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Chapter 33
Atlas
Atlas pushed open the heavy metal doors and rushed into the lobby. Sweat beaded down his forehead as he searched for the one face he needed to see.
Jasmine.There she was, wrapped in a group hug from her family. They’d been here all along. She wasn’t alone.
Bently seemed to notice him first, his shoulders bunching as he stepped in front of Jasmine protectively. Mikel and Andre were soon to follow as all eyes pointed at him. The conversation was swallowed up by stunned silence. Even the kids seemed aware of the tension.
“What do you want?” Bently asked.
Jasmine peeked her head out from behind the giants standing guard before she stepped beside them.
“Can we talk?”
Her chest rose and fell before she nodded.
“Mr. Atlas! You didn’t say goodbye.” Zoey pushed forward, her big grey eyes saddened.
“I—”
Jasmine spun around, crouching to face Zoey. “Sweetheart, can you go with Uncle Bently to the car? I think he needs someone to hold his hand.”
Zoey’s eyebrows scrunched together as she looked critically between her mother and uncle. “I guess so.”
Bently held out his palm. “Come on. We’ll find somewhere to get lunch after this with ice cream.”
“Ice cream!” Her face lit up.
Lyra and Phoenix cheered with her as the group filed away. All adult sets of eyes cut him a warning glare, the equivalent to hurt her anymore and die a slow, painful death.
He nodded. Message received.
Jasmine turned to him, looking over at the lone receptionist pretending not to listen in. Atlas motioned across the other end of the room by the trickling water fountain. They walked side by side in silence until they were farther away.
He blew out a breath, searching for the right words to say. But there were none. “I’m sorry doesn’t feel adequate.”
She met his eyes, a newfound confidence glowing from her. “I really try not to care what people think of me, but I need you to know nothing between us was a lie. I meant everything.”
“I did too.”
Her expression softened as she looked down, like she wasn’t sure what to believe. He deserved that.
“I was in a really bad place when I met Oliver.”
His muscles tensed and his chest squeezed. He didn’t want to hear about his brother, but if she needed to get this out, he’d let her.
“Random sex with strangers was my way of hurting myself because I thought I deserved the punishment. But Zoey came along and changed my whole world. She showed me how to love myself . . . But you, you were never a punishment for me. Being with you was something I’ve never experienced before. So, thank you for showing me I’m not as broken as I think sometimes.”
His hands reached out to cup her face. His self-control snapped. Pain lanced through him at the thought of this beautiful woman hurting so much. And I made it worse. “You’re not broken. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. Baby, you’re so beautiful and genuine. Zoey is every bit of the amazing girl she is because of you, and only you. I’m so fucking sorry I ever did anything that would make you doubt that.”
She closed her eyes, her body trembling against his.
“I can’t begin to apologize for what I said to you that day at the inn. I lied. What we had between us was everything and more. I originally came there to buy the inn, but I gave up on that before we were together.”
Her eyes opened—green orbs piercing to the depths of his soul. “You said you were in this regardless of what that meant. And then . . .” Tears welled in her eyes, a direct hit to his ragged heart.
“And then I left you when you needed me most. I walked away.” His voice broke.
