Chapter 11
ELIZABETH
“So how does it feel to have my brother so close, and Will living there?”
I turned to Felicity, grateful that she was the one who had broached the subject.
It had been over a week now since the attack and consequent life change that Atlas and Will were dealing with, and honestly, Felicity didn’t know exactly how close Atlas and I were to each other.
Because at this point, it was a little ridiculous.
A week. A single week in which I couldn’t stay away from him. Not that I needed to. Or perhaps that was a lie. We were going into whatever this was full tilt, and that meant there would be no going back.
Will was under Atlas’s roof, and while the whole town was grinning about it, practically salivating, wanting to know more, we were keeping it to ourselves.
At least as much as we could. Atlas’s family had gone full Carter and truly came together to help Will settle in.
I was pretty sure that Will had no idea what he’d been conned into and was just along for the ride.
I might sleep under that roof, because I couldn’t help myself, but Atlas was the one braving the busybodies of Ashford Creek.
Of course, I had to deal with their looks for a whole different reason.
Namely, everybody and their mother knew that Atlas and I were together. What it meant to be together, no one quite knew but the two of us.
Not that the two of us truly knew what it meant either. Because we were doing a damn good job of focusing on Will, Atlas’s training, and pretending that we had everything handled.
We did not have everything handled.
“Elizabeth? Are you okay over there?”
I shook myself out of my internal turmoil and turned to Felicity. “What? What did you ask?”
She gave me a knowing smile. “I was going to ask how it felt to have my brother living so close, but maybe that was an answer in itself.”
“Felicity Carter, stop torturing dear Elizabeth.” Mrs. Carter came forward and wrapped me in a hug. I sank into her, my eyes prickling with tears as she held me close.
“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” I whispered.
She pulled back and cupped my face. “I wasn’t sure either. But then I heard both my girls were going to be here, and I couldn’t help myself. It’s a girls’ night after all.”
Keely opened a bottle of sparkling wine, a grin on her face. The cork made a popping sound, and we all cheered as Mrs. Carter hooked her arm with mine.
“Okay, ladies, tonight you will call me Gwen. No Mrs. Carter, and no acting like I’m just the dear mom here. You’re stuck with me.”
“Mom. But how am I supposed to complain about my brothers if you’re in the room?”
“I don’t need any details, but well, I could give details about your father if you’d like.”
Felicity’s groan echoed throughout the room, and I held back a laugh, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
Gwen Carter had always been a second mom to me.
Far younger than my parents had been, she’d filled a spot in my life that I hadn’t known I had needed.
And when Atlas and I had broken up, she hadn’t let me go.
Our relationship had evolved over the years, and we were very careful about what we spoke of when it came to her son, but when it came to my life in Ashford Creek, she was always there for me. And I had tried to do the same for her.
As friends.
However, now that I was sleeping with her son again, things could get tricky.
“I’m so glad that you guys are here in the bed and breakfast. Promise is at home with the girls tonight, but since we have this space opened, it is a single glass of wine if you’re driving and painting. Promise is excited to see if this is something we want to offer more with a room rate.”
“I’m just sorry she can’t be here,” Teagan said as she walked into the room. “I’m sorry I’m late. Manager things.”
I met Gwen’s gaze, and she gave me a knowing look.
Teagan needed to get a new job or figure out how to make her manager not be an asshole. I wasn’t sure exactly if it was my place to say, but she didn’t look happy. Then again, I had been so wrapped up in my own world for so long that maybe I was missing things.
Or projecting.
“I’m glad that you’re here,” I said as I moved forward, tugging Teagan close.
“I’m surprised you’re here. Honestly, you haven’t really left your house recently.
” She studied my face, and I knew she was trying to dig into my thoughts.
I hadn’t spilled anything on my relationship with Atlas, or what I was feeling.
Because if I did so, then it would be real.
And with Atlas’s mother here tonight, I didn’t think it was going to happen, and I was grateful for that. I needed more time.
“Okay, let’s get some painting done. I’m excited.” Keely bounced forward, kissed Felicity on the cheek, and then handed me a flute of sparkling wine. “And I’m so giddy that you were able to come tonight. Is Will okay?”
Everyone turned to me at her question, and I nodded, grateful that all of these women cared so much.
“Yes, he’s doing much better. Although it’s going to take a while for him to heal.”
