Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Atlas
Pulling into the school, I park and climb out of my car.
I head toward where it looks like the other parents wait to pick up their kids.
Looking around, I take in the building. It appears to be a typical elementary school.
At the front of the building, there’s a flag fluttering in the breeze, and little shrubs that line the edges.
The wind picks up, and I feel the chill a bit more.
I left Cora at the house in my hoodie, and I can’t wait to get back to her.
I barely slept last night, but I’m used to going without sleep.
Pride fills me when I think of how well I’m able to take care of her.
She makes it easy. Cora’s always been independent and done everything on her own, but those days are over.
Rescheduling my clients for the day wasn’t hard, and we aren’t so busy that the guys can’t handle the shop without me.
Ignoring the stares from other parents, I pull my phone from my pocket and fire off a text to Emma.
I wasn’t kidding when I told Cora that we were going over for dinner.
I know it’s Tuesday, and Noah has practice Tuesday nights, but there’s rain in the forecast. The sky is already dark, so we’ll see.
Me:
Tonight still okay?
Emma:
Of course! I’m looking forward to meeting her and her brother.
Me:
… and see me too, right?
Emma:
As long as you’re with them *Winky face emoji*
Shaking my head, I laugh at her answer. Pocketing my phone, I reassure myself she doesn’t really mean it. At least I don’t think she does.
“I didn’t know you had kids,” a voice states from my right.
Turning, I find Matt standing close by. He’s almost as tall as I am, and a bit bulkier, but I don’t trust him.
I know he wants my girl. Matt looks at me, assessing, actually.
He’s trying to figure out what I have that he doesn’t.
Why Cora gravitates toward me, and not him.
He’s probably confused about how he landed himself safely in the friend zone, and I didn’t.
I almost smile because it has to burn. News flash, asshole.
I plowed my way in and I’m not going anywhere.
I hope he likes what he sees, because he’ll be seeing me more than he realizes. Reminding myself he’s the older brother of Noah’s best friend, though, has me playing nice.
“Just the one.” It’s all I feel like offering, which is generous enough.
“Right…” he starts. “How’s Cora feeling?”
The urge to punch him for saying her name washes over me, but I shove it down. I don’t think I’ll be allowed back for Noah at school if I do that.
“She’s getting there.”
“It was too bad we didn’t get our game on Saturday,” he continues. “I got called into work and didn’t leave until late. Guess I’ll be taking her to a different one instead.”
Does he have a death wish? “I don’t think you will actually.” I keep my eyes trained on the building.
“And why is that?” he asks, turning toward me.
I take a quick glance at the crowd around us and realize no one’s really paying attention.
“Well, it’s because it’ll be really hard to coach soccer with a broken leg, right?
” Tilting my head as if I’m actually thinking about it, I add, “You don’t actually use your hands, but legs are essential if I remember correctly. ”
I take a bit of pride in how he stiffens. Who am I kidding? I’m glad he realizes I’m serious. If Matt thinks I’m joking, he can try me. Before he can respond, a bell sounds, and the doors to the school open.
Kids start piling out, but I’m only looking for one. Noah comes through the door a few minutes later, talking with another boy around his age with light hair. As the pair walks toward us, it dawns on me that this must be Matt’s younger brother.
“Hey, Noah. How’d today go?” I ask even though I always thought it was stupid to ask kids if they had a good day at school. It’s school, so how much of a good day can they have sitting at a desk all day and learning math? There is recess and gym, I guess, but still.
“It was okay,” Noah responds with a shrug.
Smiling wryly at him, I nod. “Sounds about right.”
“Hey, Noah. How ya feeling?” Matt interrupts. “It sounds like you and Cora went through it this weekend.” He’s purposely not looking at me. It’s like I didn’t warn him at all.
“I guess she’s better?” He shrugs. “Atlas took care of her, not me.”
You’re damn right, I did. I’ll always take care of her.
Laughing, I gesture toward the sky. “You ready to go? Looks like rain.”
“Yeah. Bye, Dane.” He waves in parting.
“Hey, can you let Cora know I’m canceling practice? The field is probably going to flood,” Matt asks Noah, ignoring me. Pussy.
“Yep.” He nods, then, looking toward me, asks, “Do you think I can hang out with Dane?”
“Not sure, that’s up to Cora, but we happen to have plans tonight.”
“Really?” He eyes me in confusion.
Enjoying the way Matt’s face pinches, I nearly laugh because it looks like Rhett’s did the time he ate a lemon when we were kids.
“Yep. I’ll tell you on the way home. See you at the game Saturday…
coach.” I wave to Matt and head toward the parking lot.
From here on out, Cora’s nights will be filled with me.
After getting Noah into the car, I drive us back toward their house.
The music plays low as we pass through town, and Noah’s sitting in the back seat, staring out the window.
He doesn’t talk a lot, and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing.
I always thought kids his age never shut up.
