Chapter 12
KAI
SIX MONTHS LATER
I watch from the window as Jordan’s truck, loaded to the gills with boxes and furniture, pulls up to my apartment building. Six months. It’s been six months since Atlas said there was nothing in Pine Ridge for him, and now he’s moving in with me.
Life is strange sometimes.
I head downstairs to help, and Atlas is already out of the truck, a smile gracing his beautiful face. He sees me and his face lights up even more, which I didn’t think was possible.
“Hey,” he says, pulling me into a kiss right there on the street. “Jordan’s here with all my stuff. No takebacksies.”
Jordan emerges from the driver’s side of the truck, looking around with an expression I can’t quite read. He’s tall, with an easy confidence that suggests he’s used to getting what he wants.
“Kai,” Jordan says, extending his hand. “Good to finally meet you in person and see if all the things Atlas says are true.”
“What sorts of things?” I shake his hand, amused.
“Oh,” Jordan says, shooting Atlas a grin. “Mostly about your mouth, actually. Very detailed descriptions—”
“Jordan,” Atlas says, his face flushing bright red.
Jordan laughs. “I’m just messing with you. But seriously, this place is kind of growing on me. The coffee’s good, the people are friendly, and there’s something about the vibe here that just … I don’t know. It makes me want a change of scene.”
We start unloading boxes, and Jordan doesn’t stop talking. He’s one of those people who fills silence with commentary, and it’s actually kind of endearing.
“I’m thinking about it,” Jordan says, carrying a box up the stairs. “Moving here, I mean. My job is remote anyway. I could work from anywhere. And honestly? Denver’s getting old. Too many people, too much noise. Pine Ridge has this … I don’t know. Authenticity, maybe?”
“We’d love to have you,” I say, and I mean it. Anyone who’s important to Atlas is important to me.
“Atlas keeps saying the same thing,” Jordan says. “Maybe I’ll actually do it. Can you imagine? Me, living in a small town? My mother would have a heart attack.”
Atlas laughs. “Do it. We’d have fun.”
“You’re biased,” Jordan says. “You’re in love. Everything looks good when you’re in love.”
I feel Atlas glance at me, and I know he’s smiling. Despite our promise to take things slow, we said the words pretty early on. I can’t even remember who said it first. I guess when you know, you know.
Atlas found a job almost as soon as he started looking for companies outside of Denver.
He’s working for the Van Stern Corporation, based in Connecticut.
It’s a good fit for him—remote work that pays well and lets him have flexibility, and his boss is really nice.
He’s traveled to Connecticut a few times for meetings, and I’ve gone with him twice.
By the time we’ve carried most of the boxes inside, I’m sweating through my shirt. Jordan takes one look at me and starts laughing.
“Dude, you look like you’re about to pass out,” he says. “Atlas, your boyfriend needs water.”
“He’s not just my boyfriend,” Atlas shouts from the bedroom. “He’s … my everything.”
The words come out simple and honest, and something shifts in my chest. Everything. That’s what he is to me too.
“Okay, that’s adorable and I’m going to throw up,” Jordan says, but he’s smiling. “Come on, let’s get the rest of this stuff inside. And then we’re going to that café everyone keeps talking about because I need actual food, not just the sight of you two being disgustingly in love.”
We make one more trip to the truck, and that’s when Vaughn drives past. He slows down, then stops, and rolls his window down. We join him at his car.
“Moving day?” he asks, his usual enigmatic smile in place.
“Atlas is moving in,” I say, and I can hear the happiness in my own voice.
“That’s wonderful,” Vaughn says, and he sounds like he means it. “Congratulations to you both.”
He shakes our hands. “I’m heading to Warsaw for a conference in a few days. When I get back, I’d love to have you both over for dinner at my place. I think it’s time you saw where I actually live.”
“We’d love that,” I say.
Vaughn drives away, leaving us staring at each other with big smiles on our faces.
“He’s still the most mysterious person we know,” Atlas says.
“Right?”
Later that evening, after Jordan has finally left—not before making several more jokes about Atlas and me being “disgustingly in love”—we’re alone in the apartment. There are boxes everywhere, but it doesn’t matter. Atlas is here. His things are here.
I’m in the kitchen making dinner when Atlas comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“Hi,” he says softly.
“Hi,” I reply, turning to face him.
He kisses me, and it’s slow and deep and full of promise. When we break apart, I’m smiling.
“I love you, Kai,” he says.
“I love you too, Atlas,” I say. “So much.”
We stand there in the kitchen, surrounded by boxes that represent a new beginning, and I think about the future. Six more months, maybe. Time to settle in, time to plan something perfect.
Because I’m going to propose to him. I’m going to ask Atlas Navarro to spend the rest of his life with me. And he’s going to say yes.
I’m certain of it.
For now, though, I just hold him and let myself be happy. Let myself believe that sometimes, life works out exactly the way it’s supposed to.
Sometimes, you find someone who sees you. Really sees you. And they choose to stay.
Sometimes, that’s everything.
I hope you enjoyed Atlas and Kai’s story and your first visit to Pine Ridge.