Chapter 2

"Atlas! You ready to go, son?" I holler as I stand at the front door. If this boy doesn't get his ass downstairs soon, we're gonna be late for work. We own the company, so we answer to ourselves, but he knows I don't like being late.

"Damn. I'm coming," he calls, jogging down the stairs.

He is the perfect blend of his mother and me. His hazel eyes and dark brown hair mirror hers, but the rest of his face is a testament to my strong genetics. He has my nose, my lips, and even my quick wit. Too bad she isn't around to see him. She would be so proud. I lost her in a car accident when he was a baby.

At the tender age of fifteen, Marla shattered my world with the news that I was going to be a dad. We were still fifteen when she brought our son into the world. We parented together, supported by our families, until tragedy struck. When Atlas was just six months old, Marla and her parents were involved in a fatal accident. At the age of sixteen, I found myself thrust into the unexpected role of a single dad.

Despite being forced to mature quickly, I wouldn't trade that time for anything. Atlas is my pride and joy. He's a little rough around the edges, but that's what happens when your dad's a baby raising a baby.

It took some time, but we eventually figured it out. I began my apprenticeship with a construction company after high school, and now, at thirty-nine, I proudly own Duttin Construction with Atlas.

It's always been us against the world and I know it's why Atlas still lives here with me instead of getting his own place. There was a short time when I thought I had found love and got married, but that bitch turned out to be a cheating whore with a drug problem. After our divorce, it was as if she and my stepdaughter vanished into thin air—I haven't seen or heard from her since. She sent the cops here once to serve Atlas and me an order of protection for her and her daughter.

It's also why Atlas doesn't date. He's still hung up on the one who got away. The step-sister he shouldn't have had feelings for but did.

He tried to hide it, but I've known my kid almost as long as I've known myself.

"You should try to sleep at night. Then maybe you wouldn't sleep through your alarm."

"I thought I had something last night. But it turned out to be nothing. Someone from high school said they saw her at their university campus." He blows out a breath.

I turn away from him and roll my eyes as I head out the door. "Come on, these homes ain't gonna remodel themselves."

After a long day of work,I'm exhausted, but Atlas convinced me to stop at our favorite bar, The Sip House. As soon as we walked in, the bartender had our beers ready and waiting. That might mean we need to stay home more, or it could just be that she knows we tip well and wants to take care of us.

Atlas heads to the jukebox with a five-dollar bill, and I know to expect classic rock and country music. I don't know where he developed his taste in music, but it certainly didn't come from me. The first song that blares through the speakers is Blake Shelton's "Austin".

He sits back on his stool and a busty redhead approaches us. "Hey, cutie. I'm Beth. What's your name?"

"Not interested." Atlas doesn't even look at her.

She fake pouts. "Now, come on, don't be like that. I only wanted to know your name."

His grip on the beer bottle tightens, his knuckles turning pale as his patience wears thin. Of course, being his dad, I intervene, saving him and her.

"Sorry, sweetheart. He's fresh out of a breakup. He's not ready."

The woman's eyes flash and she frowns. "Oh no. How horrible. Well, when you're ready, call me." She hands him a piece of paper with I'm assuming her number on it.

He swiftly rolls it up and flings it behind the bar, aiming for the trash can. "I was thinking this weekend maybe I'd go get another tattoo."

"Really? You're not even gonna acknowledge that girl who was trying to talk to you?" I raise an eyebrow in his direction.

"Nope."

"If you want another tattoo, go get one. You're grown. Gonna finish your full sleeve?"

"Not sure." He takes a swig of his beer. As he sets it down, we're joined by another guest, but this time a man.

"Can I help you?" I ask, leaning back on my stool and crossing my arms over my chest.

"I think I might be able to help you." The salt and pepper haired man smirks.

"How's that?"

"Well, I couldn't help but overhear you turn that sexy little thing down. Maybe she's not your type, or maybe you're looking for something more… thrilling." He hands me a small brochure. It's no bigger than a Polaroid.

"What's this?"

"A little event I go to every year. Check it out. If you can afford it, it's well worth it. If you know what I mean."

"And you just carry info about this around with you to give to strangers? Sounds fishy and illegal," Atlas interjects.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly say it"s legal, but everyone who attends is there willingly. And no, I have this one invite and I'm sharing it with you. Don't know why, but something tells me you"d benefit from this."

I narrow my eyes at him, not really sure what to make of this interaction. "Thank you. We'll check it out."

"Sounds good. See you around. If anyone asks, you didn't get that here or from me." He turns and walks straight out the door, disappearing into the crowded street.

"That was fucking weird." Atlas chuckles, chugging the last of his beer.

"Yeah, it was."

"What is it anyway? What's the paper say?"

I look at it, my eyes going wide. "An auction called A Night to Remember. There's a website."

"Let's go home. We can check it out there. That shit was weird even for this place."