Atlas kissed her cheek and Romy stopped breathing as his warm breath blew over her skin. “I’ll be back soon. Stay here.”

He strode across the dance floor, rolling up his sleeves. Romy’s eyes devoured the simple motion.

Tina stopped screaming immediately and the two soldiers stepped aside, relief evident on their faces.

“You’ll need to carry me, At-a-lus,” Tina drawled.

Romy ground her teeth together. Atlas sighed and gripped the mahogany beauty by the arm. For a few steps, it worked. But after two near-faceplants Atlas swept her up, trudging off through the bungalows.

Holding Tina in his arms.

Romy returned to the table with her friends.

Disquiet settled in her stomach and made her regret making it easy for him to leave. Romy didn’t even know where Atlas slept. How would she know if he kissed Tina or something?

She rested her head against the back of the chair and stared up to where she knew the orbitos sat high in space. A part of her wished to be up there, oblivious, sniggering while Deimos and Phobos got in trouble, and Thrym yelled at them, or exchanging an exasperated look with Thrym as Elara took too long to get ready for a debris clean-up. Earth was causing her to feel so much all at once. It was overwhelming, and a lot of it wasn’t pleasant and simple like the life she’d led before.

Deimos was first to leave. He stumbled over to awaken Houston from where he’d fallen asleep sitting forwards with his face smooshed into the didgeridoo.

Elara and Phobos stood to leave next and Romy made to stand with them, but Thrym gripped her hand, warning in his eyes. Swallowing, she looked at the pair, noticing the tension between them for the first time. Oh.

“They need to talk.” Thrym whispered low in her ear, causing a shiver to work its way down her spine.

“Night,” Elara yawned.

She swept down to give Romy a kiss on the cheek, and Romy concealed her relief at Thrym’s timely warning. That would’ve been an awkward-ass walk to the bungalow while the two were fighting, or ignoring each other, or watching each other. Romy didn’t want to know.

Until. . . .

“And so do we.” Thrym’s soft voice washed over her.

Her spine snapped into place as trepidation eliminated any trace of fatigue. “What?” she stalled weakly.

Thrym watched her intently, fingers thrumming on the table.

“I’m actually pretty tired,” she hedged, moving to rise. Walking with Phobos and Elara was looking less awkward by the second.

“I think I love you.” The words were levelled at her, delivered in Thrym’s straightforward way.

All the tension drained away as dismay took its place. Romy froze, staring into his blue eyes, which were focused on her. Waiting for her to answer. The words rang in her mind, echoing through her.