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Chapter Eight

I don't know when I fell asleep but I wake up alone in bed. The lingering scent of mahogany and vanilla is the only thing that tells me yesterday and last night was real. I didn't just dream it all up. Atlas Joseph Whimsley was in my bed last night. Then he left before I woke up. I feel a slight pang of sadness in my chest. I blink a few times and stare at the ceiling before I slowly sit up. I am surprised when I don't see Blue anywhere. I rub my eyes with my fists before swinging my legs over the side of my bed. I walk out to Blue's bed and I feel panic start to rise in my chest, followed quickly with anger. I hear a noise in my back yard, and begin to walk towards my sliding door. I look out to the right and then to the left and I freeze when I spot the gate open.

    I whip my sliding door open in anger. Fucking with my dog was the wrong move Unknown. The anger is crossing through my body when, moments later, I watch as a shirtless AJ walks back through the gate, Blue in tow, tail wagging happily. "Morning Gorgeous" AJ says with a wave. "Welcome to the land of the living." The anger bubbles out of me before I have a chance to stop it. "Where the fuck did you go with my dog?" I say in rage. I imagine I look like one of those cartoon characters who gets so mad they have smoke coming out of their ears. AJ slows his stride and hikes a thumb over his shoulder. "Kicked the ball over the gate on accident" he says with an innocent tone, "I tried to get Blue to stay but you know how he is." I take a few deep breaths, my head leaning down slightly towards the ground. Yeah, I DO know know Blue is. I recall the events of yesterday morning. AJ approaches me and lifts my chin gently with his finger and rests his thumb on it. "Blue's been out long enough for now, lets get ready. I'll take you to work today." His eyes capture mine with a soft caring look. I nod my head, "Ok..." I say hesitantly, "But we need to stop at Dunkin' on the way. I'm on coffee duty today. My stopped yesterday." AJ lets out a small laugh. "Ok gorgeous." Is all he says before he steps forward, kisses my forehead and walks back into the house. He whistles for Blue who follows him inside, tail going 20 miles a minute.

    The loss of AJ's touch makes me feel cold. My heart feels like it is beating out of my chest. What the fuck is happening to me right now? I stand there for a minute, my feet cemented to the ground. My mind is racing. I should not be feeling the things I am feeling toward Atlas. GET IT TOGETHER CARTER. YOU ghosted HIM. I shake my head back and forth trying to clear my head. It works somewhat until only one thought remains. Atlas. I snap back to reality when I hear him yell from inside. "Car, you coming?"   

    I turn around to see him staring at me with an eyebrow raised and a smirk. "What's that look for?" I grumble out. His lips widen into a knowing smile. How does he always seem to know what I am thinking?? Fucking mind reader. "Nothing," he says while shaking his head back and forth lightly. I roll my eyes at him, "I'm gonna hop in the shower." I see something flash across his face, not quite sure what it is. Whatever it is doesn't last long before he clears his throat. "Right, I'll wait in the living room and then once you're ready, we'll get going." He sits down on the couch and Blue jumps up next to him with his toy, circling once before settling down and resting his head on AJ's lap. He pulls out his phone and starts doing something on it. You COULD invite him to join you. My mouth opens at the thought. My mind is a fucking traitor too.

    I close my mouth and hightail it to my room to grab my phone and some clothes. I step into the bathroom and close the door. I lean my back against it, feeling like I am already ready to go back to bed. I take a couple deep studying breaths before I walk to shower to turn it on. The sooner I get ready and get to work, the sooner I can get away from him. You don't want to get away from him. You want to get on him.

    I rub my hand over my face and stare at myself in the mirror for a moment, trying to figure out what the hell is happening in my head. I grab my brush and run it through my hair to get out the knots, before turning back towards the shower and stepping in. I have the hot water turned up but it still feels cold against my skin somehow. It would be warmer if he was in here with us. Before I can stop myself, "Oh my god, shut up!" escapes my lips. I freeze. FUCK! Not only did I actually say that, I must have said it fairly loudly. I hear a faint knock on the bathroom door, followed by the voice that will surely haunt my dreams for days to come. "Are you ok gorgeous?" I hear AJ ask, genuine concern in his voice. "Uhh... yeah. I'm fine... Be out in a minute!" I respond with a shaky voice. I swear I hear a chuckle before AJ responds, "Ok, I'll be waiting." I hear his footsteps as he returns to the living room. Curse these paper thin walls.

    I finish my shower and turn the water off, trying to shake the images of a shirtless Atlas with my favorite pup, and the warmth and comfort of his body beside mine last night, from my mind. I reach my hand out of the shower curtain, reaching to grab my towel off the hook. My towels not there, and the realization makes my stomach drop. FUCK! I washed the towels, but since I am lazy, they have been sitting in the dryer. Panic sets in as I realize my two options. 1.) I can make a run for it to my laundry room, and risk AJ seeing my lady bits. 2.) I ask AJ to grab me one and bring it in to me... Where he may potentially see my lady bits. I swallow and try to steady my breathing when I realize I'm hyperventilating a little bit. My heart is racing and my body feels hot and I stand in the shower deciding what to do.

    I finally decide on option 2, it has a better chance of him not getting to see me naked. "At, can you bring me a towel from the dryer? I forgot to grab one." I call. You just called him At again. Oh my god. I did. Why did I do that?? I never hear a vocal response but a moment later he is gently knocking on the door. I get out of the shower and go to open the door as he is going to open it. It swing open, revealing all of my naked wet body. We make eye contact, both in shock. To his credit, I can see that he is really trying not to look, but I notice when his eyes run down my body before shooting back up to meet mine. At some point while I finished showering, he got dressed. His clothes different than the ones he arrived in though. Did he bring an overnight bag? How did I miss that? My eyes lower to his Adam's apple and I see it bob in his throat. When my eyes raise back to mine, there is heat behind them. Fuck why is that so hot. He drops the towel from his hand, and his deep voice startles me. "Text my cousin. You're going to be late." He says it matter of factly, before taking a step towards me and closing the gap between us.