Page 56 of Atlas
“But I’m happy to.”
“Jolene has her things at my place. I told you she stayed the night because of the warning from Niklavs’ wife. My driver will take her home later.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll see you two when you get back from Europe.”
I hugged Diane tight. “Thank you so much for being you. I’m so sorry that you got dragged into all of this.”
“Aww, sweetie, I’m just sorry it happened to you. Call me if you need anything.” Diane moved over and hugged Atlas too. “Same goes for you, Batman.”
“Geez, not you too.”
Diane chuckled as she left the room. “I think Brian was onto something.”
When Atlas and I left the room, he walked at a fast pace.
“Sorry, but I’m taking it slow because of the concussion,” I said behind him.
He stopped and looked back, and then he opened his arm and placed it around my shoulder when I was close enough. “You’re sure you want to come to Dublin?”
“Yes.”
“I thought that maybe you’d like to fly home and be with friends and family for a while to process what happened.”
I looked up at him. “If you don’t want me to come, you can say it.”
Atlas stopped and faced me head-on with a grave expression. “That’s not it at all. I want to make sure you’re coming because you want to and not because you feel obligated.”
“I want to go! Europe has been on my bucket list since I was a small child, and I’m genuinely excited to talk to your siblings.”
“Even after all that just happened?”
We stood in the hallway of the hospital with our eyes locked, and my will set on convincing him. “Yes. If anything, it’s a reminder to live life to the fullest. We came close to…” A sudden wave of memories came back from last night and made me look down and breathe deep.
“You don’t have to say it. I know.” Atlas rubbed my arm.
“Uh-huh.” Tears were welling up in my eyes, and my head felt dizzy.
“Come here.” Atlas pulled me in and engulfed me in a tight hug. My fingers curled around his shirt on his back as I clung onto him. He was right, it would make sense to fly home to my parents and receive love and attention, but I was a grown woman tired of my friends and family worrying about me. I would call them to let them know, but I wouldn’t hide in their guestroom and feel sorry for me.
“I’m sorry,” I cried.
“Don’t be. You don’t deserve this. No one does,” Atlas muttered low into my hair. We stood like that for what felt like a long time, and he didn’t let go even when a nurse passed us with a low, “Excuse me.”
“I’m okay now,” I said after a while, pulled back, and dried my eyes looking up at him. “And I just realized that I haven’t even thanked you for saving me.”
Atlas’ face softened, making him look five years younger.
Taking his hands, I smiled up at him with my eyes wet. “Thank you. I probably wouldn’t be here if not for you.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, and there was a trace of moisture in his eyes. “You’re welcome.”
CHAPTER 13
Business Class
Atlas
Wednesday evening, Jolene and I took off to Dublin. Walking through the airport, I found it hard to ignore people’s reaction to my face.
