Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cora
After dropping Noah at school, I head to the coffee shop to see Mara.
I kind of dropped off the radar when Noah and I got sick, so Mila’s been blowing up my phone.
She knows I went to the game on Saturday with Atlas, and grabbed some brownies, but now it’s Wednesday.
It feels like so much has happened since then.
I smile as I approach Mara at the counter.
“Look what the wind dragged in,” she quips, taking in my appearance. “You look alive and well. I know,” she starts. “Maybe you fell, hit your head, and forgot how to message people back.”
“Good morning to you too, Mara. Mila here?” I ask, looking around for her sister. It might be best to talk to both of them at once.
“Yeah, she’s in the back. Come on.” She gestures for me to follow. “Watch the front for a few,” she instructs one of her employees.
“But I haven’t ordered yet,” I protest.
“I haven’t decided if I’ll serve you today or not.” She gives me a pointed look. There’s a misconception that twins are the same in every way, but even though she and Mila are twins, they’re quite different. Mara is straightforward, whereas Mila is sweet but holds a mean grudge.
Following Mara to the kitchen, I smile when I see Mila pouring brownie batter into long pans. It reminds me of last night at Emma’s house with Atlas, and then what happened when we got home.
“Well, look who it is,” Mila chirps. For being two different people, there are times when they both act the same. Choosing not to point it out, I wave lamely in greeting.
“How’s it going?”
“You tell me,” Mila says, scraping the remaining batter from a large mixing bowl. Mara grabs a pan off the counter and slides it into a waiting oven. The entire kitchen smells like chocolate and vanilla—which reminds me that I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.
“I’ve been better.”
“You didn’t go to the game on Saturday? Sorry we couldn’t go with you. I know you didn’t want to go with Atlas.” Mara looks over at me.
“It’s fine. I did go to the game.” I pause, taking a breath. “And I went with Atlas.”
Twin sets of eyes dart in my direction. Mila looks shocked, while Mara grins widely. They share a glance, then look back at me.
“And?” Mila asks in exasperation, motioning with her hands for me to continue.
“And it was okay,” I offer.
“Bullshit,” Mara says. “I want details. There’s no way it was just ‘okay.’” She uses air quotes to emphasize the last part, and I roll my eyes at her.
“Fine. We went in his car because mine had a flat, then a player gave me a puck with his name and number on it after the game, and Atlas got mad and took it. I actually don’t know what happened to it.” I pause when I realize I didn’t get the puck back from him.
“That’s not all that happened,” Mara says with a pointed look. “Continue.”
Sighing, I tell them everything. From the fight in the car, to Atlas barging his way in and kissing me senseless against the wall until Noah came home. “It was so embarrassing. Noah didn’t see us kissing, but I feel bad because I think Matt knew.” I cross my arms and blow out a puff of air.
“Who cares if Matt knows?” Mila asks.
“Because he likes her, that’s why,” Mara reminds her. “Why didn’t you guys go to the game again? I thought that was the plan.”
“He got called into the clinic and was hoping to meet me there, but then he texted me saying he couldn’t make it at all. Rhett heard and told Atlas that he should go with me instead. As it turns out, he used to play, and he’s a fan.”
“That’s so hot. Of course he did.” Mara laughs.
“Okay, so why haven’t you answered anyone since Saturday then?” Mila still looks confused, but glares at Mara.
“Um, well. Because Noah was sick, and then I caught what he had. Sunday night, Atlas came over to bring soup and found me super out of it, so he took care of me.” Ignoring their shocked looks, I figure I might as well put it all out there.
“He even watched some show with Noah, built my bookshelves that have been sitting in boxes for like two months, took Noah to and from school, and then took me to dinner to meet his mom yesterday. You guys weren’t here when I grabbed some brownies to take along, so yeah,” I finish quickly, taking in their wide-eyed expressions.
They don’t say anything at first, and it makes me fidget. They’d freak if they knew the rest of it. Mila is the first to break the silence.
“We’ll unpack all of that piece by piece, but you’re holding something back. What is it?” she asks with a quirk of her eyebrow.
How am I supposed to explain it all when I don’t even get it? It’s been a whirlwind of a few days.
“I’ll get you a drink AND baked treat if you spit it out,” Mara tells me, crossing her arms over her chest. “The offer will expire in thirty seconds.”
“Fine! He took me home after dinner at his mom’s house, then carried Noah out to the car like he weighed nothing.
