Page 84 of Any Second Now
“So was this a one-night thing?” January probes. Lucy is quiet next to her, lips pressed together and brow furrowed like she’s deeply contemplating something.
I think about her question. I’ve already wondered this myself. It could’ve been a one-night stand. Until he came back to the campsite with me in the middle of the night and cuddled in my crappy RV bed, then made me coffee, recorded a cross-stitch video, and took me from behind after slapping my ass.
My god, who am I?
I think it’s safe to say this isnota one-night stand.
“I don’t know.” I sigh. I do know, but I can’t vocalize it. “He recorded a cross-stitch video with me.” I offer that detail instead. “I’ll send it to you guys. I posted it on my socials.”
“Hang on, my brother cross-stitched?”
“Yeah. I taught him a simple stitch. It’s a beginner how-to video.”
“That sounds very not one-night stand like.” January laughs. “So is it friends withbenefits?”
“I have no label to share with you.” I shrug, and there’s a few beats of silence.
“Lucy?” I ask. “You okay with all this?”
“Raleigh Durham,” Lucy says, using my old college nickname. “I’ve never been more okay with something in my life.”
I let out a huge sigh of relief.
“I don’t even know what it is. I don’t even know if it is a thing. I don’t know if it’ll happen again.” To me, I sound desperate. For what? Approval? A repeat?
January laughs and shakes her head. She’s got her phone in her hand.
“Oh, it’s a thing. You see how he’s looking at her in the video?” January shows her phone to Lucy.
Was he looking at me in a certain way? He was definitely charming, and smiley. I need to watch it again.
“Wow.” Lucy smiles at me. “Do you know I’ve never met a girl that Atticus has dated? I realize he and I haven’t lived in the same place for over a decade, but still. Never once has he introduced me to someone.” She taps her chin with her pointer finger. “Or even mentioned anyone. It’s been ridiculous.”
“We are not dating,” I say firmly.
I think about how sensitive Atticus is about his father. About his terrible relationship with him. About how he desperately doesn’t want to be like him.
“Alternatively, he’s just been having fun banging a lot of girls.” January throws up her hands.
“That could also be true.” Lucy shrugs.
“You already got a few comments on the video,” January says, looking back down at her phone.
“I do? I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a single comment on a post or video.”
“You’ve also never featured a Blizzard player in one.” January squints her eyes. “You have ten comments.”
“What?” My phone buzzes and a text preview shows up over the video.
Atticus
I just shared your video on my socials
I huff out a laugh, but there’s also a weird pit of dread in my stomach. I have a feeling things are spiraling out of control. This thing with Atticus—whatever it is—needs time to settle. And putting us in the public eye is the last thing I need.
Who knows, maybe no one will watch it.
CHAPTER 16
