Page 20 of Atlas
I smirk as I climb out and head towards the office. My hand pauses on the door at the sight of a young female sitting in the office chair with her feet on the counter, and sitting on the counter facing her, with his back to me, is Atlas.
She spots me before I can turn away, so I push the door open and step inside. “Evening, welcome to Chaos Cars. How can I help you?” Her voice is syrupy sweet, and she’s clearly mocking in tone as she eyes Atlas with a cheeky glint.
“I told you, kid, you don’t have to overdo it,” he says, his voice gravelly deep as he turns to face me. He stiffens slightly. It’s subtle but I notice.
“You’re back,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
“I was gonna call round tonight,” he mutters. His body language is off, like he doesn’t want me here in his space, and I wonder if the young girl staring back and forth between us has anything to do with that.
“I have car trouble,” I say, glancing behind me at my car. “It keeps making a funny noise when I start it up. I think it’s going to die on me.”
“We’re fully booked,” says the girl, tapping her pen on her chin.
My eyes meet his, and he gives a slight shrug. “I was about to close up,” he says, “but I can take a quick look.”
I’m already shaking my head and backing out the office. “Don’t worry, I’ll try another time.”
“I can book you in,” the girl offers, standing to grab the large book off the desk. I notice her cropped top and lack of braimmediately.Younger. Prettier. More fun.“I’ll call to do that,” I mutter, turning on my heel and rushing out.
I breathe the fresh air in deep, as I fumble with my keys.
“Wait.” His voice is deep and commanding, but I keep my back to him. “I’ll look at it,” he adds, stepping beside me and plucking the keys from my hand.
I watch as he climbs into my driver’s seat and starts the engine. It makes the whirring sound, and I relax slightly, pleased it doesn’t look like I lied to be here. He turns it off and tries again. “You been okay?” he asks, not looking at me.
“Yeah. You?”
He nods. “Busy.”
“I can see.”
He glances up at me, his eyes slightly narrowed like he’s trying to work out the meaning behind my words. “It sounds like the starter motor,” he adds, turning the engine off and stepping out. He drops the keys in my hand. “I can order the part.” I nod. “And if you’re free later, I can stop by.”
The office girl is watching us through the window, her arms resting across the desk like she’s fully invested in us. “New girl?” I state, nodding past him.
“Kasey,” he says.
“Is she a club girl or . . .” I trail off.
“No,” he says simply. I wait a beat, hoping he’ll explain, but when he doesn’t, my stomach ties in knots. “So, later?” he asks.
“I have plans,” I mutter, throwing my bag across to the passenger side.
“You came all this way with some bullshit story about your car. Don’t pretend you don’t wanna see me, Nita.”
I bristle at his words. “I was passing and saw the light on. Thought I’d ask you to check it wasn’t more serious,” I say.
“Hey, Daddy, we going home or what?”
Atlas stiffens at Kasey’s words, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “Ignore her. She’s trying to piss me off,” he mutters.
“Enjoy your evening,” I almost whisper as I slip into the car.
Atlas braces himself in the doorway, leaning down to look at me. “When can we talk, Nita?”
I start the engine. “There’s nothing to say,” I mutter.
“You heard me before I left, right?”
