He sighs. “Yes, Dad. I jumped. And died, apparently.”
“What?!”
“I can’t believe you ratted me out,” Julian mutters, glaring daggers at where Atticus sits.
Tonight, Julian has taken the seat his father normally takes, right next to me.
Atticus just shrugs. “I had to explain how Atlas’s curse was broken.”
But now, when my brother looks at Julian, there is no trace of distrust in his gaze. Only humor and mild annoyance.
“Listen,” Julian continues. “I did what a man is supposed to do. Isn’t that what you always taught me?”
“Don’t youdareturn this on me—”
“And,” Julian cuts his father off. “I’m safe and sound. There are no more monsters. Can we not all be happy that everything is right in the world?”
At this, Atticus’s smile falls away, which I find odd, but he quickly dives into his roasted chicken. I’ll have to ask him about that later.
“How do I know you won’t do something reckless later on?” Jeremy asks, stabbing a green bean with his fork.
“I promise nothing,” Julian responds, grinning.
“Well, personally, I am very thankful,” Father cuts in, giving Julian a proud smile.
After his shower, before Jeremy was called, my parents spent a good thirty minutes gushing over Julian as he was worked on in the infirmary.
Atticus had called the doctor while we were in the bathroom. Turns out Julian has two broken ribs, but he’s lucky that’s the only consequence of his jump.
Father and Mother doted on him, offering him his job back and telling him how grateful they were, how he’sa part of the family now, to which Julian said he wouldn’t accept, as family members can’t date other family members.
I thought that was very cute.
But then Jeremy showed up for dinner, and the atmosphere plummeted again.
“Me as well,” Mother interjects. “I am extremely grateful.”
“Of course you are; it wasn’tyourchild that jumped,” Jeremy grumbles.
Father laughs lightly, taking his bitter tone with a grain of salt. “I understand your anger, Jeremy; I really do. But the boys are safe now, and you’ll be under the same roof and can keep an eye on him. Isn’t that enough?”
Jeremy sighs, dropping his fork onto his plate with aclack.
Then, he says, “Alright, alright.” His eyes flick to me, and then he smiles softly. “I’m happy you’re safe, Young Master Atlas.”
“Thank you.” I grin, squeezing Julian’s thigh once more.
A pleasant silence falls over the dinner table as we begin to eat, but it only lasts all of five minutes before Oscar enters, having been keeping Abigail busy so the grown-ups could talk.
Now, as she enters, her big green eyes well up with tears as she runs to Julian’s side.
“Julie! I thought you left for good!” She buries her face in his stomach where he sits, and Julian winces.
“I would never leave you, my friend,” Julian wheezes. “I’d stay forever if I were allowed.”
“Can you? Oh, Papa,please,can Julie stay forever?” Abigail turns her tear-soaked face towards our father, and if that alone isn’t enough to convince him, what Julian did for me is.
“Of course he can. He can stay for as long as he likes.”
