Page 87 of Atlas Uncharted

Kairi laughed. “Alright, fine. We’ll have food ready.”

Ebony made a satisfied sound. “That’s what I thought.”

She hung up.

I wrapped an arm around Kairi’s waist, pulling her into me. “Looks like breakfast isn’t optional.”

She rolled her eyes.

I kissed her temple, letting my lips linger for just a second longer than necessary.

Dion finally wiggled out of my mother’s grip and took off running.

“Where are you going?” I called after him.

“To put on clothes before Ebony gets here and makes fun of me!”

Kairi snorted, burying her face in my neck.

I just watched everything unfold and exhaled.

For the first time in years, there was nothing hanging over me.

No guilt. No regret.

No Ashlen.

Just us.

“I better go check on your son and make sure he doesn’t put on a Halloween costume.” She kissed my cheek before heading upstairs.

My mother looked at me, her eyes soft.

She had changed a lot in a year.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

I tilted my head. “For what?”

“For letting me back in.”

A pause.

Then—I smirked. “After what you did for my family, I had to.”

Her smile didn’t falter. She just tilted her chin, held my gaze for a beat too long, then went back to her iPad.

We both knew what I meant.

What she did.

Epilogue

Kairi

The scent of syrup was still lingering in the air as I adjusted my dress. I was wearing a flowery maxi that looked like I felt—bright and yellow. The room was bright, Harlem sunlight spilling in through the windows, catching the edges of my earrings. I could see them sparkling out of the corner of my eye.

Ebony sat on the bed, scrolling through her phone, one leg crossed over the other, her nails tapping lightly against the screen.

---