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“It’s me,” Atlas answers, gesturing for me to stay quiet.
“Are you about done? I need to grab a quick shower.”
“Yeah, I’ll be out soon,” Atlas calls back, his voice even and calm as his gaze meets mine. Thank goodness it was him that answered, because I can’t imagine my voice would be anything but a quivering mess right now.
He holds his finger up to his lips, as if I would make a fucking sound, and we both wait several, long, agonizing seconds until we hear the obvious sound of Brennon’s bedroom door opening and closing.
“What do we do?” I whisper, looking around as if an escape hatch is going to magically materialize out of thin air.
“I’m going to make sure the coast is clear, then you sneak out. Go open the front door and close it loudly so it seems like you’re just getting home. I’ll stay in here for a couple more minutes.”
“Okay.” I nod up and down way too many times, taking a deep breath and holding it in when Atlas opens the door and peers down the hall.
Seconds later, he reaches for me, practically shoving me out of the bathroom.
I take off on my tiptoes down the hallway and head straight for the front door, quickly opening and slamming it closed before collapsing on the couch like I just ran a fucking marathon.
Less than a minute later, Brennon walks out of his room, completely unaware of what his best friend and I were up to moments ago. A part of me feels immense relief. The other, immense guilt.
“Hey.” He slips into the kitchen. “You just get in?”
“Yeah, I’m beat.” I slump down, kicking my shoes off. At least I’m still fully dressed and able to sell the lie.
“Bathroom’s free,” Atlas says moments later, before the sound of his bedroom door shutting resonates through the apartment.
“Thanks, man,” Brennon calls after him, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “I gotta grab a shower. You need to use the bathroom before I get in?”
“No, I’m good.” I shake my head. “I’ll shower when you’re finished.”
“Okay.” He nods and then takes off down the hallway toward the bathroom.
