EPILOGUE

A FEW WEEKS HAVE passed since the accident. I'm home, though not alone very often. My father was beside himself that he wasn't here for me. He quit his jobs, and he's decided to search for one that will allow him to be with me more.

I don't know how I feel about it quite yet, as he hovers over me constantly, despite my constant reassurances that I'm okay.

I've returned to work, too. Some days I walk there. When Atlas is in town visiting his mom, he drives me. Priya doesn't let me work too hard, though.

"You know, at this rate, you're wasting money on me," I say, "if you won't let me do my job."

"You are doing your job. I'll tell you when you aren't," Priya says, smiling as she scolds me. "Now I want you to stay sitting behind the counter. And drink your water."

I roll my eyes and smirk, but I can feel the warmth behind her words.

The bell above the door rings as Atlas comes in. Priya smiles brightly at him, but waggles her eyebrows at me. A light blush spreads across my cheeks as he comes over and kisses my forehead.

"How's the love of my life?"

"Aww," Priya coos. "You two are so cute together. I'm so glad everything worked out for you in the end."

Atlas smiles at her, then turns his attention back to me. "I am, too. Now, how are you doing? I mean it."

"I'd be fine if everyone didn't treat me like a fragile flower who's going to fall apart at any moment."

"Bah," Priya mutters. "I'm sorry I'm concerned about my favorite person in this town."

"Yeah, yeah, all right. Just chill out a little and let me do a little more work."

"Next week, I'll consider it. For now, you sit there and look pretty. Doesn't she look pretty, Atlas?"

Atlas looks me up and down, though I doubt a pullover hoodie and leggings gives him much to look at. "The most beautiful woman I've seen."

I roll my eyes. "All right, what do you want?"

"Can't I compliment my girlfriend for no reason?"

"You often do. But there's an undertone in your words."

"I want to take you and your father to dinner."

Priya chokes on a sip of water, her eyes full of shock and laughter. As she sputters and coughs in the corner, she gives me a thumbs up. I shake my head at her before returning my gaze to Atlas. "Okay. I'll text him."

"No need. I already stopped by your house and asked him. He's in my truck. We just wanted to come get you."

I look over at Priya, but she beats me to it. "Yes, she will go to dinner. Her shift is just about over. Go get food," she says, having recovered from her coughing attack.

"I see you and my father are playing me," I say teasingly, narrowing my eyes at Atlas.

"Me? Never. I just wanted to sweeten the deal for when I ask if you can come stay with me in the city for the weekend. I want to assure him there's no funny business."

"But funny business is my favorite business," I tease.

Atlas blushes, a rare sight. I always feel victorious when I'm the cause of it. "You know what I meant."

"Yes, I did. Don't worry. My dad adores you. But thank you for coming to ask him so I didn't have to. I am an adult who can make my own decisions, though."

"I know. It's about showing respect. But I will not be mentioning that we'll have to share a bed."

"I could mention we have before."

Atlas blushes again.

Priya grins and shakes her head at the two of us.

We walk to his truck in the small parking lot behind the bookstore. My dad lounges in the backseat, leaning forward eagerly when Atlas opens my door and helps me in.

"I'm very excited about this dinner," he says.

"Hello to you, too."

"Sorry. I'm hungry. I was thrilled when Atlas came by and asked to take us to dinner."

My heart swells. I want to capture moments like these in a photo or a poem and keep them forever, tucked away somewhere that I can look back on someday.

The look of pride on my dad's face. The feel of Atlas's hand in mine as he drives us to the diner. The way my dad and Atlas talk so easily, as if no time has passed. The way Atlas looks at me as though I'm the most beautiful work of art he's ever seen.

I do worry about Milo sometimes. Some nights, before I fall asleep, I try to open my mind up, in case he wants to visit. But he never does.

I know I made the right choice. Milo and I were a wild moment. A candle burning bright, but not everlasting. I cherish the moments we shared, and I will forever regard them as some of my most treasured ones.

But I couldn't keep him. He belongs to someone else who can love him and break the curse.

I let my mind drift away from those darker thoughts of worry, letting it sink back into the present.

Into dinner with my boyfriend and my dad.

Into the drive home as the sun dips behind the clouds.

Into the moment my dad goes inside to give Atlas and me a few minutes alone before he starts his long drive to the city.

"So, I'll come by after work Friday and pick you up. We can go to dinner and then maybe catch a movie."

"That sounds perfect."

I rest my head on his shoulder as we stare up into the sky. As the stars begin to shine, Atlas's lips find mine.

And finally, everything is as it should be.