Page 34 of Atlas
“My point is,” Derek looks back at me but I don’t care, I'm alternating between being deliriously happy because holy shit Ren’s hand on my cock was the greatest feeling of my life, right next to her sweet mouth on my nipple. As well as being pissed the fuck off because these three idiots interrupted the best sexual encounter of my life. My balls are so blue right now it’s painful.
I look up at Derek and realize everyone is looking at me expectantly. “I’ll be honest, I heard nothing that was said after Vegas.” They all groan and go back to their work. I hear the door alarm chime, followed by the clicking of heels on the tile. I whine in annoyance, knowing exactly who those heels belong to. Slowly, I spin my chair around to see Valentina standing in the doorway, a tight black mini-skirt with a red cami that ended above her belly button.
“There’s my guy.” She purrs and I want to cry, but I’m a professional, so I give her a smirk and pat the table, ready to finish this last session with her.
“Alright,”I smile as I clean her tattoo up. “You are all done.”
Valentina smiles and stands up as she walks to the mirror and looks at herself. “It’s beautiful. Atlas, you are magical.”
I laugh as I remove my gloves. “Well, I’m glad you like it. I’ll head up front to start getting the checkout going while you get dressed.”
I’m so exhausted. Valentina drug the session out again with multiple stops. I had hoped to get to the apartment to talk to Ren about the car thing and find out if she’s okay. But I haven’t even had time to text her yet.
Valentina walks out and smiles at me. “I hope your wife won’t be mad.” I raise my brow at her as I flip the screen to show her the total.
“About what? She’s used to me having to work weird hours.” Valentina hands me the cash, allowing her fingers to run over my hand.
“That you are doing art on someone like me.” Her smile is confident and I am instantly irritated, though I don’t have it in me to tear down a woman’s confidence, even if she deserves it.
“My wife is the most beautiful woman I know.” I say simply as I hand her the receipt and the aftercare instructions. “I only have eyes for her, so she has nothing to get mad over.”
Valentina’s very full lips purse and she gives me a long, hard stare as if she’s waiting for me to tell her that I’m just kidding. Iget the feeling she isn’t used to getting turned down. Valentina gives me a tight smile and a sharp nod before elegantly spinning on her spiky heels and walking out of the shop.
When she leaves, my whole body collapses onto the counter. I hear Ash snickering behind me and flip him off without moving my head. I am so ready to go home.
Walking into the apartment,Bruno runs into the entryway and begins whining and huffing. At first, I think he needs to walk until I hear the faint alarm going off.
“Fuck.” I rush into Ren’s room and see her sitting on the floor, her head resting on her mattress.
“Holy shit, Ren.” I rush to her side and kneel next to her. She’s barely coherent, and she’s drenched in sweat. I turn on her light beside her bed before getting up and going to her drawer where her supplies are. I grab her testing kit and run back to her.
She tries to look at me but can’t lift her head. “Princess, stay still. I got you.” I check her sugar and cuss as the low number appears. It’s too low to treat with just a juice box or sugar, and I know I need to take action to treat her to prevent her from going into a coma. I see her eyes rolling and I slap her cheek lightly. “Lauren!” I bark out, trying to keep her up. Going back to her drawer, I pull the small red case out that holds her emergency glucagon. As I walk back, I call 911 and put them on speaker.
“9-1-1 what’s your emergency?” The operator asks as I open the case.
“Princess, I’ve only watched one video on this.” I say nervously. “Y-Yeah, my name is Atlas Hart. My wife is type onediabetic, and I just found her on the floor. She's low and fading in and out of consciousness. I’m about to give her a glucagon injection.” I give the operator the address before following the instructions that I remember on the instructional video. Luckily, it’s pretty straight-forward.
“Flick…it.” Ren whispers weakly as she fights to keep her eyes open. I tap the side of the syringe to remove the air bubbles. I grab Ren and lay her on her side, remembering that she might throw up, before piercing her thigh at a ninety-degree angle and injecting the medicine.
“Mr. Hart?” The operator says. “Did you give her the glucagon?”
I furrow my brows as I stare at her. “Yes, why isn’t she better?” Did I do it wrong?
“Sir, it takes about fifteen minutes, the paramedics are on their way to you now, alright.” I sit down, putting Ren’s sweaty head in my lap as I run my hand through her messy hair. She lets out a small whimper.
“Shh, just rest, pretty girl.” I say softly, while trying to swallow the hard lump in my throat. I can’t do this. I can’t keep finding her on the ground, dying and alone. I’m going to be in constant fear of her going low whenever I’m away.
There is a knock on the door and Bruno, who had been laying next to Ren, stands up to investigate. He comes back a few seconds later with the paramedics. After fifteen minutes, Ren is not where they want her after the glucagon and is not coherent enough to swallow any food or drink herself, so I tell them to take us to the hospital.
“Well, what were you doing?”Dr. Locklear hisses while looking over Ren’s chart. We’ve been here for six hours, and I’m exhausted but I refuse to go to sleep, I’m terrified something will happen. I keep looking at the clock, knowing that in about three hours I have to be checked-in for my community service, and I would give anything not to have to go.
“I was at work.” I sigh as I rub my face. She has been in here interrogating me for the last fifteen minutes since she got out of a surgery she was performing.
“Right, the doodler.” Let it go, Atlas. Let. It. Go. “Well, does your job pay you well enough to afford things like a phone? Or a smart watch?”
I glare up at her, “Dr. Locklear, I am exhausted, I am stressed, and I am trying to be a good son-in-law and allow you to take your frustrations out on me. But I’m giving you one more try to talk to me like I didn’t just smear shit on your face and flip you off before I shut down.”
Her eyes narrow and in an instant, the woman is in front of the chair I am sitting in. She leans down and stares into my eyes.
