CHAPTER TWENTY

ATLAS

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Our chopper lands on the lawn of my father's house in Philadelphia the next afternoon and we climb out and head into the house.

"Let me get the champagne," Ward says, dropping his overnight bag on the floor.

It doesn't stay there long. One of his employees gives him a smile in greeting and takes it upstairs.

"Rather not." Levi groans. "Can't we toast with water."

I snicker.

"Never challenge Hunter Dufort to a drinking game. I told you that."

"Thanks for telling me. Today." Levi flops down onto the sofa. Then he grins over at me.

I grin back.

"You won," he says.

"I won."

The announcement went live on the website while we were flying home from the Hamptons. I'd been refreshing it so hard my phone battery was almost dead.

When it appeared, I screamed into the headset and gave everyone a heart attack.

"We won!" I yelled, shoving the phone at my father.

Ward took it from me and slowly (as fuck!) read the article. One thousand years later, he glanced up and with love and pride in his eyes he nodded at me. "Proud of you, son."

Then I'd fucking cried.

Like an idiot.

Levi had chuckled but in that brotherly way that told me he had my back.

Dad walks into the room with a chilled bottle of Cristal and three glasses. "One sip Levi. To toast your brother."

Pop.

He pours the golden bubbles into the glasses, and we stand in the middle of the luxurious living room smiling at one another.

"You think I'm clever?" I ask knowing it's a dumb thing to say.

"I do. Your mother saw your talent first," Dad says. "All three of you boys are different. I don't know where you get your athletic abilities, Levi, nor your creative skills, Atlas. Yes, Knox has my business mind, but all three of you are still a part of me."

I swallow the lump in my throat.

"I'm so damn proud of you finally being acknowledged."

Fuck.

It was his acknowledgment that I wanted.

"Yeah," I finally say. Like it's a question.

"Yeah." He smiles. "Congratulations, son."

Our glasses clink and I'm pushing back the emotion so I can actually swallow.

"I wish your mom was here this weekend," Ward says and Jesus he's not helping with the waterworks.

"Same."

Swallow.

"Yeah, same," Levi says. "I've been thinking about being drafted next year from college. I wish she'd lived to see me go pro."

" If you go pro." I tease and he tackles me around the neck.

"The main thing is we stick together and make sure we support one another," Dad says, taking our glasses and glaring down at his white fancy wool rug. "I know that's what your mom would want."

Always.

That's what Montgomery's do.

Levi slaps my back and gives Dad a hug. Then he says farewell and heads out the door. He'll be going straight to the gym. I would put money on him making a team next year.

When I hover around Dad looks up.

"Everything all right?"

I nod, and plonk down on the sofa. He sits in his armchair and waits.

"How did you know Mom was the one?" I ask.

"Is this about Harlow?" I can hear the hope in his voice.

"Dad." I shake my head. "Harlow isn't the one."

He smiles. "How do you know?"

"I just..."

The smart fucker.

He lays his foot over his knee. "You'll know, Atlas. Don't be in a hurry just because Knox has married Payton. It can happen at any age. Now, ten years. Thirty years."

Thirty?

I don't want to wait that long.

But that's not why I asked. All night I tossed and turned, not about the award which meant every damn thing to me. I was thinking about Molly.

Worried about her.

Angry at her.

Needing her in my arms as she had been the night before and the one before that. It feels like she belongs there.

Now, there's a hole. One with her name on it and I fucking hate it.

I need to know if she's okay. I need to know if there has been a miscommunication and if she'll talk to me.

I want to know if she chose Greg.

I just need to goddamn know.

"Let's say, theoretically, I think I might know, and she's slipped away. Then what would I do?" I ask, feeling like I'm a child again.

"Fight," Ward says. "You fight for her. Whatever that fight is."

I glance toward the large floor to ceiling windows and out into the vast yard where enormous trees line the property.

This was my home—it still is my home—and one day I will get married here. I've always been more of a homebody than my other siblings.

Even Bella.

"Did you fuck up?" Dad lowers his brows.

"No. Not on purpose. I think she's been really hurt." I shake my head. "Someone else broke her. She won't let me get close to her."

