“You will be challenged here, but there’s nothing you won’t be able to overcome.”
Atlas put the palm of his hand against my suit over my heart. I whipped my head around and looked into his eyes and quickly felt myself start to calm down.Why do I feel so much calmer when he touches me? That’s weird, isn’t it?
“You need to relax and calm down. You can’t allow something to work you up so badly. It’s not healthy. This is something I’m going to work with you on. Okay?”
I nodded quickly. I wanted him to work with me on this terrible flaw of mine. I did get worked up over things to the point of almost getting sick or angry.
“Now, let’s go find my friend. I’m dying to introduce you to him.”
Atlas took the glass from my hand and put it on a server’s tray along with his glass.
“We’ll get you something better at the bar in a bit,” he said.
At the end of the hallway there was a small orchestra playing live classical music. As we approached them, I had the urge to stop and watch. On either side of the hallway were two rooms where it appeared most of the guests were. I would have loved to have spent the rest of the night just standing here listening to the musicians. Instrumental music was so calming to me. When I realized I was standing still, I quickly looked at Atlas. His eyes were glued to mine.
“Would you like to stay here for a few moments while I go find which room my friend is in?” he asked.
“It’s okay. I’ll come with you.”
“It’s no problem for you to stay here, Ryder. I need to walk through both rooms. When I find him, I’ll come get you.”
“Are you sure?”
“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have offered.” Atlas winked at me. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Relax and enjoy the music.”
Grateful for the chance to chill for a few minutes, I nodded and moved closer to the wall so I’d be out of people’s way. The music was so good, yet hardly anyone stopped to listen. I’d gone to see street musicians in L.A. often. They were so calming, especially after fights with Roger. The musicians would spend hours outside in all sorts of weather, playing their hearts out for people. All they hoped for was to have moved someone enough to drop some spare change in their box or hat, or at minimum, acknowledge them with a smile.
“They’re good, aren’t they?” a man asked me with a hint of a British accent.
I turned my attention from the orchestra toward the voice to my left. Casually leaning against the wall about five feet away was a brown-haired man wearing a suit, minus the tie.Lucky.
“Yeah.”Don’t sound like the trash you are.I quickly corrected my word choice. “I mean, yes. They’re very good,” I replied. I turned my head toward the orchestra again. I prayed word wouldn’t get back to Atlas that I needed to work on my choice of words or that I came across as garbage.
“Do you like classical music?” the man asked.
Thankfully, I had enough manners to know that I should turn my head to face him when answering his question.
“Yes, but I also like all sorts of instrumental music. I’ve heard musicians play some modern hits live. It was just the instrumental part, but I really like that.”
Why would I tell this guy that? He doesn’t care. He doesn’t know me or give a fuck what I like.
“Was it at a concert or music festival?” he asked.
“No, it was just out on the corner near a college campus in Los Angeles,” I replied, and instantly wanted to disappear.
I just told this guy I listen to music on street corners. He probably thought I was a street runner. I felt the heat of embarrassment burn my face and ears. At minimum, he was probably going to start wondering how the fuck I even got on the invite list.You and me both, man.Worst case, he’d tell someone here and they’d find where my leash holder was. Fuck.Please don’t get Atlas in trouble.
“Los Angeles has a lot of talent. It bleeds talent.”
Maybe he was no one I needed to worry about and wouldn’t remember any of this interaction.
Maybe he was party staff. Though, he’d be working and not leaning on a wall listening to music.
Maybe he was a professor. But if he were, he’d most likely have a tie on. Just about everyone here had ties on.
If he was that Kaleb Andrews dude, I was probably in deep shit. From the opposite side of the hallway, Atlas appeared and glanced around. I held my hand up in the air so he’d see me.Be polite.As Atlas was making his way over to me, I turned to face the guy I’d been talking to and smiled.
“I have to go. Have a nice night, and enjoy the music,” I said.That was polite, I think.
