Ryker squeezes my bicep. “It’s not the same without you. We miss our road daddy.”
“Don’t ever fucking call me that again.” I rip my arm away from him.
“It’s not the same,” Atlas says quietly.
I look up at my friend. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” Atlas looks up, piercing me with his electric-blue eyes. “Not feeling well.” He pushes his drink back a bit. “I think I’m going to head up and lie down.”
“Do you want me to walk you back?”
He shakes his head, standing up. “You guys have a good time, alright. I’ll see you in the morning, Oli.” He squeezes his shoulder then he’s off.
“I’ll go walk with him.” Ryker drains his drink, leaving money on the table. “I’ll see you guys in the morning. Enjoy your last night of freedom, Oli.”
I watch Ryker jog to catch up to Atlas. “You have to tell me what the hell is going on.” Oli eyes Atlas’s retreating form, something I can’t place in his eyes.
“I don’t know,” he says softly then clears his throat. “So, come on, spill. How happy are you on a scale of one to I never want to leave my bed?”
I grin at that. Felix is everything I never thought to look for. His quiet peace lulls my heart to rest. He is comfort wrapped in a beautiful package. “I’m so fucking happy.” I take a sip of my beer. My face heats, and maybe it’s because I’m on my second beer but I have to say something. I’m smiling like a fool. “We had sex for the first time last night.”
He clutches my shoulder, shaking me. “Didn’t hurt your knee or nothing?”
“No. He was. . . careful. It was... fuck, Oli. I don’t know how to describe it.”
Oli drains his drink. “Oh, I have an idea.”
I debate telling him this, but with Atlas gone I want to tell someone. “I got a call earlier for a coaching job. Don’t tell anyone yet, okay?”
One brow rises. “Alright?”
“I think I’m going to take it.”
“Holy shit, that’s incredible. Where?”
My fingers drum against the wooden table. “Liberty State University.”
“Where’s that?”
I look at him. “New York.”
His eyes widen. “That’s across the country, Grey!” He watches me, then understanding hits his eyes. “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
“No.” I think. “Maybe. I don’t know. I have a lot to consider. There’s you guys. Then Alyssa and Lianna. The team. I don’t know.”
Oli grabs my hand in his. “For once in your life, consider yourself.” I frown. “You’ve spent your entire life taking care of people. First your mother, then your sister, then your niece, then Atlas and me. Our team. We don’t call you road daddy for nothing.”
“Fuck off.”
Oli chuckles, moving his chair closer and throwing his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve always put everyone else first. It’s time you do what’s best for you. What do you want to do?”
My eyes burn when the truth pops into my head. “I want to take the job.”
Oli claps me on the back, waving over a server. “Two shots of your most expensive vodka.” Our server leaves, returning a moment later with two shots of clear liquid. Oli holds his up and I take the other. I hate vodka. “New beginnings.”
“New beginnings.” I grimace when the liquid hits my lips.
“That’s what you get for fucking leaving me.” He laughs. “I’m really happy for you. I’m going to take a wild guess and assume Atlas doesn’t know.”
