Page 84 of Atlas & Miles
But there was a first time for everything.
I dropped my car in long-term parking since I didn’t know how long I’d be staying in Seattle and rushed into the airport, buoyed by the adrenaline running through my veins at the thought of seeing Atlas again, of confessing I wanted everything with him, of telling him I was moving to Seattle to be with him.
Gomillion was the place I wasfrom, but I’d never been meant to stay there. I knew that now. I was meant to spread my wings, follow the person I loved more than anything to another city where we could be our truest selves. Where Atlas could be the perfect genderfluid human they were without daily fear of judgment or retribution.
As the plane traversed the miles between us—turned out, I loved flying—my stomach churned at the thought of what happened next. I wasn’t worried Atlas wouldn’t want me, but I still wasn’t sure how it was all going to work out. When—and how—would I move? What would I do for work? Would we be happy living together?
At least I knew the answer to that last one.Of coursewe would be happy living together. It had been all I’d been able to think about when Atlas had mentioned it, and truth be told, it had been in the back of my mind for weeks before that.
I was ready to start our life together.
My plane landed at SeaTac around two-thirty local time, and I quickly headed to baggage claim. After I’d, well, claimed my baggage, I spotted my name on a tablet being held by a man in a suit and tie. Shelly had told me they’d send someone to pick me up, but as I followed them outside, I balked at the town car they led me to. Fuck, this firmreallyliked Atlas.
We headed out into Friday traffic, and I was glad I wasn’t driving. The interstate was packed but moving steadily as we drove north into the city, so I took the time to admire the surrounding landscape—the massive pine trees, plentiful hills, and even peeks of the mountains on the horizon when the clouds broke. Shit, it was beautiful here. I’d never been west of Atlanta, and these mountains were so much different than the ones back home. They took my breath away.
It was three-thirty by the time we pulled up to a high-rise office building downtown. The limo driver, who’d introduced himself at the airport as Dave, dropped me off at the main entrance, explaining he’d deliver my luggage to Atlas’s apartment. That only perplexed me for a second until I realized that Chase’s company owned his apartment, too.
I glanced up at the imposing glass façade, taking a deep breath before stepping inside the bright and airy lobby. And as I stepped onto the elevator and rode it up to Atlas’s floor, butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I was here to claim my person, the one I loved, the sunshine of my life.
And I didn’t want to wait another second to make him mine.
Chapter twenty-six
Atlas
Isighed, leaning back in my chair while I pinched the bridge of my nose. It had been a long week, most of it filled with work so the grief of missing Miles didn’t overwhelm me—at least not during the day—and there were still a few hours left. I’d just put the finishing touches on my latest client proposal, and with a few quick clicks, it was sent off to Shelly to send over to them with next steps. I was more than ready to crash.
I loved my job, but lately, usually as I lay in bed before I fell asleep, I wondered if moving here had really been worth it. Would this ache in my chest ever go away? Should I just quit and move back to Gomillion to be with Miles? If anything, I loved him more now than when I’d left, if that was possible.
I knew Chase would be okay with me starting my weekend before five. I’d certainly been putting in the hours. I could even take a quick trip back to Gomillion, start packing up my house a little earlier than I’d planned, and see the man I loved in person. It had been way too long, and this waiting was torture.
No, if I went back, I couldn’t see him. That would be violating Miles’s boundaries, and I would never do that intentionally. Maybe going back wasn’t the best idea.
Fuck, this was hard.
“Knock, knock.”
I looked up at the sound of my friend’s voice and flashed him a smile. One glance at the clock said it was nearly four—later than I thought—so even if I left now, I’d barely be taking off early. “Chase, hi. I was just going to come find you, actually. Do you have any issue with me heading out now? The Bryant proposal is in Shelly’s inbox, ready to go.”
Chase stayed leaning against the doorway instead of coming in and dropping into one of the comfortable visitor chairs on the other side of my desk, like he usually did. I raised my eyebrow as he waved me off. “You know you don’t have to ask. But I was going to suggest that anyway.” He gave me a shit-eating grin. “You have a visitor.”
I blinked. “A client?”
He pushed off the doorframe and tapped it before taking a step back, winking at someone in the hallway I couldn’t see. “Not at all.” He was nearly out of sight when he called, “Enjoy your weekend, Atlas!”
I stood up from behind my mahogany desk, about to chase him down and ask him what that was about when someone else came into view.
And my heart stopped.
Miles was here.
My hand flew to my wobbling lip as tears welled in my eyes. “Miles?” I asked, my voice a whisper and just as shaky as my lip. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him with all the confidence of a man who knew what he wanted.Please letit be me, I sent out to the Universe as I circled my desk to meet him.
Miles didn’t stop until he crashed into me, curling both hands around my jaw and pulling me into a searing kiss. The moment his lips met mine, my entire soul exhaled, and I knew I was home. I knew this was forever. I would never give this man up again.
He took charge of the kiss, and I let him, loving this new side of him. I opened for him, letting his tongue explore my mouth as the kiss deepened, our bodies melting together until there wasn’t an inch of space between us.
