9. Atlas
ATLAS
When I get home, Dad is in the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. He looks up when I walk in, and surprise flashes across his face before he covers it.
“Atlas?” he says, setting down the knife. “I thought you’d be back later since you were with Kai.”
“Yeah, well,” I say, slumping onto one of the kitchen stools. “I asked if he wanted to grab some food but … I don’t know, Kai was weird and then he left.”
Dad abandons his sandwich fixings and gives me his full attention.
“Kai was weird?” he asks, leaning against the counter. “What do you mean?”
I hesitate, not sure how much to say. My parents have always been super supportive, but talking about guys I see was never a thing with us. Is it a thing anyone does with their parents?
“After the meeting, when everyone was leaving, I asked him if he wanted to grab food,” I say. “And he just … shut down. He made some excuse about having work to finish and left. Like, he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“What happened before that?” Dad asks. “What did you two talk about?”
I take a deep breath. “He asked if I’d stay in Pine Ridge. After all of this with HelixGen Corp is resolved. If I’d consider staying.”
Dad’s expression shifts—interest, curiosity, maybe a little hint of hope.
“And what did you say?”
“I said there’s nothing in Pine Ridge for me.”
The words sound worse the second time, and I realize what I’ve done. Dad goes very still.
“Why would you say that?” he asks gently. “Especially to someone who clearly cares about you?”
I look away, unable to meet his eyes. “Because I’m in debt, Dad.
A lot of debt. Credit cards, loans, money I borrowed from Jordan.
I’m homeless. I’ve been crashing with Jordan for months.
Before that, I was basically living in my car for a few weeks after I lost my job.
” The confession tumbles out, and when I look back, concern has deepened in my dad’s expression.
“I need a high-paying job if I’m ever going to be out of this mess.
And Pine Ridge doesn’t have those kinds of jobs.
I can’t stay here and expect Kai to support me while I figure things out. That’s not fair to him.”
Dad is quiet for a long moment. He pushes his sandwich away and comes around the counter to sit on the stool next to me. He doesn’t touch me—just sits there, processing what I’ve told him.
“How much debt are we talking about?” he asks finally.
“Thirty-seven thousand dollars,” I say. “Maybe more. I’ve been trying not to calculate it exactly because it makes me want to throw up.”
“And you’ve been carrying this alone?”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to worry you and Mom. I didn’t want you to know that your son was a complete failure.”
Dad reaches over and grips my shoulder. “You’re not a failure, Atlas. You stood up for what you believed in, and it cost you. That takes courage.”
“It doesn’t feel like courage.”
“Could you work from home?” Dad asks, shifting gears. “Do your design work remotely?”
“I … yeah, I guess I could. Most of my work is digital anyway. I could do it from anywhere that has internet.”
“And you said you were blacklisted from Denver companies?”
“Yeah. My former boss made sure of that. He basically nuked my reputation in the Denver tech scene, which is why I’m stuck. I’m at a loss as to what to do next, and nothing seems like the right solution.”
Dad puts his hands on my arms. “Then why not look further afield? There are tech companies all over the country. You could work for a company in California or New York or anywhere else. You don’t have to be in Denver to find work. You don’t even have to be in the same state.”
I hadn’t thought about that. I’d been so focused on the Denver market, on the idea that I’d somehow need to rebuild my reputation there, that I hadn’t considered looking elsewhere.
“I … I didn’t think about that,” I admit.
“Well, think about it now,” Dad says. “You’re smart, Atlas. You’re talented. One bitter boss in Denver doesn’t define your career. You have options. More options than you think.”
I feel a seam crack open inside me—one I’ve kept sealed since I got laid off. The shame, the fear, the crushing weight of failure.
“I’m sorry,” I say, and the words feel inadequate. “I’m sorry that I’m in this mess. I’m sorry that I lied to you and Mom. I’m sorry that I’ve been such a disappointment.”
Dad stands up and pulls me into a hug. It’s unexpected, and for a moment, I just let myself be held by my father like I haven’t been since I was a kid. His arms are solid and safe, and I can feel his support in the simple act of him holding me.
“I’m proud of you,” he says, his voice rough with emotion.
“I’ll admit I was scared and a little disappointed when I found out you lied to us, but you were put in an impossible situation, and even then, you’re still fighting for what’s right in your home town.
You’re fighting to protect this community.
That’s something, Atlas. That’s integrity.
That’s character. That’s the kind of man I raised you to be. ”
I hold onto him tighter.
