AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Atlas
Istoodthere,staring at her empty bed. So much had happened so quickly. My chest felt hollow, as if there were nothing left inside it.
Wren had been crying so hard and my arms had ached to hold her. But I was the reason for those tears. Maybe not entirely directly, but they were my fault. I couldn’t blame her for wanting to leave.
Eventually, I made my feet bring me back inside the house. It was dark and quiet and as I stumbled into the kitchen, there was still a small puddle of blood on the floor where Ty had hurt his hand punching the wall. Again, because of me.
The darkness of the house pressed in on me. The utter loneliness crushed my hollow chest until I couldn’t breathe. I shoved my hands through my hair, pulling on the short strands. I deserved this loneliness. My head swam, and I leaned on the counter, taking deep breaths.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I took it out, happy for the distraction. When I saw Wren’s name, I tapped on it, excited, hoping she had changed her mind and was coming back. But as I opened the text, that fleeting hope died.
going 2 stay with ellie for a couple days
That was all it said. I slammed my phone on the counter so hard it almost cracked. I marched to my room, not even turning any lights on. I deserved the anxiety. I deserved to be alone.
I hadn’t slept much that night. Luckily, I had to work early. When my alarm went off, I got out of bed, dressed, showered and left. I tried to forget everything that had happened the day before. Tried to go on as if everything was normal. I went to the station, and I did my job. I focused on my work. But still, every moment was spent thinking of her. I tried to pick up a double shift, but they didn’t need me. I ended up going home early.
I didn’t have much to do. I cleaned up the blood in the kitchen and put a simple patch on the hole Ty had punched in the wall. After that, there was nothing. I sat on the couch and tried to read for a while but found myself continually glancing at the back doors to the dark guest house. It was as if I could physically feel her absence. I couldn’t stay in the house after that.
I kept my fishing boat in the marina next to the houseboat, and I thought I could use some time to fish.
I was only out on the water for an hour until I realized that fishing also wasn’t working. I usually loved fishing. Being out in the middle of the water relaxed me. It made my mind quiet. But it seemed that even out in the middle of the river, her absence was palpable. It was like she had embedded herself into every aspect of my life. And now that she wasn’t here, it was as if things were no longer right. Like part of my very self was missing.
I brought the boat back into the marina, the smells from the grill beckoning me. As I entered the familiar restaurant, I selfishly hoped Ty was tending the bar so I could talk to him. But as I sat on my usual barstool, he wasn’t there either. It was another bartender whom I couldn’t remember the name of.
“Hey, Atlas,” the bartender said. “What can I get you?”
I thought for a moment about ordering my usual pint, but I needed something stronger.
“Double bourbon. Top shelf,” I said stiffly. “Neat.”
He raised an eyebrow but poured me the drink. I started sipping it, but by my third one was drowning them in a couple of gulps. I should slow down, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not now.
Just when I was about to order some French fries, someone sat in the stool next to me.
“Alone tonight?” said a smooth, sultry voice.
I closed my eyes, sighing, and downed the rest of my bourbon. I nodded to the bartender indicating I wanted another and turned to Liv Johnston.
“Yup, and I’d like to keep it that way,” I said, slurring a little.
Liv bristled. She turned to the bartender and ordered some girly drink before looking back to me, a brow cocked. “Fortunately, you’re not the boss of me.”
I sighed again. “Or unfortunately.”
Her lips turned down sharply as she glared. “What the hell is your problem?”
The bartender refilled my drink, and I tipped that one back too, taking it in one swig and slamming the glass down on the bar, making her jump.
“Come on, you’re smarter than that, Liv,” I accused. She could play ignorant all she wanted. I wasn’t going to buy it.
I waited for her to fess up, but when she refused to admit she did something to make me angry, I clenched my teeth.
“Why did you do it, huh?” I asked. “She liked working here. You didn’t have to make her lose her freaking job.”
Liv’s expression darkened as her hand tightened around the tall, delicate glass containing her drink. I wondered whether it was going to explode around her vise grip.
“She doesn’t belong here. This is our town, Atlas. Our home, not hers.”
