“I don’t know, I ended the call before she could tell me, but I’m pretty sure she needs money.”
I thread our hands together again. I don’t know what to say to him. That has to be hard, not hearing from your mother for almost fifteen years, and then she finally reaches out when she needs something. It makes me so grateful that my mother is a huge part of my life.
“I didn’t mean to drop that on you when you’re in a hurry. We should save some conversation for our second date.” He smiles at me, and it instantly flips the mood. It’s remarkable how his smile can dictate the feelings occurring inside my own chest. “Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
I laugh because my car is literally two feet away. But Atlas rushes around the front of his car and opens my door, then helps me out. And then, with one step each, we’re at my car.
“Fun walk,” I tease.
He flashes a brief smile, and I don’t know if he means for it to be seductive, but I’m suddenly warm all over, despite the cold weather. Atlas peeks over my shoulder, nudging his head toward my car. “Do you have more journals in there?”
“Just had the one on me.”
“Shame,” he says. He leans a shoulder against my car, so I do the same, facing him.
I have no idea if we’re about to kiss. I wouldn’t object,but I also just ate onions after sleeping for over an hour, so I doubt my mouth is at its most appealing right now.
“Do I get a redo?” I ask.
“A redo of what?”
“This date. I’d like to be awake for the next one.”
Atlas laughs, but then his laugh dissipates. He stares at me for a beat. “I forgot how fun it is being around you.”
His words confuse me becausefunis not what I would call our time together back then. It was sad, at best. “You think those times were fun?”
He lifts a shoulder in a half shrug. “I mean, it was the lowest point of my life, sure. But my memories with you from back then are still some of my favorites.”
His compliment makes me blush. I’m glad it’s dark.
But he’s right. It was a low point in both of our lives, but being with him was still somehow the highlight of my teenage years. I guessfunis the perfect way to describe what we made of it. And if we somehow had fun together at such a low point in both of our lives, it makes me wonder what we could be like at our highest.
It’s the exact opposite of the thoughts I had about Ryle last week. I’ve experienced the lowest of lows with Atlas, and he has never been anything but incredible and respectful to me. Yet, the man I chose to be my husband somehow disrespected me in ways no one deserves… all while we were at such a high point in our lives.
I’m grateful for Atlas because I know he’s the standard I now hold people to. He’s the standard I should have held Ryle to from the very beginning.
There’s a convenient gust of cold air that sweeps betweenus. It would be the perfect excuse for Atlas to pull me to him, but he doesn’t. Instead, the quietness builds between us until there’s only one thing left to do. Either kiss or say goodnight.
Atlas brushes a strand of my hair from my forehead. “I’m not going to kiss you yet.”
I hope my disappointment isn’t obvious, but I know it is. I practically deflate in front of him. “Is it my punishment for falling asleep?”
“Of course not. I’m just feeling inferior after reading about our first kiss.”
I sputter laughter. “Inferior towho? Yourself?”
He nods. “Teenage Atlas through your eyes was quite the charmer.”
“So is adult Atlas.”
He groans a little, like he already wants to change his mind about the kiss. The groan makes things feel a little more serious. He moves fluidly away from the car until he’s standing right in front of me. I press my back against my car door and look up at him, hoping he’s about to kiss the hell out of me.
“Also, you asked me to take things slow, so…”
Dammit. I did do that.I saidveryslow, if I remember correctly.I hate myself.
Atlas leans forward, and I close my eyes. I feel his breath scattering across my cheek right before he presses a quick kiss against the side of my head. “Goodnight, Lily.”