He studies me for a beat, then grins faintly.“Sounds like she’s got her hooks in you.”
“Yeah,” I admit quietly.“She does.”
Kace’s eyes ripple with an unrealized wisdom.“I’m sure that has everything to do with Gray.She’s the piece of him that you can keep close, so you never forget him.”
“Dude,” I drawl.“That’s fucking deep.”I pause a moment.“And accurate.”
“I’m wise that way,” he quips as the bus pulls from the curb.
The city slides by as I think about what Grayce is to me and I am to her.And for Grayce, for Maddie, for whatever this is we’re building—I want to show up.
CHAPTER 14
Maddie
Iwake tothe smell of coffee and the smallest, happiest squeal I’ve ever heard.
For a beat, I’m disoriented—shadows of a late-night dream slipping away—until the squeal comes again and I register the soft thump of footsteps below.
Atlas is back.
I sit up, hair in a mangled short ponytail, and squint at the digital clock: 7:11 a.m.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stretch my back.I didn’t hear Atlas come in last night and, judging by the sunshine peeking through the blinds, I didn’t hear Grayce wake up either.The realization lands with an unexpected swell of giddiness.
I slept.
Like…sleptslept.
Followed by guilt that I didn’t hear Grayce when she woke up.But Atlas did, and he sleeps downstairs and went to sleep much later than I did.The team flew back after the win in Boston last night.
Another squeal, followed by a deep, soft laugh that slides down my spine like warm syrup.
Trying not to hate myself for not being the one down there with her, I hasten to the bathroom, splash water on my face, and catch my reflection in the mirror.Despite the good night’s sleep, I look haggard.Ugh.
I pull on a robe and head downstairs, following the coffee scent like a cartoon character floating toward nirvana.
In the kitchen, I find Atlas on the floor in sweats and a faded Titans T-shirt, his long, thick legs crossed as he sits across from Grayce.Her little legs are spread in a V, which is how she keeps herself balanced when sitting up.He’s holding a stuffed giraffe and they’re apparently having a very serious conversation.
“And what did we learn about having core strength to make it easier to stand and walk?”he asks the giraffe in a mock-serious tone.
Grayce answers by grabbing the giraffe’s ear and shoving it into her mouth.
Atlas grins like he’s never seen anything better.“Correct.We learned that everything is delicious.”
My eyes roam over him critically.His hair is damp and finger-combed, his jaw shadowed by scruff.There’s a full pot of coffee brewed and a pan on the stove that smells suspiciously like actual food.He’s been busy.
For a second, the picture hits me so hard my throat tightens.It’s domestic and ordinary and… safe.Like this is just a Saturday morning and we’re a family.
Much like many of my days were with Gray back before he got sick.Not always, but often enough, I would stay the night in the guest bedroom.This was only if either of us weren’t dating someone, because our romantic partners always had a hard time understanding our close friendship.
I treasured moments like this with him, because it meant seeing Grayce have all the things I never did.
And so it continues, and that warms me like nothing has in a long time.
Atlas looks up and the smile that hits his face steals whatever air I had left.“Hey,” he says quietly, like the word is only for me.“Morning.”
“Morning,” I manage, my voice husky from sleep.“You’re—” I gesture at the scene.“Busy.”
