Chapter Thirty #2
I picked my usual character, Princess Daisy, and when the countdown ended, we were off.
All of us were laser focused on the massive TV screen, clenching our controllers and leaning into the turns.
I didn’t give it my all right out of the gate, letting myself fall behind before pushing Atlas out from first for the win.
“Damn, baby,” Atlas said. “That was impressive.” He held out his hand for a high five and I clapped my palm against his.
“Beginner’s luck, I guess. Want to play again?”
They nodded and we started another race.
It was closer this time, with Fallon and me vying for first place, but with some perfectly aimed spiny shells, I came out on top once again.
“Wow, Tegan. You caught on quick,” Fallon chirped, blinking his beady eyes in shock.
Atlas set his controller down, giving me a sideways glance. “You’re playing us, aren’t you?”
Kael snorted and took a swig of his beer.
Atlas glared at him, his mouth hanging open. “And you knew about it, didn’t you?”
“Dude, I have seen her make a grown man so mad, he threw a controller at his own TV,” Kael said.
And that was the last party I went to at Mark McGinnis’s place. His fragile masculinity was a giant red flag.
Atlas nudged me with his shoulder. “I’m impressed, baby.”
“Thank you. I think I’m done playing for now if you guys want to play something else,” I said, sitting my controller on the coffee table.
“Are you sure?” Atlas asked quietly. It was sweet that he wanted me to feel included, but I could only whip so much ass in Mario Kart in one day.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
Fallon hopped out of his recliner and started messing around with a few of the consoles in the entertainment center. “Okay, are we thinking Call of Duty or Helldivers?”
There was a unanimous agreement on Helldivers, and for the next thirty minutes or so, Cyrus and I watched the three of them fight for their lives on an alien planet. It was actually pretty entertaining—not enough to make me want to try it, though.
Cyrus sighed and stood up. “I’m going to get started on some snacks,” he said, shuffling toward the kitchen.
“Do you need any help?” I asked, already following behind him.
He’d been quiet for most of the evening, a silent observer rather than a participant in game night, and I wanted to get to know him better.
“Oh, that would be lovely. This lot never helps.” He quickly corrected himself. “Except for Atlas, that is.”
“I could see that.”
“I was thinking of putting together a charcuterie tray. Is that all right with you?” he asked. “Atlas didn’t mention any dietary restrictions, but it could have slipped his mind. I’d hate to serve a vegan a platter of salted meat.”
I laughed. “I’m not a vegan so we’re all good on that front.”
He opened one of the kitchen cabinets, using his tentacles to pull a large wooden serving tray off the top shelf.
“They’re so handy,” I said in awe. I regretted it the moment I said it, worried it might come off as offensive.
“They are quite handy. You know, for when my hands are otherwise occupied.”
I laughed again. Cyrus didn’t say much, but when he did, he was pretty funny.
He opened the fridge, grabbing packages of meat and cheese with his hands and tentacles. “Would you like to start arranging these and I’ll set to work on the fruit, crackers, and spreads?”
“Sure. I think I can handle that. No guarantee it’ll look fancy, though.”
“You’ve seen those three in there, right? It’ll be gone before anyone can even worry about how it looks.” He paused for a second, thinking. “In fact, you better make yourself a plate right now. They’re like a ravenous pack of hyenas.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
After I set aside a plate for myself, Cyrus and I worked in companionable silence while we assembled the board.
“Atlas seems quite taken with you,” he said out of nowhere, taking me by surprise.
“Does he?” I asked. I knew Atlas was into me. He’d made that pretty clear, but hearing it from one of his friends really drove the point home.
“Indeed,” Cyrus said. He folded a piece of prosciutto into a rose and placed it on the tray. And here I thought we weren’t concerned with how it looked. “I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time,” he continued. “Maybe since I’ve known him.”
“Really?” It came out as a shocked squeak.
“Do you always need this much reassurance or are you just fishing for compliments?” he asked. I was speechless for a second, but then he flashed me a giant sharp-toothed grin. “Oh, you absolute sweetheart. I’m joking.” He patted my arm with one of his tentacles.
I laughed awkwardly. “You scared me there for a second.”
“I mean it, though. I’m not sure how much he’s told you, but Atlas went through a lot in his last relationship.”
“He’s said a few things, but it’s mainly what he hasn’t said, what I’ve noticed, that’s concerned me.” The distorted body image, lack of confidence. All of those were scars left over from his ex.
Fucking bitch.
“She was awful,” Cyrus said. “Royally fucked his self-esteem, and she never wanted to spend any time around us—his closest friends. For a wolven who demanded everything from him, she didn’t give him shit in return.
I’ll tell you—” He paused for a second. “Shit. I’m sorry.
It wasn’t my place to share any of that with you. ”
“It’s okay. I mean, I figured as much.”
“It’s just so bloody nice to know that he’s found someone who meets him where he is. You like him for him, and not what he can do for you. He’s the salt of the earth, that one. A real catch.”
“I think so, too,” I agreed. He was sweet and silly. Considerate. Handsome. He was an absolute catch, and I was lucky to have him.
“Everything all right in here?” Atlas asked, sliding his palm along the small of my back. I loved that he was checking in, but I was more than okay. Atlas’s friends were so easy to be around—Fallon included.
“Everything’s great,” I said. “I was just helping Cyrus with the charcuterie board.”
“Was Cyrus telling you what an insufferable idiot I was in college?” he asked.
“All he did was sing your praises, actually.”
“Aw, Cy,” Atlas said, looking at Cyrus with puppy-dog eyes. “You really do love me.”
“How could you not?” I said it like loving Atlas was second nature, then quickly snapped my mouth shut once I realized what just came out of it.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and Cyrus gave me a knowing grin.
“Yeah,” he said slyly. “How could you not?”