Page 79 of Fox
Atlas shakes his head. “Just because you refuse to admit it doesn’t mean it’s untrue. You want to be a coward with Red, that's your choice. It’s just sad because she’s going to expect you to, at the very least, love her at some point, and if you give her that weak-ass excuse, you’ll break her heart.”
“You’re one to talk about refusing to admit things,” I mutter more so to myself, but Atlas hears me.
“If you’re going to say it, say it with your chest, bitch.” He states nonchalantly while staring at the tiles on the floor.
“Fine,” I breathe out. “You have a thing for Ren, and I don’t see you acting on it.”
“No, it’s not like that. Lauren is just a—” He pauses as he looks off into the distance as if he's looking for something he’s lost. He sighs, and I watch his shoulders slump as he speaksagain. “She’s brilliant, a lawyer, and classy. She and I could never—” He stops, looks up at me, and my grin widens.
“Could never what, At? Could never be in love? Get married?” Atlas flips me the finger and shakes his head.
“The difference is, Ren and I are not a thing. Have never been a thing. It will never be a thing. I’m not into herthatway.” His eyes go distant as he mutters, “Besides, she’s with someone.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, that fucking waste of space dickhole.”
Atlas’ head snaps up so fast I can’t believe it didn’t break. “What happened?” His voice is low, almost murderous.
“Chill out. I don’t know anything for sure, but I overheard Janie talking to Sunday about him making her change her wardrobe or something because he felt like she was too unattractive to be seen with him.” Atlas’ murderous expression doesn’t change.
“What the fuck is the matter with her? How have none of the girls said anything to her?” Atlas is up and pacing now, nostrils flaring with every angry breath he blows out.
“At,” I say, trying to calm him down. “Ren is an adult. And she is a tough girl, and the girls have no say in her dating life.”
There is silence between us for a brief moment before Atlas sighs. “So, when you two do get married. Can you talk her into a fall wedding? Because I’m definitely not wearing a tux in July.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“What’s going to happen with Hel’s?” His question is like a bucket of ice water running down my back.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, is she going to give it to you at the end of the year and leave as planned?” Am I having a heart attack? Because the pain shooting into my chest has to be something life-threatening, right?
“Leave? What? No… I mean, I don’t know, we haven’t discussed it.” It’s suddenly too fucking hot in here, and I’m overly itchy.
“Fox? What is—” Atlas stops talking when the back door opens, and Janie walks through, her face all red and splotchy from her workout.
She bends over at the waist, bracing her hands on her knees as she tries to slow her labored breathing. “We need a fucking escalator.”
“Or you could take up a cardio regimen.” Atlas mocks while Janie sends him a death glare.
“Get out of here before I rub my boyfriend’s nuts on your station again.”
“This is workplace harassment!” Atlas yells while grabbing his bag before heading out the door.
“Hi,” Janie smiles while hugging me.
“You are disgustingly sweaty.” I chuckle while hugging her back.
“What were you and Atlas talking about when I came in?” She asks as we turn the lights off. “You looked like you swallowed a bag of screws.”
“Oh, he was bitching about Ren, and I’m just over hearing about it.” I lie while looking at the back door.
“I wish those two would just talk,” Janie mutters while we head to my truck. “It would probably clear a lot of things up.”
Yeah, they aren’t the only ones needing to clear things up.
THIRTY-TWO
