Page 81 of Atlas & Miles
Henry tapped the bar top, stepping back. “Take care of yourself. I hope everything works out with your boy.”
“Me, too.” With a wave, I headed back to the booth to tell Anson and the rest of the group I was leaving.
The hole Miles had left in my heart was still aching, but coming here tonight, being around like-minded people had helped, and the pain had mellowed a bit.
God, I hoped Miles would come back to me, and I still missed him like I was missing half of my heart, but the hurt was just a little more bearable tonight.
And that would have to be good enough for now.
Chapter twenty-five
Miles
Late June
Inow had a Thursday night routine, and after three weeks, I’d made three new friends, attended a baseball game in Atlanta with one guy—completely platonically, of course—and I’d even been invited to a poker game. I’d never played the game, but I had a good poker face apparently, and once they’d explained the rules, I’d cleaned up. They’d even invited me back.
Now, almost four weeks after the reunion, I barely recognized myself in the mirror, but in the best of ways. I’d figured out how to make friends, just like I’d known I could. I’d put myself out there, and people didn’t hate me.
Oh, I’d had a run-in with an asshole on my second Thursday night out, but by then, Mose knew me well enough to stick up for me and kicked the guy out. That was the night I bonded with another guy over being high school jocks and we set up the ballgame for the following weekend.
I was having fun and being social for the first time in my life, but I still missed Atlas with every fiber of my being. Despite my life being more full, I felt the emptiness he’d left in my heart acutely.
He was coming back in a few weeks, and I had no clue how I should feel about that. I was incredibly excited to see him again, but with all the changes I’d made—Lars had even mentioned how much lighter I seemed during today’s session—would he even recognize me? Had I changed so much I couldn’t be the boy he wanted? Was I so different now that I wouldn’t wanthim?
I checked my light-blue T-shirt and dark jeans in the mirror one last time then headed to Timbers & Tallboys.
Dropping onto my usual stool, I ordered my favorite beer from Bronwyn, who I’d learned was Mose’s business partner, and she delivered it with a genial nod. I had just taken my first sip when a voice I barely recognized but unequivocally remembered called for a mocktail beside me.
“Holden?” I blinked as I turned to him, wondering if I was imagining things.
“Yes—oh! Miles, hi!” He turned to me, a kind smile spreading on his face. “How have you been? Were you at the reunion?”
I nodded, taking a swig of my beer. “I was. Reece told me he saw you there.”
Holden’s cheeks got a little red at that as he slid onto the stool next to me. “I-I . . . yes, I s-saw him there, too.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh? Did something happen? He told me he spoke with you and said, I quote, ‘I need to make amends with him, big time.’”
His blush deepened, but he didn’t say anything.
He looked so cute, I couldn’t help but push. “So? Did he make amends?”
Biting his lip, Holden nodded. “He did. Many times.” The last part was a whisper I could barely hear over the din of the bar,so I wasn’t positive what he’d said. And even if I’d heard what I thought I did, that was cryptic as hell.
“Come again?”
Holden choked, coughing as he grabbed the mocktail Bronwyn had just placed in front of him and took a giant swallow to clear his throat.
“You okay?”
Holden nodded, his face the color of a tomato now, and I hid my grin behind my glass. Because the pieces had fallen into place, and I suspected what he was getting at.
I took pity on the poor man and changed the subject.
As we talked and I got to know this guy I barely knew in high school, I was a little in awe. He was one of the strongest people I’d met, enduring the bullying Reece had conferred on him and building a successful business—using yarn, I might add—doing what he loved. Resilient didn’t even begin to describe him. And now, if I was reading his blushes correctly, he might be finding love, too?
I was so happy for him.
