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I glanced back at the yellow-and-black Lambo and winced. This wasn’t going to end well. I wouldn’t be surprised if Joseph never let me drive any of his cars again.
Stepping forward cautiously, I cleared my throat. “Are you all right?”
He didn’t answer as his shoulders began to shake. He kept his head between his knees, and I swallowed around the nervous lump in my throat. I came to a stop in front of him and slowly went to my knees. I didn’t know if he would attack or ignore me or something in between.
“You kinda wrecked your dad’s car.” I let out a small, anxious laugh and glanced at the obvious dents. “You hate me that much? I’d have rather you take it out on me than the Lambo.”
“Not everything is about you, Birdy.” His voice wobbled. Finally, he raised his head, and I was surprised his eyes were bloodshot and teary. This wasn’t an image I’d ever thought I would see of Atlas Frosteson. “Sometimes, it’s about someone else.”
“Your dad?” I settled on my ass and crossed my legs. “Is he the reason you did this?”
“I hate him more than I hate you.” His mouth pulled back in a sneer, but more tears filled his eyes. “I’m so fucking sick and tired of trying hard for him and getting nothing but disappointment. Helovesyou, can’t stop bragging about you, but me? I’m his fucking son, and I get nothing but lectures. I fucking hate him. Ihate him.”
I didn’t think the words were for me, but I listened because he deserved someone to hear what he was saying. As much as he drove me to want to strangle him, he was as human as the rest of us, and we were teammates. And hell, we’d fucked more than once. I think that he’d earned my attention when he needed it.
“Do you want to go home?” I whispered. “I’ll let you fuck me as hard as you want.”
He grunted and glanced at me from under wet lashes. He huffed and shook his head. “I don’t want to fuck you tonight.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “That’s fine.”
He ran a hand over his face and sighed. “But let’s go. It’s easier to get this over with now than later. Maybe Dad will be in a good mood with our win.”
I didn’t argue with him because he knew Joseph better than me. I grabbed his elbow, and he didn’t shove me away as I helped him stand. He didn’t seem drunk, so at least Joseph couldn’t throw that in his face. We walked around to the passenger side, and I opened the door for him. He gave me a surprised look before he slid into the car. After I’d closed his door, I went around to the other side and got into the driver’s seat.
I hit the ignition and the vehicle rumbled to life. One glance at the windows had me cringing again, but Atlas had curled in on himself against his side of the car, and I let him. We stayed in silence as I drove back toward the house, a million excuses running through my mind. I could imagine the conversation going in many ways, and none of them were great. Hopefully Mom was there to play referee between Joseph and Atlas.
When I drove into the driveway, I parked, and then turned off the Lambo.
Atlas didn’t say a word as he opened his door and got out, and I did the same from the driver’s side. He walked toward the front of the house, but as if he’d sensed something was wrong, Joseph met us at the front door, his eyebrows furrowed as he glanced from Atlas to me and back again.
“Why are you home already? Shouldn’t you boys be celebrating your win?” He punched me lightly on the shoulder. “Your first game as captain, too, superstar.”
Atlas snorted, and Joseph shot him a mean glance.
I shook my head. “Something happened to your car, Joseph.”
Joseph took a moment to process what I’d said before he pushed between me and Atlas and stormed down the sidewalk toward his Lamborghini. He froze, and even though we could only see his back under the front lights of the house, I saw him tense in anger.
Atlas sighed. “Dad, I—”
“I did it,” I interrupted, earning a shocked glance from Atlas and Joseph, who spun furious eyes toward me. Swallowing, I tried to calm my racing heart. “It was an accident. I was driving, and this puppy ran in front of me, and I swerved and slid through some trees and fuck. It was scary as hell. I think some rocks hit the window as we slid through the trees, but luckily, they were only small.”
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Mom came rushing out, clearly hearing the story, and grabbed my face between her hands. She turned my head from one side to the other, checking for injuries, before she moved on to Atlas and did the same. “Are you hurt?”
“Look at my car, Elissa.” Joseph waved his hand toward the Lamborghini.
I winced.Wrong move, Joe.
Mom slammed her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “It’s a car. You can repair it, but you can’t fix your son or mine. You should be thankful that Atlas and Wystan are safe.”
Mom was the exact referee I needed. I almost kissed her cheek in thanks right then and there.
The fight in Joseph left him in a long sigh and he walked back toward us. He laid one hand on my shoulder and the other on Atlas’s. “Are you boys healthy?”
“Yeah.” Atlas shrugged and seemed to revel in the way his father patted him gently on the face.
“Good. I’m glad.” He sighed. “Don’t worry about the car. We can get it fixed.”