He nods and stares at his foot as it taps in the air.

"Then you be the man she can trust. You wait as long as it takes and one day she will give you an inch...and then you don't fuck up."

I chew my lip as we sit silently together.

It's like I'm waiting for the answer to appear. I sense pushing Molly won't work. She likes my dominance, but in the bedroom. Trust isn't something you can demand.

If she is really broken, then it will be up to her to choose to risk her heart again.

"Atlas, I know why you applied for that award."

I blink, wondering about the sudden change of topic.

"I've always seen your greatness."

Fuck.

I am not going to cry.

"You're an incredible designer," Dad says, locking his gaze with mine as my heart thumps. "But your true greatness is your love. You love bigger than anyone I know."

Blink fucking blink.

"Your mom and I watched you growing up with your siblings. As the middle child, you kept the peace and cared for everyone. Even while being a smart ass."

I did?

"When something is going on in their lives, you're there. Knox is the protector. Levi the jokester. They're the roles you've adopted. Poor bloody Bella, you all smother her."

I chuckle.

"I let you apply for the Chamber of Fashion and Design Award, but it doesn't change how I feel about your talent. I'm a businessman, son. You wouldn't be the senior designer if you weren't good enough. The business is thriving because of Knox and your design abilities. Both are important."

Goddamn tears. I drop my face and wipe my hand over my over it roughly.

"Thanks."

"So if anyone can patiently love this woman, whoever she is, then it is you, my boy." He nods with a smile.

I need him to leave so I can sob for a moment.

Ward climbs out of his chair and crosses the room to kiss me on the head. Despite being such a powerful man, Ward Montgomery has never held back on affection.

I could never respect anyone more than I do my father.

"Lock the door behind you when you leave." He pats my shoulder and walks out.

––––––––

WHEN I GET home Harlow is sitting in my kitchen.

She lifts the shoes into the air. "Found them."

I don't know if she's telling the truth but gratitude for her help this weekend dominates my irritation of finding her in my house. Even if Molly overhearing us caused me to lose her.

That's not on Harlow.

I'm changing the code in my elevator the moment she leaves though.

Enough is enough.

"Great." I drop my bag, and she races across the room to hug me.

"Congrats sweetheart. You won!"

My chest tightens.

"Harlow..." I close my eyes and push her gently away.

She crumples in front me. "I know."

I shake my head and lead her over to the sofa.

"Harlow, you are a gorgeous young woman." I start sounding like an old man. She's a year younger than me. "Don't waste your time on me."

"I still love you." She glances away.

I hold her hand, rubbing the skin gently.

"I care about you. I wish I felt the same way."

"I know." She sighs and takes her hand back. "I keep hoping but it's not going to change, is it?"

I shake my head.

Then I do something I hadn't planned and thought I wouldn't do. But I feel like it could help to create a solid boundary.

Even if it hurts her a little more.

Sometimes that has to happen to move on completely. Me not doing it is keeping Harlow stuck and that's not doing her any favors.

"I've met someone."

She blanches.

"Oh."

"Her name is Molly." I say, keeping my voice even. I have nothing to feel guilty about.

"Molly," she repeats, and nods as if accepting it. "Molly. Is she nice?"

"Yes. But she's been really hurt by a man and I'm not sure she's going to let me in."

I don't know why I'm saying this but it's nearly like Harlow is the only person I can share it with.

Oddly.

"That's sad." Harlow nods.

We sit in silence for a moment until I shake my head. "Fuck I'm sorry Harlow. That was wrong of me to tell you. I should go unpack."

"No. I'm glad you did. I want to be your friend. Atlas, I care about you. And...do you love Molly?"

Man, one day this girl is going to get snapped up by some guy and he better be amazing.

"Yeah. I think I do."

Can't believe I just said that to my ex-girlfriend.

"Then you need to help her trust you," Harlow says.

What?

"Um, how?"

"By being romantic. Atlas you are very romantic. So, let's make a plan."

So that's what we do.

Me and my ex-girlfriend put together a fricking plan to make Molly Carter fall in love with me.

Or at least, hopefully trust me enough to consider it.