When he put him to bed, he came down and tossed me on the kitchen counter and had me for dessert,” I word vomit.
“Oh, and in between all that, he told me I was his, and that we were a thing now, and I don’t know what to think. ”
Throwing my hands in the air, I groan. “I don’t know what’s happening.” Covering my face with my hands, I fight the urge to scream. It wouldn’t be good for business.
“Um, Cora. That’s quite a bit to, umm… take in.” Mila’s voice cuts through the air. She puts her hand on my arm and tries to pull my hands away.
“Hell fucking yes! I knew he had it in him!” Mara exclaims, causing Mila and me to whirl around to her.
“What?” We both look at her incredulously.
“Oh, please.” She waves us off. “I knew that boy had the hots for you since the day he came in here and wanted to get something for you. I was wondering how long it would take him.” Shaking her head, she smirks. “So how was it?”
I can feel my face heat at the memory of it. There’s no way I can tell them any sort of details.
“That good, huh?” She snickers. “Atta boy.” She claps. “Congrats, girl, way to get back on the horse.”
Mila is still stunned silent and looks between Mara and me. Yeah, I can’t believe her either.
“Mara, we could use some help up here.” The kid from the front pokes his head into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt,” he adds before quickly ducking away.
“Well, duty calls.” Mara walks past me.
“Wait. I want my treat.”
“Ha. Girl, you got your treat last night.” She snickers, pushing out through the swinging kitchen door.
Turning back to Mila, I watch her shrug her shoulders.
“I don’t know what to say. That’s just…wow.
You go, girl.” She gives me a side hug and leans her head on my shoulder.
“I think she was left too long without oxygen since I made it out first.” Shaking her head in mock sadness, she adds, “I guess it shows some days more than others.”
“I really don’t know what to do, Mila.”
“What do you mean?”
“Atlas is … a lot. It’s hard to explain. When I first met him, he was somewhat standoffish, but after the night we went out, he’s been different. Like a switch went off, and it’s a different Atlas now. I don’t know which one is real.”
One of the oven timers buzzes, and she moves to turn it off. Opening the oven doors, she uses mitts to pull the trays of brownies out.
Shit, how long have I been here?
“Hmm…. You may not like my answer.”
“Just tell me,” I plead.
“You need to talk to Matt,” she tells me firmly.
“What? Why?” I ask in confusion. “My issue is Atlas.”
Stepping toward the table, I eye the fresh brownies. Following my line of sight, Mila scowls. “Don’t even think about it. They’re hot as hell right now.”
“I know—that’s when they’re best and gooey.”
Shaking her head, she continues, “You need to talk to Matt, and end whatever he thinks might happen with you guys. Not only is he Noah’s soccer coach, but he’s his friend’s older brother. That’s going to get messy, girl.”
“Do you think I should just quit?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know why you bother working another job at all.”
“Really? Mila, you know I can’t go back. I won’t go back to that,” I whisper.
“Hey.” She pulls me into her arms. “Cora, you are so far past their shit. They’re gone, and you’ve done so well for yourself, and by Noah.
He has everything he could ever need or want.
You gave him a home and stability, which is more than they could have attempted even on their best day. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Nodding, I lean into her hug. “I know,” I mumble, pulling back. I wipe a stray tear away. “I just need him to be secure. Yeah, he’s only seven now, but his birthday is coming up, and the holidays. He’s already grown out of most of his stuff.”
“Are you guys okay, though? Money-wise?”
Laughing, I nod. “You know I don’t shop, Mila. I still have money in savings, but I want to pad it as much as possible.”
“Well, you know what they say?”
“What do they say?”
“A lot of things, really. All work and no play makes Cora a dull girl. Or, of course, money can’t buy happiness, but damn if it doesn’t help.
” She rolls her eyes, making me laugh. “Above all else, though, Cora, what good is having a life if you’re not going to live it?
” She gives me a pointed look. “You deserve someone who will see and appreciate you.”
Well shit. She might be on to something. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I realize I’m going to be late if I don’t leave soon. Offering her a smile, I give her a quick squeeze and pull out of her hold. “I’ll think about it, Mila. I have to get going.”
“Good, you do that. Here, take a couple of these with you. Save one for your new guy for later.” She winks, handing me a box of muffins. “And this one is for the others.” She laughs, giving me a second one. “They’re quite the crew.”
“They really are,” I agree. Grabbing the boxes, I head out of the kitchen. Mara is finishing up with a customer and gestures for me to wait.