KISSING ATLAS WAS something else.

The longer I spent with Atlas, the more I learned he had many layers to him. His usual sunshine and goofy self, who is always happy. He has shown me his vulnerable side when speaking about his past, but kissing him made me realize there's also another side to him.

A passionate side to him.

As soon as our lips touched, he took control of our kiss, and I happily let him. Something you wouldn't expect from Atlas, but at the same time, I'm curious to see more, as I feel like it's not a side many people get to enjoy. He took his time with me as if savoring every moment of our kiss, and it left me breathless.

The honking of a bike horn brings me out of my daydream. I wince as the bike passes quickly by me, just missing me. Scoffing at the impolite kid who was riding it, I shake my head and carry on walking through the town. Sipping my coffee, I make my way to the Beach Hut looking through the window, seeing Gabi behind the counter making drinks. I notice it is pretty busy, and she seems to be on her own.

Taking one last sip of my coffee and throwing it in the nearby trashcan to get rid of the evidence, I make my way inside, the bell ringing above the door as I walk in. Weaving my way through the line, I make my way to Gabi.

"Hey Gabs, why are you so busy? Are you working on your own?" I ask her, confused, as she frantically paces around behind the counter making drinks while also trying to take the orders of the line of customers.

She nods her head. "The person on shift called in sick and I'm on my own during a weekend, which we all know is when we get visitors."

My eyes go to the line, some of them becoming impatient. Deciding, I move behind the counter and bump her out of the way of the cash register. "I'll take the orders and get the goods from the counter. You make the drinks."

She groans in happiness. "You're a lifesaver, so much so I'll ignore the fact I saw you drinking a coffee from that food truck that sits near the beach."

I smile sheepishly. "You saw that, huh?"

She nods her head before going to make the drink orders she had already taken. Between the two of us, we get everyone their orders quickly. Writing their orders on the cups, and hand them to Gabi to make before she calls them out once done and we move on to the next.

Both of us slump down against the counter onto the floor with our backs against it as we finish the last one. Momentarily exhausted from the rush.

"I thought my surfing training was rough," I groaned, and she chuckles, throwing a rag onto the floor next to her.

"Thanks for helping. I was so close to having a breakdown and telling everyone to get the fuck out," Gabi says.

"Don't speak too loud. There are still customers at the tables," I say, and she waves me off.

"Wouldn't be the worst gossip this town has heard," she says.

I raise my eyebrow. "What could possibly happen in this town that would count as gossip?"

"Well, the owner of the ice cream parlor is having an affair with the bait and tackle shop owner. One woman on the town committee is hiding that her daughter is going to rehab by saying she's backpacking through Asia for months," Gabi says.

"Do we need to be worried about the ice cream we're eating now?" I ask her and she chuckles.

"Okay, I need to get up and clean some tables," she says before huffing and holding her hands up. I laugh and get up before pulling her up. She goes to clean the tables, meanwhile, I clean and organize the counter for her that got disarrayed in the chaos.

The bell above the coffee shop door dings and I turn my head, seeing Atlas and June walk through the door. Her arm is tucked inside the crook of Atlas's elbow, Atlas walking a little slower than usual. A smile comes onto my face as I see June, remembering how Atlas mentioned she was coming back to Sandy Cove for a day visit.

"Grandma June!" Gabi squeals as she runs over to June, wrapping her in a hug, and you can see how close they are. It's like family reuniting for the first time in a long time.

Atlas smiles before his eyes flicker over to where I stand, his eyebrows raising at me behind the counter before he winks at me. I walk around the front of the counter and lean against it.

"Gabi, dear. It's so good to see you," June says as they pull back before June slaps her on the arm.

"Ow," Gabi moans as she rubs her arm.

"That is for not visiting me as much as you should," June says, placing her hands on her hips and I stifle a giggle. "Between you and Easton, I swear."

"I'm sorry Grandma June, I promise I'll try to visit more," Gabi assures her, wrapping an arm around the woman's petite shoulders.

"Good." June is satisfied before she walks over to greet me with a hug.

"What are you two up to today?" Gabi asks as she rounds the counter once more as June goes with her.

Meanwhile, Atlas places his hand on the small of my back as he comes to stand next to me on the other side of the counter. While the action seems simple and friendly, it seems like it's a mention of the other night, as if he's alluding that this isn't over.

"We'll walk around the town, grab something to eat at her favorite place, get some baked goods for the way back, maybe head to the shack," Atlas explains with a casual shrug. "Just do all of June's favorites."

"I do miss this town, and the gossip," she says, winking at Gabi, who chuckles.

"I'll fill you in when I come and visit," Gabi assures her, and I can only imagine how much those two could gossip about the goings on in town. I look at Atlas, and he shakes his head at them both.

"Good, and don't think we won't have a conversation about Easton," June says, wagging her finger at Gabi.

"On second thought—" Gabi backtracks and June refuses to let her.

Atlas's arm nudges me, and I look over to see him looking at me already. "If you don't have any plans today, you could join us."

"Oh, yes!" June agrees immediately.

"I wouldn't want to intrude," I tell them, and she waves me off. "Plus, I'm helping Gabi."

"Don't worry, that was the rush. I'll be good from here on out," Gabi reassures, and I see the mischief in her eyes.

