“You can’t! You need to rest. You’re still healing, Conin,” Atlas says.
“Does it look like I care? I need to see Ezra. How long has it been?”
“You’ve been comatose for a week, Conin. Ezra was only a few days, but he’s been seeing a therapist. I think he’s there now.”
“Here?”
By the way Atlas fumbles for an answer, I know that Ezra is in the same building. I stand, Atlas running to my aid, but I shove him back—a weak push, yet enough to tell him I mean business.
“I’ll tell them you’re awake! Just please lie down,” he implores.
“No,” I say with finality.
But before I reach the door, I stop. I unplug the IV drip from my skin and let it fall to the ground. With a large breath, I takeAtlas in and stare. He fidgets under my gaze, unsure of how to conduct himself.
“I need to know. Is there something happening between you and Ezra? Something more than that tether?”
“You know about the—? Of course you do. We should’ve told you sooner. I’m sorry,” he says, his eyes downcast.
A deep pressure has been lifted from my chest because it all makes sense now. When I haven’t said anything in a moment, Atlas peers up again. His eyebrows furrow in a question.
“I’m happy for you two.”
“Conin—”
“But Ezra’s also mine, if he still wants me—”
“Of course he does!” he exclaims.
“I’m happy there’s someone to love him just as much as I do,” I say.
“Conin, Ezra’s polyamorous! I am, too.”
I swallow whatever else I had planned to say.
“When did he find that out?”
“He just met the right people,” Atlas says with confidence.
Oh.Shouldn’t I feel betrayed? Realistically, I should be livid Ezra hadn’t told me sooner, that he and Atlas came together behind my back, but I’m not. I’m surprisingly calm. This is Atlas we’re talking about—a genuine soul who cares deeply for my best friend. I couldn’t ask for anyone better worthy of my boyfriend. Suddenly, I want to kiss Atlas so badly.
“If you reciprocate these feelings,” I mutter, “can you and I be something, too?”
His eyes bug out of his head. He can barely contain his grin, which ignites one of my own.
“I want that. I like you, Conin. A lot. And I like Ezra. I didn’t mean to get between you two, but I’m happy . . . so happy you feel the same.”
My gut instinct is to be shocked, but the more I reflect on Atlas’s words, the more I realize I’m truly not surprised.
“We need to talk about this later, but right now I need to find Ezra.”
“Fine,” Atlas acquiesces. “Let me help you.”
He assists with the door and leverages himself against it to help me out. Seconds later, we’re about to head down the hall when Ezra turns a corner and comes face to face with me and Atlas. Collectively, we freeze. And before I can so much as utter a word, Ezra’s countenance contorts with anger.
Chapter 63
Ezra
