Page 84 of Atlas
It’s not just her face, though yeah, that smile could knock the breath from a man. It’s the way she pushes her glasses up when they slide down her nose, the way she laughs with her whole body, like joy still surprises her. It’s how her hair always escapes whatever clip or band she’s used to tame it, falling into her face like it has a mind of its own. Like her.
Rue.
My Rue. Except she’s not mine anymore.
“Earth to Atlas.”
I blink, dragged back to the present by Grizz snapping his fingers in front of my face.
“What?”
He stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “I’ve been talking to you for five minutes. Not a flicker. You’re staring at her like you forgot how to breathe. Just go talk to her. Apologise.”
“I’ve tried,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my face. “You think I haven’t tried? She hates me.”
Grizz tilts his head. “She’s hurt. There’s a difference.”
I glance back across the room. Rue’s talking to someone—Lexi, maybe—but she won’t look my way. She hasn’t looked at me the same since I showed up at her door and told her the truth.
And god, if I could take it back.
Grizz walks off, muttering something about me being a hopeless bastard, and I stay rooted where I am. Not because I’ve got anything useful to do, but because I’m too caught in the guilt.
Then, Anita steps out of Axel’s office, laughing at something Tom’s just said. She looks good. Polished. Warm. Like she always does. And I hate that I notice. I hate it even more when she heads straight towards the old ladies gathered near the window, her voice already bright and familiar.
Rue’s there. She’s been mid-conversation, even smiling a little, soft and real, the kind of smile I’ve been aching to bring out of her again. But the second Anita joins the group, Rue takes a step back. Her shoulders tighten, and the wall goes back up.
Damn it.
I watch as Rue makes some excuse to Lexi and slips away, disappearing towards the back of the room without even glancing in my direction.
“Shit,” I mutter.
Anita fits too well. She always has, making everyone feel like they’ve known her for years. She slips into the role like it’s hers by right.
But today it feels like she’s taken something that wasn’t meant for her.
I cross the room and touch Anita’s elbow. “Can I talk to you?”
She gives a nod and follows me away from the others. I catch Rue watching, but the second we make eye contact, she looks away.
“Are you sticking around?” I ask.
“Axel’s put us on lockdown, do I have a choice?”
I shrug, stuffing my hands in my pockets. “It’s just, Rue’s here too.”
“Oh,” she almost whispers.
“And I told her the truth about what happened.” She gives a stiff nod, looking down at the ground. “She’s pissed, as you’d imagine. But with you here too, it’s going to be hard to get her to trust me.”
She frowns. “What are you saying, Atlas?”
“I want her to fit in,” I mutter, “with the old ladies. If you’re always there, she can’t do that.”
“So, you want me to not speak to anyone?”
I groan. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
