Page 37 of Atlas
“That’s nice.” Jolene’s hands played with the glass of water in front of her. “Atlas, thank you for letting me stay here last night. About that thing, we spoke about last night, ehh, you know, the trip to Dublin…”
I watched her waiting for her to finish her sentence.
“Did you mean it?”
Yesterday at the Super Bowl, Jolene had been confident and making new friends left and right. Now, she sat in my kitchen with her hair a little messy, a smirch of orange paint by her hairline, and her shoulders turning forward, making her look small and fragile.
“I mean, we were both a little drunk last night, and bringing me to meet your family is a lot.” Her eyes widened, and she hurried to clear that up. “Not that it’s comparable to introducing someone you’re dating, but still, they might think that something is going on between us. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position like that.”
My coffee machine brewed tasty coffee, but it was loud as hell and forced Jolene to stop talking for a moment. I took in the aroma that spread around me, and it soothed my senses.
“Why do you keep saying it that way?” I asked.
“Say what?”
“When you wanted me to agree to go with you to the Super Bowl, you told me that you’d turn away if anyone pointed a camera at me so that no one would get the idea that we might be together. And now you’re worried that I wouldn’t want to introduce you to my family. Why?”
Jolene’s eyebrows drew together, and she pulled a leg up on the chair and hooked her arm around it. “You misunderstand. It’s not that I think you wouldn’t introduce me to your family. After all, how would I interview your siblings if you didn’t? What I was trying to say is that I’m aware that it would be uncomfortable to you if people assumed that we’re together.”
“Because I’m your boss?” I had a hard time keeping my eyes on her face. With the way she had pulled her right foot up upon the chair and sat with her arm wrapped around her knee, a lot of soft and inviting skin was visible to me. Her entire back thigh looked smooth and delicious, and I could see no visible panty line. For a second, I indulged in the fantasy that she might be naked under my t-shirt.
“Yes, because you’re my boss and because I’m not in the same category as the women you’ve dated before.”
“Interesting. And what category would that be?”
She gave a small laugh. “From the pictures I’ve seen, I’d say you’re attracted to genetically modified superhumans.”
I laughed over the rim of my coffee cup, and it made her relax a little.
“Anyway, I called and left a message for my contact at the police station back home before I went to bed.”
“Good.”
“It’s nine here, and they’re two hours behind, so I figure he’ll call me back within an hour or two.”
I nodded to signal that I’d heard her and opened my fridge to find something to eat. “Eh, do you want to go out for breakfast?”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m gonna grab something on my way to work.”
Closing the fridge, I spun to face her. “You’re not going to work today.” My tone was a bit harder than intended.
“Of course, I am. Atlas, I can’t stop my life because of this man.”
My throat and chest tightened. “He can stop your life in a second, Jolene. You can’t take this lightly.”
“I’m not, but a life lived in fear is no life at all.”
“You can tell yourself that, but fear serves a purpose, and that purpose is to stay alive. Right now, you’re in danger.”
“But…” She looked down and frowned when she noticed how much skin she had shown without thinking about it. Her foot came down to the floor in a quick movement, and her face flew back up as to see if I had noticed.
I pretended that I hadn’t by continuing my argument, “You can work from here. Make a list of what you need from your apartment and the office. I’ll bring it to you.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Are you this nice to all your employees?”
