Page 66 of Westward

By the time the dinner ran down, and Thatcher and Kellan’s teenagers were carrying around the younger babies, trying to make them laugh, I was ready to go home. I had too many emotions whirling within me, and frankly, I needed a moment or two. Because Atlas wouldn’t be here soon.

And I would have to be okay with that. Including any judgment this town may bring.

“I can ignore my brother and sister and come with you,” Atlas teased as he took my lips.

I pushed playfully at him and shook my head. “No. It’s fine. Will needs to go home, and I know you both need to have a talk.”

“We already did.”

I frowned. “What?”

“I know I can’t ask you to move in with me.” I opened my mouth, alarmed, but he continued. “That’s something we can discuss later. But Will will have a place under my roof for however long he needs it. And that’s going to be forever because I’m not letting that kid just go away on his own. It’s scary out there. He’s going to pay rent because he refused to live just on my so-called charity. And that’s fine, and I’m going to take all of his rent and put it into a college fund so that any yields that come from that account can help him out. I’m diabolical that way.”

I went on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed him hard on the mouth. “You are amazing.”

“I know, right?”

“Okay, okay, stop pawing at her. You’re ours for the evening.” Rune tugged Atlas away, and I laughed.

“Have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Well, that precludes everything, doesn’t it?” Felicity teased. I waved her off and then followed Will to the SUV.

“Can I drive?” Will asked. I nodded and went to the passenger seat. “I hate driving, to be honest. But this is nice, like a chauffeur.”

“I think that’s what teenagers are for,” he teased.

It was odd how well he fit with us, like a little brother. The town really hadn’t said a damn thing about Will. I think mostly those who would gossip were embarrassed that they hadn’t thought twice about him after his parents had died. No one had cared or checked on him, with his ridiculous foster parents. And while I had tried my best, I hadn’t been enough. But now I would be.

So we had a new baby brother, and that warmed me. Maybe I did have family after all.

Will turned on the radio to some music that I knew was popular with kids his age, and I realized I was one of the old people, and I leaned back in my seat, feeling a little melancholy. I didn’t want Atlas to go, but maybe some distance would help me realize that I wasn’t falling too quickly. Because I had fallen years ago, as it was.

“Did Atlas tell you I’m still going to be living at his place?”

“I’m glad. And you are always welcome in mine.”

“That would be weird though, right?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Maybe. We would’ve made it work. Because I’m sorry, no more couch-surfing.”

“Atlas’s bed is more comfortable anyway.”

I smiled, knowing that was the truth. Headlights glared in the side mirrors, and I winced. “I hate the new LEDs, they’re ridiculous.”

“This guy’s really speeding up. I’m going to slow down on these curves just in case, okay?”

I sat straighter, worried. “Do you want to pull over?”

“Maybe. Oh hell.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel, and as I turned to see what had happened, the car slammed into our back bumper. I jostled forward, hitting my hands against the dash as Will grunted.

“Slow down, it will be okay,” I tried to reassure him, but then the car rear-ended us again and hit us one more time. I screamed, right along with Will, as we hit the embankment and began to tilt.

Somehow, we didn’t fully go over as we skated across a flat field and finally stopped inches from a large tree. The sound of crunching metal exploded near us, and I looked up to see another car smash into the tree a few yards away.

Shaking, I looked over at Will. “Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

Face pale, Will shook his head. Then nodded. “I mean, I’m okay. Nothing hurts.”