Page 51 of The Curve
9
Atticus
I’m ready to fight for what I want. In the last forty-eight hours shit got real. Suddenly everything I thought was solid is on shifting sands. That fucker Jeffrey and his lack of compassion may have altered the direction of three lives.
Not only for Mallory, who was just beginning to feel more confident, but for Charlotteandme. One picture, a heartless attempt at a joke, and destinies evaporate into thin air.
The last few days have been a bitch. Being away from Charlotte when she needed me was frustrating. Never had that happen and don’t want it to happen again. And what about Mallory? I kept going over what I’d say to her, perfecting how I’d advise her. Just as if I were her parent. It didn’t escape me that I’ve started caring that much for this girl. She and Charlotte are part of me now. It feels like we’re a family. Or at least we could be, given time.
I won’t let this be the end. Ours is a love story.
I pull into the Starbucks parking lot and take the last available space. Getting out of the car, I start toward the door.
“Bro,” Brick calls.
Turning, I find my brother locking his car then walking in my direction. “Hey.”
He throws an arm around my neck and pulls me into him. It’s just like he used to do when we were kids and I was a foot shorter than him. I half expect him to give me a noogie.
“Glad you could meet me. I need your advice.”
A smile lifts the corners of his mouth, along with a surprised expression. “I’m here for you, brother.”
We take the seat by the window and fill the table with our coffees, Brick’s muffin and my lemon cake.
“That’s your breakfast?” he says.
“Yeah. It’s my fruit for the day.”
He chuckles and pulls his chair closer to the table. “What’s the latest with the Bay girls?”
I entwine my fingers behind my head and rest it in my palms. “We’ve only talked on the phone, and Mallory was in the room, so she couldn’t really tell me anything more.”
“You gonna see her today?” he says taking a bite of muffin.
“Yeah, we’re meeting for lunch. She had to work this morning. That’s why she didn’t meet me when we flew in.”
“What do you want my advice about?”
“About women. My two.”
“I take it you’re talking about Charlotte and Mallory.”
“Yeah.”
“What can I tellyou?You’ve got more experience with women than all the Swift men put together.”
“But y’all know more about love than I do. That’s new to me.”
He dips his chin and knits his eyebrows together. “Love?”
“Yep. I love her.”
“What does she think about that?”
“Haven’t told her yet.”
“Why are you burying the lead? Aren’t you sure?”
