Page 50 of What’s Left of Us

Ican’t sleep. Mark’s Bed and Breakfast is quiet, and even the wind outside has fallen silent. There’s no reason I should be awake. My stomach is full—after returning from the beach, Atlas and I drove to get burgers. My hair is clean—sharing a bathroom with another couple is a bit weird, but not terrible. Most importantly, I feel closer to Nat than I have in a long time.

I’m in a far-away place she wanted to visit. It might be my own wishful thinking, but I want to believe Nat wouldn’t be angry at me for bringing Atlas here. She’d wanted to reunite with their family. She’d always liked Atlas, always liked that we were together.

I roll onto my side and stare out the darkened window. There’s a half-moon tonight, and it reflects off the choppy ocean waves.

It’s probably too cold to go skinny dipping, but I don’t know when else we’ll do it. The water won’t be any warmer in Aberlena, and the beach there is always crowded. Not to mention it’s heavily patrolled by local police. That comes with the territory of a college town, filled with drunk and stupid people.

I stare for a bit longer, until I can’t take the quiet anymore. It’s after midnight, but I won’t be able to sleep until we check this off our list.

I crawl out of bed and flip on the room’s light, quickly looking over my outfit. I’m wearing simple grey sweatpants and a black tank top. As much as I like the idea of changing back into that white dress, of appearing in front of Atlas in an ethereal dress, I don’t. I don’t even bother putting on a bra. I only throw my jacket over my tank top before creeping down the hall to his room.

My knock is so quiet I’m sure he won’t hear it, but I don’t want to wake anyone else in the house. Just as I’m debating texting him, his door opens. He’s wearing nothing but his basketball shorts, and his hair is sticking up at every odd angle. He blinks twice, snapping from dazed and sleepy to high alert.

“What’s wrong?”

“You were sleeping.” Heat rushes over my cheeks. Some part of me was sure he’d been kept awake by the same unrest as I had. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have knocked.”

Atlas looks at his phone.

“It’s almost one in the morning. Why are you awake?” He tucks his phone back into his pocket, frowning at me. “What’s wrong, Vi?”

The space between my legs throbs, and it’s hard to pinpoint why exactly. It could be the fact he’s shirtless. Or the way his voice sounds when he’s sleepy. Or the simple fact he’s looking at me like he’s determined to take care of me. Whatever the reason, it keeps me standing in his doorway, rather than scurrying back to my room like I should.

“I want to go swimming.”

“Okay…?” He rubs his eyes, blinking hard like he’s not sure he’s actually awake.

“Right now.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I want to mark it off the list.”

Just like that, Atlas looks very awake. Even through the darkness, I can see his face light with blush.

“It’s freezing, Vi.”

“I know.” I lift my chin. “But I’m going to do it. You don’t have to⁠—”

“Let me grab my shirt.” He steps from the doorway. “We’ll need some towels. Probably a blanket, just in case.”

Just in case of what, I want to ask. I don’t. I only stand there while he collects towels, the blanket, and an additional sweatshirt. He pulls the hoodie I’d worn earlier into place. Once he has everything we’ll need, and only then, a brazen smirk pulls at his lips.

“I didn’t know you were this determined to see me naked.”

“As if,” I scoff. “Besides, I’ve already seen you naked.”

“If I recall, you didn’t hate it.”

Heat rushes through my body, and I’m too dumbfounded to think of a clever response. Instead, I silently follow Atlas through the house and down the sandy path to the ocean. Only once we reach the beach does he speak again.

“So, is your plan to just strip naked and take off running into the ocean?”

“Is there a different option?” I ask, smiling.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to track down a cove or something.”

I look around us, arms spread in either direction.

“Who’s going to see us?” The wind rustles through my hair as I tip my chin to the sky. “We’re alone, Atlas.”

“Yeah,” is his only reply. When I look at him, his eyes are already on mine. He turns away before I can read the emotion there.