Atlas’ kiss snapped me out of that nightmare. “I’mnot going anywhere,” he whispered the words onto my lips, as if to imprint them into me. “We’re going to catch the bad guy, then live our happily ever after. Have I ever been wrong before?”
“No, you haven’t.” I smiled even though I was still feeling like the floor could slip out from under my feet at any second. But it was hard not to smile around Atlas.
“Now let’s clean up and get to bed before that wine totally gets to your head. Let’s get some water into you too.”
He was already on his way to the kitchen before I could recalibrate myself. I followed him with the dirty dishes and accepted the glass of water he poured for me. He was quick with the remaining dishes. We’d already washed the pots and pans we used earlier, so all that was left were the few dishes we ate from.
I tried to help with the cleanup, but Atlas was pretty quick to finish everything and hustle me upstairs. I was lost in thought as he took me into the shower and cleaned us up. We stood crowded around the sink, towels around our waists, as we brushed our teeth. And it was the familiarity of the routine that grounded me.
“Let’s head to bed, hmm?” Atlas murmured when he’d dressed in his PJ set—tonight’s was a black set with carved pumpkin heads printed all over—and I’d donned my sleepwear of boxers and nothing else.
Getting into bed and wrapping myself around Atlas sounded like heaven, but I knew I wouldn’t get any sleep tonight until I checked the tapes. I hesitated, andAtlas sighed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could read my mind by now.
“We’ll look at the security footage, but quickly, okay?”
I nodded and was quick to grab my laptop and boot it up in the living room. Instead of sitting in the seat beside me, Atlas chose to stand behind me. He leaned over the chair and hung himself on my back like a warm backpack.
I wasn’t complaining at his touch.
We quickly checked all the security footage for the stalker, and thankfully, the only video of him around the diner was of him taping the note at the front door. He was bold and hadn’t even tried to cover his face, probably seeing no point as his face was pasted all over town already.
“See? He just wanted to fuck with us. I don’t think he’s suddenly gonna turn into an arsonist,” Atlas said and pressed a kiss to my cheek, as if to soften the sting of that imagery.
I meant it when I said I didn’t care what happened to the diner.
It was just a place. One that could be rebuilt.
But if the stalker did try to set the building on fire and we were inside…I shivered at the thought.
“Now let’s go to bed. Rhett and Coal said they’re coming over early tomorrow before they head back.”
I nodded and followed Atlas back to our room. Shadow twined himself around my leg, and to mysurprise, he even brushed past Atlas’ leg on his way out of the room.
Atlas was stunned at the action. “Did you see that?” he turned to me and said excitedly. “He loves me!”
I laughed. While I wasn’t sure about Shadow loving Atlas so quickly, I had no doubt he was finally accepting the man as part of our little family.
I wouldn’t spoil Atlas’ excitement by voicing that. He snuggled happily into my arms, and I gladly held him against me as we drifted to sleep.
Rhett and Coal dropped by early the next morning as expected. Despite their being polite and trying to refuse, I cooked them a hearty breakfast that we all shared over coffee.
Rhett wasn’t as lively as yesterday, and I returned the sentiment. It was so good seeing him again after all this time, but the visit was too short. But this wouldn’t be a sad parting since we’d see each other again.
Atlas and I would visit him at the circus.
After breakfast, Atlas shooed us away and insisted on cleaning up and getting ready for the day. Coal wandered off somewhere, saying he was going to check on the car.
I had a suspicious feeling that the two of them wanted to give us time alone together.
Rhett and I glanced at each other and laughed. Their plot was so obvious, but it wasn’t unwelcome. We stared at each other for a few seconds, silent but not uncomfortable.
“You happy, kid?” I asked him quietly.
Coal was a lot more intense in person than over video call, and my gut felt a little uneasy around him, like prey facing a predator. But I’d seen the way he looked at Rhett, and I’d witnessed how the tall man cared for Rhett, and something told me he was safe with him.
I remember asking Rhett if Coal had made him happy when they first told me they were together, but seeing them together in person reassured me he hadn’t been lying. But loving someone and enjoying your life were two different things.
“So happy,” Rhett said with lightness in his voice, and I knew he wasn’t lying. “You look happy too. I like him for you.”
