’s door.
“Come on, I’ll drive you.” I give him a thankful smile as I get out of the car. I go to walk away, but his demeanor stops me. He looks deflated.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I place a hand on his chest. I feel his body lean into my touch, so I place my other hand over his neck.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers as he leans in to rest his forehead against mine. “For everything that happened yesterday.”