"Please, it will be fun," June says, and I agree to join them. Atlas gives me a smile.

"Well, in that case, coffees to go," Gabi says and while June and Atlas grab a seat for a moment, Gabi wiggles her eyebrows at me as I shoot her a glare, knowing what had happened between Atlas and me.

✺✺✺

Atlas, June, and I spend the day touring different areas in town. June spends a good amount of time looking around the shops in town, picking stuff up. Meanwhile, Atlas is entertaining by attempting to try women's clothes on while June wanders around. We visit the harbor and grab a bite to eat before heading to the bakery to get her some baked goods. Now we're in the town bookstore for June to get the gossip magazines she loves.

Abandoning the shelves with a few in my hands, I make my way back to where Atlas had sat down when we arrived and I snicker as I see him slouched in the chair with an open book covering his face, clearly sleeping.

I walk closer before kicking his leg and he snorts, shooting upright while the book falls into his lap as he winces, and I can't help but laugh.

"Am I disturbing your beauty sleep?" I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

"As a matter of fact, you are, but then again, who needs beauty sleep when you look like this," he winks, motioning to himself and I shake my head as he stands up. "I got bored."

"Reading?" I ask him, and his eyes dart over my shoulder before he motions for me to come closer. I do and he leans in.

"The cashier was looking at me like I was committing a crime just sitting there, so I picked up a book," he whispers, and I can't help but chuckle before reaching around and picking up the book.

"And this is the one you chose?" I ask him, turning the cover towards him that has a very sexual woman on the front and a guy on his knees kissing her stomach with an erotic title.

His eyes widen before snatching the book off me, mortified. "I wasn't looking. Why the fuck do they store that in here? Kids can walk in and see this!"

"Kids can walk in and see what?" June asks, appearing next to us, and Atlas throws the book immediately as it lands on the floor over to the side. Her eyes follow and land on the cover. "Oh Atlas, no need to be embarrassed. We all have our needs. God knows you haven't had a girlfriend in a long time."

I cover my mouth with my hand to hide, not so well, my laugh. Heat rises to Atlas's cheeks as he stutters. "Grandma, that's not—"

She pats his shoulder. "It's okay dear."

She walks off and heads to the cashier to pay for her magazines, leaving Atlas mortified.

"Not a word, to anyone," Atlas tells me, pointing his finger at me and I smirk.

"Whatever you say, but I won't judge if you buy it. After all, we all have needs," I say before walking off and I hear him grumble before following behind me.

✺✺✺

The sand sinks beneath my feet as Atlas and I walk down the shore of the beach. My sandals are in my hand and a jumper falls to my thighs to keep the chill of the breeze off me. The water brushes against my feet as the tide comes in and I no longer flinch as it does. Exposure therapy is what my therapist called it. All the time Atlas and I spent slowly spending more time on the beach allowing the water to reach us has helped and coming myself to walk along the shore has helped as well.

"Thanks for spending time with us today. I know it made her happy," Atlas says, breaking our comfortable silence.

I look over at him as he stares ahead. "It was nice. June is always a blast. Hopefully, she comes out more often."

"What about me?" he asks, holding his hand to his heart, feigning hurt, and I chuckle.

"You're okay, I guess," I say, nudging into his body and he chuckles before walking ahead and leaning down to flick the water, splashing me. Asshole. He then walks backwards in front of me, with his hands in the pockets of his shorts. "So, was what June said true? It's been a while since you had a girlfriend?"

He shrugs. "Small towns are hard to meet people."

"Maybe you should have bought that book then," I say, and he shakes his head.

"Grandma may know I haven't had a girlfriend in a while, but she does not need to know about my sex life," he says.

"Atlas Hayes—are you a one-night stand, man?" I ask raising my eyebrow at him.

"I am more of a relationship man. However, I have had some one-night stands, mostly when we go to the clubs a few towns over," he admits.

"Who would have thought," I hum, and he chuckles.

"What about you?" he asks. "You travel a lot can't imagine it leaves time for relationships."

I shake my head. "Not really. A girl has needs."

He raises his eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Mmm," I say, looking at him as he stares back at me, a small smirk dancing on his lips.

"Well, we're all going to head a few towns over tomorrow night to the club if you want to come with us."

"Oh, I'd love to see you in a club setting after what you've just said," I tell him.

"I have moves," he assures me before he takes my hand and spins me out, and then back into him, just like he did when we were in the bar.

"If that's the extent of your dancing, I'm going to have to give you dancing lessons," I say, laughing into his chest. Pushing on his chest I pull back and before I can slip my hand out of his he moves beside me once more, reaching around to wrap his arm around my shoulders with our hands resting in front of me entwined.

"Hmm, surfing, dancing, what else are you good at?" he asks, intrigued.

"Ball-busting clearly," I say, and he throws his head back, laughing.

"You are one of a kind, Thalia Monroe."

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A U T H O R   N O T E

Riptide has a new cover for 2023!!

For those of you who didn't see/notice, I made an illustrated cover of Riptide for the new year. Both books in the series will have illustration covers, I always wanted them to be these types of covers but I could never get it to where I liked it before uploading the book. I hope you love the new cover like I do! I never really got into the last cover and have wanted to change it for ages.

the next chapter at the club is going to be an interesting one...

q: what are your goals for 2023?