AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m not. I just haven’t finished.
And you’re texting during an exam? What kind of college do you attend?
I never said I was taking my exam. Just that I wasn’t done.
I frown because the last we talked, his exam was just after 2 pm. It’s barely 4 so unless he sped through it, he should still be in the exam room. I dial his number, a giggle filtering through. A woman’s giggle. “Where is Atlas?”
“Right here.” I recognize the voice as Tracey’s, one of Atlas’ coworkers. “He’s a little busy.”
“Give me the phone!” Atlas whisper-yells. “Sorry, she was looking at my phone and grabbed it when you called. No! You can’t call him Daddy Raphael. Fuck. Sorry.”
I can’t help but laugh at how awkward my lover is. He’s adorable when he’s flustered and even more so when he’s embarrassed. I love his relationship with Tracey and how he can share this part of his life with someone else. “Atlas, your exam is over, right?”
“Yeah, we went for ice cream as a stress relief. You said you had meetings so I was just waiting.”
“I’ll be there in 20. We have a date if I remember correctly.”
“We do,” he purrs in my ear.
“Just one question, Atlas. You did pass that final, right? I’d like to celebrate but…” I’m teasing, knowing how hard Atlas studied the past few days. I get a mumbled yes before Tracey starts giggling again and then Atlas rushes a goodbye, telling me he loves me. I just hope he’ll still love me after I show up in the present I’m bringing.
Chapter 19
ATLAS
I fidget, perched on one of the stone walls encasing green shrubbery and a host of other plants that I couldn’t name even if I tried. Tracey decided to wait with me as the bus hadn’t come yet and I’m grateful for her presence. She’d be headed home, anyway, so naturally she wanted to keep me company and see Raphael sweep me off my feet—her words, not mine.
“What kind of car do you think he’s going to pull up in?” she muses.
“He only has one,” I huff. “Not like a garage of them sitting around. I think.” I haven’t really explored Raphael’s house, not because I don’t want to but because I’m comfortable in the spaces I’ve taken over. I chew on my bottom lip, wondering where Raphael is despite the fact that he said it’d be thirty minutes and we’re barely hitting the twenty-minute mark. “Where is he?”
“Impatient, much? Focus on something else. Like, oh my gosh! We’re done! We’re graduating next week!” Tracey pops to her feet and does a little jig, trying to pull me out of my head. “You’ve worked harder than absolutely anyone I know, Atlas and you made it.”
I did, didn’t I? A small smile forms on my face as I silently tell my mom that I did it. She always wanted to see me graduate and I hope she’s looking down on me, happy with where I am now. “Yeah, we’re graduated,” I say, realizing that I have the whole world at my feet.
“What do you think you’re going to do?”
“A man at the event handed me his card. He owns a vet clinic apparently.”
Her eyes widen until I’m sure they’re going to pop out of her head. “You met Shawn? Like THE SHAWN FORD?” She squeals, jumping up and down as she pats my shoulders. “Atlas, did you even look up his vet clinic? It’s a fucking resort. Like every fucking animal you could ever dream of. Wait, shit. Remember that fieldtrip we had during senior year of undergrad?”
I don’t understand what she’s getting at but I nod anyway. It was one of those free trips where we weren’t required to write a report after, mostly because a benefactor paid for all of us to attend. “Yeah?”
“That’s his.”
There’s no way I met the man who owns Reptilian Springs. That place was like something out of a magazine, showcasing many different animals, more than just reptiles. Exotic birds, mammals, and the occasional cat and dog located in the attached shelter. All of those stupid facts I had learned over the years would be perfect for a guide to know. And now with my degree? I have the knowledge to keep them safe and healthy as well.
I scramble for my wallet from my bag and unearth the business card that Shawn gave me. Tracey snatches it and I move to stand beside her, our heads pressed together as we stare at the card. “You really did meet Shawn. I’m jealous but you also deserve absolutely everything in this world. Oh my god, you’re going to love it there!” Her words are cut off by a honk, both of us looking up at my beautiful broken car sitting by the curb. My heart jumps at the view of Raphael sliding out of the driver’s seat and throwing me a small wave.
“Bye,” I yell at Tracey and take off to my car, Raphael catching me before I collide headfirst into the hood of my car. “Umph.”
His arms band around my back as he stuffs his face into the crook of my neck. “Hey, little one. Happy to see me or just the car?”
“Both,” I huff, trying to pull out of his arms to see my baby that’s been missing from the parking lot for the past two days. Raphael tightens his arms around me, laughing at my antics. “Yes, happy to see you. You fixed my car?”
“It was ready a little sooner than planned and I thought you might like to drive it to the wharf.” Raphael releases me, leaning back against my car as he watches me run around it, touching and giggling that it’s fixed.
I make it back around to Raphael before leaning up on my tip toes to kiss his lips. I place my hands on his arms folded across his chest, using it as purchase to pull me up farther. “Thank you so much. Fuck, I didn’t think. Thank you.”
