“I’m sorry, um…” I looked around the room and got up to sit in my gaming chair. I could turn around, and he could eat on his own, slurp it up or whatever he does with that wicked tongue.
Down girl.
Atlas grabbed my arm, and warmth ran up my arm and into my chest. “No, stay. It is my problem. I can eat later.”
I shook my head. “No, please. I want you to eat. Sober up.” I winked. Instead, I turned my body on the bed so he could eat on his own, yet we weren’t far apart. “There, problem solved. I hope you eat more, because that tray is full.”
Atlas hummed, and I listened out for slurping, but mostly, he kept it quiet.
It gave me time to think of the next steps in Harlow’s and my plan.
Atlas announced he was done eating, and I dusted off my hands and turned around. “Atlas, I think it’s now time to tell me what your intentions are with me.”
Chapter Ten
Atlas
My intentions?
She wanted to know my intentions?!
The details of my memories were rolling back to me like a storm. I didn’t like it, not one bit.
I made a fool of myself, stumbling over chairs and bumping into people. Spreading my wings, I got down on the ground before her and proclaimed my affection for lamps.
I mean, I am particularly fond of lamps, as are most Mothmen, but we don’t outwardly claim it.
I couldn't deny how captivating Kassie looked in her lamp costume. The way the fabric hugged her figure revealed a silhouette that left me breathless. My gaze lingered longer than it should have on the gentle curves beneath her costume, and though I missed the opportunity to appreciate her from every angle, the memory of her legs alone was enough to make my antennae twitch.
I shook my head, and my heart raced as I tried to recover from my embarrassing declaration of my love for lamps. But it wasn't just the lamps that had me flustered; it was her.
Her eyes bore into mine as if I were the most interesting thing in the world.
"I-I didn't mean to say, ‘I love lamps’," I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my face.
Kassie cocked her head to one side, eyebrows arching upward. A single rebellious curl escaped her messy bun, dangling like a question mark in front of her face.
"I mean, I do like lamps, but that's not what I wanted to tell you."
A corner of her mouth twitched upward at my lamp confession. My exoskeleton felt like it was on fire, starting at my neck and blazing upward as I fumbled for words that wouldn't make me sound even more ridiculous.
"Uh, I mean, not that I don't love you," I stammered, my wings twitching nervously behind me. "I just... have a thing for lamps. They're, uh, really fascinating."
Smooth, Atlas. Real smooth.
But Kassie surprised me by bursting into laughter, a sound so infectious that I couldn't help but join in. I felt like I had removed a weight from my shoulders, and everything seemed right in the world for a moment.
As our laughter subsided, Kassie reached out and took my hand, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. "It’sokay, Atlas,” she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I like you, too."
I covered my face with both hands.
She liked me?
She probably liked me as a friend. That’s all it meant. Why do I have to act like such a damn larva all the time?
At least I didn’t bury my face in her breasts like last night.
Noooo. I did that, too??!
