eyes, so close to my own?
“Bassinger, you’re welcome to stay tonight with Oleander. We can discuss living arrangements tomorrow but for right now, we all have places to be in the morning.”
Even Nox can’t argue with that.
North walks Atlas and I back to my room without a word and then locks the door after himself. I’m still writhing with shame over the entire ordeal, but Atlas just immediately strips down to his boxers and climbs into the bed like this is all very normal and not the worst night of my life since I arrived here.
I sleep like shit and every time my eyes open overnight, I find Atlas frowning at the ceiling, so I know he hasn’t slept a wink either. At six in the morning, I wake to a text from Gabe saying he’ll pick me up for our morning workout and I decide to just get up and start my day.
I take a quick shower, excited as hell despite myself that I have a private bathroom with no gossips to talk shit about me while I get myself clean. When I’m dressed and ready, I walk back into the room to find Atlas dressed and waiting for me on the bed, his face still solemn.
I panic a little and my mouth runs away from me a bit. “I’ve been working out with Gabe, it’s a brutal routine Gryphon put together, but it’s been helping out with TT. Vivian has been impressed with how far I’ve come since I got here. You’ll like him, he’s grumpy and tries to get us all killed in the basement maze, but I like the old guy.”
“I’m well aware of who Vivian Wentley is, Oli, but I’m more concerned about you at the moment. We need to figure out our game plan here because I’ve already spoken to my family. They want us to head back to Philadelphia, get some miles between us and the fucking Dravens until we have the chance to get to know each other a little better… You have a lot of options here, I don’t want them making you think that this is it. You’re not a prisoner. You’re not property that Nox can just abuse.”
I cringe and rub a hand over my face. “You heard what he said, it wasn’t what you’re thinking. I could have shoved him off and I didn’t. That’s on me.”
Atlas stands up and blows out a breath. “You heard what I said too, Oli. He knew what he was doing. You’re a Central, literally every fiber of your being wants the bond and he used that against you.”
I don’t really like what he’s saying because it’s making me feel like he thinks that I’m helpless to the bond within me and I think I proved last night that I’m not. I clawed myself back from the edge like a freaking machine and even if the aftermath wasn’t all that great, I’m pretty freaking proud of myself for it.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Can we just… go to the workout and then decide everything else later? I’m just— I’m tired.”
He lets out another breath and nods, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck and holding out the other for me to take. It doesn’t matter if I’m a little sore over his words, I still take it because at least I know he’s trying to do what’s best for me.
No one else can say the same.
The moment the door shuts behind us, I realize I have no freaking idea how to get us downstairs but when I blanch, Atlas chuckles and pulls me along. “I memorized the way last night.”
I huff at him for being too fucking good with directions, but I’m glad we don’t have to call North and ask him to come direct us. When we get to the foyer, Gabe is already there waiting for us both, dressed in his workout gear with a frown on his face.
Atlas jumps on the offensive, always ready to fight with someone who isn’t me. “If you were hoping to have Oli on your own, you’re shit out of luck because I’m not trusting her with any of you after last night. Fuck no.”
Gabe’s eyes flick over to me but I avoid meeting them. Honestly, I just want to get today over with as soon as possible. I want to jump on a treadmill and get some alone time to figure out what the hell I’m going to