When we finally pull apart, I ask, “Can I come home? Like, actually come home? I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Dad smiles, and there’s a knowing look in his eyes. “I suspect that if you’re in Pine Ridge, you won’t be spending that much time at home anyway. But yes, you’re welcome to stay.”
He winks, and I feel my face flush.
“I really like him,” I admit. “Like, I really like Kai.”
“I think he likes you too,” Dad says. “The way he looks at you, that’s not casual. That’s a man who’s falling.”
The back door opens, and Sofia walks in with Emma and Lucas trailing behind her. Emma spots me first, and her face lights up.
“Uncle Atlas!” she shouts, abandoning her mother to run toward me.
I catch her as she launches herself at me, lifting her up and spinning her around. She squeals with delight, her arms wrapped around my neck.
“Hey, Ems,” I say, setting her back down. “How’s my favorite niece?”
“I’m your only niece,” she says, giggling.
“Exactly. That makes you my favorite.”
Lucas tugs on my jeans. “Uncle Atlas, did you bring us presents?”
I crouch down to his level. “Not today, buddy. But I’m staying in town for a while, so maybe we can have some fun together. Would you like that?”
His face brightens. “Can we go to the hardware store and help Grandpa? I’m very good at counting now.”
“I think that can be arranged,” I say, ruffling his hair.
Sofia sets down the bag of groceries she’s carrying and takes one look at us—Dad wiping at his eyes, me surrounded by my niece and nephew—and her expression shifts.
“What’s going on?” she asks, a knowing smile playing at her lips. “Why do you both look like you’ve been crying?”
“We haven’t been crying,” Dad says, but his eyes are still slightly wet. “Atlas just came home early, and we’ve been having a conversation.”
Emma tugs on my sleeve. “Why would Uncle Atlas make you cry, Grandpa?”
Sofia kneels down to her daughter’s level. “Sometimes grown-ups cry when they’re happy, sweetheart. Or when they’re being honest with each other.”
Emma looks back at me, and I can see her assessing the situation. She’s always been good at reading people.
“Honest about what?” she asks, her older sister instincts clearly activated and passed down from her mother.
“About my debt and being homeless and the fact that I’ve been lying to everyone for months,” I say, figuring there’s no point in hiding it now. “And about the fact that I might actually stay in Pine Ridge for a while instead of running back to Denver.”
Sofia’s eyes widen. “You’re staying?”
“Maybe. If I can figure out how to make it work financially.”
Lucas looks confused. “But you live in Denver, Uncle Atlas.”
“I did,” I say. “But I think maybe I want to live here now. At least for a while.”
Emma grabs my hand. “Does that mean you can come to my soccer games?”
“I think it does,” I say, squeezing her small hand.
Sofia comes over to me and pulls me into a hug. She’s trembling slightly.
“I’m glad. I’m really glad.”
“Even though I’ve been lying to you?”
“Even though you’ve been lying to me,” she confirms. “But you’re here now and that’s what matters.”
She pulls back and looks at me seriously. “And for what it’s worth, I think Kai is good for you. He makes you different. Better. More like yourself.”
“Dad said something similar,” I say.
Sofia grins. “Then it must be true. Come on, help me put away the groceries. And then you can tell me everything. All of it. No more lies.”
Emma tugs on my sleeve again. “Can we have a snack?”
“I think we can manage that,” I say, and she beams at me like I’ve just promised her the world.
After helping the kids make sandwiches, I spend the rest of the afternoon in my room, going through the information Jordan sent.
I organize it, create a presentation outline, make notes about the key points we need to hit.
The work gives me purpose and takes me back to when I had a job and goals.
I didn’t realize how lost I was beyond the money and housing issue.
But now what I have will help convince the community that HelixGen Corp is a threat.
Despite everything, my mind keeps drifting to Kai. To the way he looked when I said there was nothing in Pine Ridge for me. To the hurt that flashed across his face before he covered it up.
Even though I didn’t mean it like it sounded, I can see why he’d be hurt. I downplayed what he means to me by more than a mile. I need to fix this.
The next morning, I wake up early and drive to the Bookshelf Café. I order two coffees and a selection of pastries—David’s famous cinnamon rolls, some croissants, a few other things that look good. Then I drive to Kai’s apartment, my heart racing slightly as I park.
I knock on the door, holding the coffee and pastries like a peace offering.
Kai opens the door, surprise in his expression. He’s still in sleep clothes—the same soft gray sweatpants he wore when I stayed over and a T-shirt—and his hair is messy. He’s never looked so beautiful, but also vulnerable and like someone I’ve hurt.
“Hi,” I say softly. “I brought coffee. And pastries. And an apology.”