“Atticus,” he starts, voice hesitant as I approach. “Are you alright?”
“Better than alright,” I reply. “I think my runs are helping with endorphins or something; I haven’t felt this good in a while.”
And it’s true. Physically, I feelfantastic.But emotionally? Ah, well, he doesn’t need to know.
“You… feel different,” Atlas adds.
And he’s staring at me now with something I don’t like, something I must be misinterpreting.
Fear.
I let out a startled, small laugh. “You haven’t even touched me since you’ve been back.”
“No, I meant…” Atlas takes a deep breath. “I’m going to say this because I love you. Go to the chapel and pray.”
And without another word, he turns and heads down Hall E3, toward the music room.
What wasthat?
Sure, I haven’t been in that chapel since the night I used theBlack Book, but surely he hasn’t noticed… and Atlas hasn’t even been very religious since his curse broke.
Something about Julian teaching him not to feel guilty for his desires or whatever, if I remember the conversation we had a few weeks ago correctly.
I make a mental note to circle back on this, to grill him for answers, as I head out the door.
Jogging through the trees, I keep my eyes peeled. If Cameron is out here, he’ll be within the tree line, somewhere near the main gates. At least, that’s where I’ve found him the past two times.
But as I run, I see no sign of him. In fact, I don’t see another living thing until I’m circling toward the front gates, and I spotCassiestanding by the callbox, hesitating.
Jesus Christ. This woman cannot take a hint.
And maybe that’s partially my fault for allowing communication so I could track down Cameron recently.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Cassie as a person. Over the period of time I spent in her company, when I first started seeing Cameron a few years ago, she was funny and kind.
But the insistent messaging? The mild flirting? The fact that I still don’t know if it washerwho left that hickey on Cameron, despite her telling him she likes me yesterday? Yeah, I’m kind of done with running into her.
For a moment, I debate turning around and doing my best to get out of here before she spots me. But I also want her to leave my property, so I swallow my irritation and walk out from behind the trees, approaching her.
“Cassie,” I greet, watching as her blue eyes light up at the sight of me.
“Atticus! I was just about to buzz you. Do you have some free time?” she asks sweetly.
I do, in fact, have some free time, considering I planned my day around the off chance of finding Cameron out here and doing somethingdirtyto him.
But I keep this to myself.
“I’m a bit busy with—”
“I’ll only need a few minutes!” she insists.
I sigh. “Alright.”
Again, I do think Cassie is a nice person, and I’m not completely heartless, so I’ll allow her to say her piece and then send her away.
“Since you know I had no part in what happened at Kim’s party a few years ago, that I was just a bystander—and because you’ve been so open to talking lately, am I right to assume you’ve forgiven me?”
Wow. She’s kind of throwing Cameron under the bus here, right? Insisting once again that it was all his fault, not hers.