I want him to be comfortable around me, but he doesn’t know me yet.
Lost in my thoughts, I almost miss it when he asks, “Are you really coming to my game Saturday?”
Pausing to gauge his reaction, I take my time answering. “Yeah. That was the plan. Is that okay with you?”
Cora is mine; there’s no reality where she isn’t, so I need Noah to accept me. The two of them are close, and considering I plan to be a permanent fixture in their lives, I want him to like me.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“My brothers and I are going to come.”
“You have brothers?”
A smile lines my face as I glance at him in the mirror. “Yep. Three brothers.” I leave out the foster part because not only am I not explaining that to him, but they are my brothers in all the ways that matter. I know they love having Cora around, so I have no doubt they’ll enjoy Noah, too.
“Lucky. It’s just me and Cora, and oh, Grandma.”
Grandma? If they have a grandmother, why didn’t she step in, so Cora didn’t have to? Wouldn’t she have been the better choice? Before I get the chance to ask, we make it back to their house.
As I pull in, I take in the property as a whole.
I haven’t had much of a chance to really look at her home, but it’s cute.
It’s perfectly sized for her and Noah. The light exterior and dark shutters look nice together.
The large window at the front looks inviting, like you could spend hours there watching the world pass by.
I wouldn’t mind being snowed in with my girl, watching it blanket the street white.
My daydreaming about our kids and snowmen building is derailed when I notice a sunflower sun-catcher glittering in the afternoon sun on the porch, Cora standing right next to it.
“What are you doing out here?” I scold her as I get out of the car. She looks the same as when I left. She may be sick, but she still takes my breath away. “You should be inside. It’s chilly out.” Turning toward Noah as he crawls out of the back, I ask, “Do you need any help?”
“Nah, I’m good. Hey, Cora Bora, Matt said hi, and no practice.
Oh!” he shouts. “Atlas said we have plans. Can I have a snack?” His voice disappears into the house as I stand in front of her on the steps.
Since I’m still standing at the bottom, she looks down at me after glancing at Noah’s retreating form.
“Well, that was a lot.” She coughs. “So, no practice?”
Closing the distance between us, I climb the stairs and pull her close.
Inhaling her scent, I pick up the faint smell of apples.
Bending my head, I quickly kiss her lips and nod.
I want more from her, but until she’s in better health, I’ll patiently wait.
“Yes. Emma’s expecting us for dinner. We have a while, though, so you can lie down if you want to. ”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Atlas.” Her arms cross over her midsection.
Pulling back, I tip her chin to look directly into her blue eyes. “It’s a great idea, Firefly. Let’s go. Inside, you’re already sick enough. Emma promised something light.”
Grabbing her hand, I pull her in behind me, closing the door. Heading into the kitchen, I find Noah already there in the fridge.
“Do you care if I have this?” he asks, holding up a sports drink and granola bar.
“No, it’s fine, go ahead, bud.” She nods. “Nothing too big. We apparently have plans later.” Her eyes slide to mine.
“We do.” I smile as I pull out a chair for her. “Sit. I’ll make you some more tea. Your voice sounds off.”
Pleasure fills me when she sits in the chair without further complaint. So obedient. Noah heads out of the kitchen, and I look at Cora. Some of her original color has returned, but she still looks tired. Setting the mug in front of her, I level her with a serious look. “Drink, then go take a nap.”
“Noah probably has homework to do.”
“I’ll help him.”
She laughs. “It might be a math worksheet.”
I almost laugh at the irony. Of course it’s math. “It’s fine. I can help him.”
“It’s—”
“Not a problem,” I finish for her. “Now say ‘thank you, Atlas’ and go lie down. Unless you’d rather have me take you upstairs?” I cock a brow. I couldn’t give a shit about getting sick, but if she gives me any type of green light, or yellow for that matter, I’m game.
“No. You stay down here.” Her eyes grow wide with panic as she stands.
“What’s the matter, Firefly? Don’t think you can control yourself?”
“Why do you call me that?”
Last night, as I lay on the couch and tried fifty different positions to try to sleep, I couldn’t help but listen to the documentary series. I learned quite a bit about fireflies in that time, and it fits her perfectly. “Maybe if you’re a good girl, I’ll tell you one day.”
A flush creeps up her cheeks. It seems my girl likes a bit of praise. I file that note away for later.
Giving me a small smile, she turns and walks toward the stairs. She gets halfway up but turns around. “Thank you, Atlas,” she says softly, then turns and heads for her bedroom.
She’ll never have to worry about doing things alone now.
I’ll do anything for her, and Noah too. I will always take care of them.
They’ll never have to wonder if they can count on me.
Emma taught us we’re only as good as our actions.
Words are empty. They hold power, sure, but actions are what matter.
I’ll prove to her that I’m not going anywhere, no matter how long it takes. We’ve only just begun. Heading to the living room to help Noah, I feel myself smile as I think about all the possibilities.