Page 82 of Atlas & Miles
As we wrapped up and I closed out my tab a little earlier than normal, our conversation played in my head. If Holden could find happiness with a man who’d bullied him—if Holden couldforgivehim—why was I holding back? I was officially out of the closet, I’d been going to therapy consistently and actually making progress despite it only being a month, and I’d learned how to make friends.
Hadn’t I accomplished everything I’d stayed in Gomillion to do?
Sure, I had trauma in my life from the way my mom had treated me, and it wouldn’t heal overnight. That might be something I’d deal with for a while, maybe for the rest of my life, but I could heal in Seattle just as easily as I could here.
In the months I’d been with Atlas, he’d inadvertently shown me who I wanted to be. He’d shown me I’d had the strength to fight for what I wanted all along.
And what I wanted was Atlas.
I only had one thing left to do, one thing to put in order before I made a move that would change the course of my life. But I was finally ready for it. I wanted it. And it was time to reach for it with both hands—no doubts, no hesitation, no holding back.
It was time to be with the one I loved forever.
On my way across the parking lot, I pulled my phone from my front pocket to text my sister. When I asked if we could meet up tomorrow, the sooner the better, she suggested an early breakfast at her house before work. I confirmed with a heartfelt thank-you then climbed into my car and hurried home.
As soon I got inside, I toed off my shoes, dropped to my couch, and emailed the administrative assistant at Atlas’s firm. He’d given me the contact at Chase’s insistence in case I wanted to fly out to meet him, but I hadn’t expected to use it so soon.
Despite it being Thursday night, the administrative assistant, Shelly, sent me a plane ticket in my name only an hour later after a few emails back and forth confirming my information. I breathed easier then, knowing I would soon be in the arms of my Daddy again, this time with no end date on our relationship.
And after an early night, an even earlier wakeup, and a quick flurry of apologetic messages to indefinitely postpone my upcoming appointments—as well as putting a hold on the rest of my schedule on the task app—I headed over to Claudia’s house for breakfast.
I needed to tell her goodbye.
***
Claudia, dressed in what I assumed was her work suit since she was likely going in to the office after this, greeted me atthe door, Ophelia at her side. My sister’s fiancée—who was only a year older than Cloudy—had long silver hair that grazed her waist. I could never figure out if it was natural or dyed, but it didn’t matter, because it was gorgeous and suited her well.
I stepped into my little sister’s embrace, the scent of her subtle lilac and lilies perfume smelling like home. After she’d held me tight for at least ten seconds—a little on the long side for her, actually—she finally stepped away and let Ophelia sneak in a hug. We grinned at each other as we pulled away; we were similar in temperament and often shared conspiratorial glances at all of Cloudy’s quirks. Long hugs were one of her many endearing qualities, though that embracewasa little odd.
Given my out-of-the-blue text last night, I thought Claudia might suspect why I called her—hence the extended hug—but she wouldn’t press. She’d let me tell her what I came to say when I was ready.
Ophelia flashed me a bright smile. “Miles, it’s so good to see you! Come, come,” she encouraged before turning to lead us toward the kitchen at the back of their house. Her floor-length layered skirt, made out of some kind of gauzy fabric with a muted floral pattern, swished around her legs. I followed dutifully behind her, Claudia bringing up the rear in their short hallway, before we stepped into the expansive kitchen.
Cloudy’s fiancée was an amateur baker, and given the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen—cinnamon, butter, sugar, bacon, and strong coffee—she’d baked something especially for us this morning. I couldn’t wait to see what it was.
Ophelia pulled a glass dish out of the oven, and as soon as the smell hit my nose, I hummed. “Is that your famous homemade coffee cake?”
She grinned, setting the dish on the stovetop before reaching back in the oven for a cookie sheet filled with bacon. Once she’dset the sizzling tray down, she pulled the oven mitts off her hands. “Of course. Only the best for Cloudy’s favorite brother.”
I moaned. Ophelia’s homemade cinnamon coffee cake was legendary—at least in my book. Easily my favorite baked good.
Claudia groaned, smacking me on the shoulder on her way to wrap an arm around Ophelia’s waist. “Ugh, see what you’ve done, Miley? You have my own fiancée calling me that ridiculous nickname!”
I shrugged. “Sorry not sorry?”
She grabbed the oven mitt off the counter and chucked it at me, but I plucked it from the air easily, pulling it against my chest. “Can you believe this is how she treats me, Phee?”
Ophelia wrapped her arms around Claudia’s waist as my sister lunged for me, holding her back. “I’m going to have to separate you two, aren’t I?”
I grinned. “I suppose you may have to if Cloudy can’t behave.”
My sister just stuck her tongue out at me, then the three of us burst into laughter.
“I swear, you two, you’re worse than children.” She grabbed a wooden spatula from a drawer and pointed it at Claudia. “I willnotbe the only disciplinarian when we have kids.”
I gasped, freezing in place. “You’re planning to have kids?”
Claudia turned to me slowly, a sheepish smile on her face. “We are. We actually have an appointment with an adoption agency next month.”
