Page 34 of Her Last Audition


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The room seems even smaller with the two of us in it, Atlas’ huge frame seeming to take up half the space and suddenly a wave of shyness hits me. Swallowing deeply, I manage to bring my face up to look at his, taking the time to look more closely.

The burn on his face seems less pronounced now that his expression has softened, the scowl that seems to grace it so often faded away with only us here. His eyes are a vivid blue and his shirt is still unbuttoned to reveal the huge expanse of his chest underneath. I feel my cheeks flush as I realize I’m staring.

“I’m sorry I had to do that,” he says, his voice low and gruff. The words seem awkward and I get the feeling he’s not a man who apologizes often.

“I…I—” I close my mouth, unsure of what to say.

“Say it,” he says.

“I don’t really know what to say,” I tell him honestly, and am rewarded with the corner of his mouth turning up.

I also get the feeling he’s not a man who smiles often.

The awkwardness seems to dissipate with that, and he takes my hand and leads me to the cot, frowning down at it before sitting. I’m amazed it doesn’t break under his weight, but just creaks as it settles.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, a hand coming up to trace above the cut on my shoulder. I turn my head to peer at it but honestly, I had already forgotten. I can feel my face get redder as I start to realize what actually just happened.

“I-I…No,” I finally settle with that. Questions roll around in my mind but I hardly know where to start, and keep wavering between feeling insanely ashamed and embarrassed, and then comfortable with the practical stranger beside me.

“You...you said you know Jay?” I ask after a moment, and Atlas nods, his mouth thinning.

“He’s a good man and a friend of mine. He called me a few days ago because he was worried about you.”

I can’t help but feel a small flush of warmth for the homeless man. I wonder if my family is wondering where I am yet? I usually only talk to Mom once every month or two, and since we spoke only a few weeks ago I don’t expect she’d be wondering for a while. It's a sobering thought there are so few people to miss me but a homeless man is the only one to look for me when I’m missing.

“He is a good man,” I say, unsure of what else to say. I look down at my hand and realize it’s still inside of Atlas’ massive one. Unsure of what else to say, I let my eyes trace the shape of them together.

Whereas mine is small, pale and fair, his is large and rugged with callouses and scars. Somehow, they look good together.

“I don’t think I can get you out of here today,” he tells me after a few minutes. I look over at him and notice how uncomfortable he looks, a frown tugging on his facial scar. I want to ask about it, but it isn’t the time. “I’ll try, but it might take some more time.”

I nod even as my heart drops.

“Are, I mean, do you…” I trail off, unsure of how to say the words I want to.

“Say it,” he says again and still, I hesitate. He sighs.

“Kinsey, right?”

I nod.

“Kinsey, you can give it to me straight, say what you want to.” He shifts, turning, so we’re facing each other. “I’m not a good man, but I’m an honest one. I can be a bit too blunt sometimes, but I won’t lie or go back on my word. It's who I am, how I live. Somewhere like this, that may be hard to believe, but it's true. So, tell me what you have to say, because I don’t have long and I want to make sure I’ve done what I can for you before I have to go.”

I consider his words a moment.

“Are you...one of them?” I finally ask, my voice tentative. “The, umm, Iron Elite?”

The corner of his mouth turns up, but this time there’s no humor in it.

“I will be soon,” he says, his voice flat. The warmth from a moment before is gone and I deflate slightly, unsure of what to say to that.

“Anything else?” he asks after a minute and I start to shake my head before stopping myself, turning to look into his eyes.

“Why do you care what happens to me?” I ask.

He pauses a moment as though unsure of what to say to that.

“I told you, I won’t lie, but I don’t know how to answer that either,” he finally says. My brows knit together and I search his face and see nothing but honesty. Maybe I am cracking up. Would make sense, considering all this craziness. Despite the million other questions I have, I give him a short nod.

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