“He’s working tonight,” Gwen put in, and as Teagan raised a brow, I winced.
“He refused to sit in Atlas’s house any longer, nor would he sit at mine. So Rune concocted a scheme where he needed him to work in the office.”
Gwen grinned. “Meaning my son is being the mother hen that he needs to be, and making sure Will feels useful, but isn’t actually doing anything.”
“I wouldn’t want to have to kick Rune’s ass,” Teagan said with a laugh.
“Honestly, I feel you could actually do that,” Keely added. “I mean, he may be tough, but you’re tougher.”
Teagan flexed her muscles. “Damn straight I am. I mean, your son’s great and all, but I could totally kick his ass.”
Gwen waved it off. “And he would deserve it. One day, he will find a nice woman to settle down with and be happy.” She looked around the room, between Keely and Teagan, and both of them nearly choked on their wine.
“Oh no, no no no no no. There’s no way I’m ever going to date your son. I mean, no.” Teagan drained the rest of her drink, looking slightly disgusted.
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh.
Those two were not a case of enemies-to-lovers.
No, they were friends who stayed friends.
I wasn’t sure if they had ever tried dating, and honestly, I wasn’t sure if Teagan had ever dated within our friend circle.
It was a small town after all. I had been with Atlas for so long that there had never been anyone else for me when we had all been one group before breaking apart to go to college and so on.
“You two would break each other,” Gwen said dryly. I was the one who choked this time, and Gwen blushed.
“I didn’t mean that. And Keely, I love you, but we both know that my son is too much of an asshole for you.”
“Hey, I don’t mind jerks. But Rune does scare me.” She held up her free hand. “I feel like he could take over the world and no one would know until it was too late.”
“Honestly, that’s a very good explanation of who Rune is,” Teagan said dryly.
“And since you’re the exact same as him, no, no dating. I have my eye on someone to set him up with, though,” Felicity sing-songed.
“We both know if you set Rune up with anyone, he’s going to beat you up,” I teased. “Or he’s going to get Callum to spank you.” I put my hand over my mouth and realized I had just said that in front of Felicity’s mother. Who also happened to be Atlas’s mother…
“Elizabeth!” Keely exclaimed. “Really? Now?”
“I’m just glad you have a little bit of your spark back.” Gwen patted my cheek and then pointed towards the paintings. “Now let’s get going before my dear husband shows up and takes me away before I’m done being terrible at this whole painting thing.”
“Excuse me? I’ve seen the arts and crafts in your house. You’re going to blow all of us out of the water.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and squeezed.
“She’s not lying there,” Felicity said with a sigh. “It’s not fair. She’s just great at everything she does.”
“Oh, please, tell me more,” Gwen said, fluttering her eyelashes. “I just love having all of my girls here. Atlas is home, and well, I’m glad that you’re here.” There were so many emotions put in those words as she stared at me, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Mrs. Carter,” I began.
“Gwen. I was Gwen when he wasn’t here, and I’ll be Gwen no matter what.” The sincerity in her tone let a single tear fall down my cheek, and she reached up and gently wiped it away. “You’re stuck with me for life, girl. I just hope my boy doesn’t screw this up.”
“Gwen!” I blurted, another tear falling.
“Well, statistically speaking, if it’s going to be anyone, it’s going to be him over you,” Teagan said, and then looked down at her empty wine glass. “And apparently I’m a lightweight. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.”
I shook it off, knowing exactly what she meant. “I don’t know what’s happening with me and Atlas, other than we’re trying to figure things out. And I’m not going into detail.” I raised a brow at Atlas’s mother. “I promise.”
She set down her wine glass so she could hold up both hands in surrender.
Keely leaned forward. “So you’re dating. I have so many questions. I wasn’t here when you guys were together the first time, and well, I would love to know more, but I don’t want to know too much and then ruin the night.”
“I don’t have any answers for you. We’re taking it slow.
And trying to find our way. And if everything blows up in our faces, it’ll be in front of the whole town, and probably the entire world, because that man has a billboard in Times Square at the moment.
But if I’m going to go out in a blaze of glory, apparently this is going to be it. ”
“My son is a good man, clueless sometimes, but a good man. And we both know that things could be changing soon.” She said the last part softly, and I wasn’t sure the others could hear, and I gave her a tight nod.