Page 66 of Promised Chance
Larry had no interest in studying and hadn’t planned on attending university. Atlas overheard him telling Arnold he was going to look for a job at a restaurant in a nearby town after graduation. He was interested in cooking. Atlas hadn’t hesitated to herd him into the back to talk to me.
That was how we had found our second hire. He was a better helper than I could have asked for. Quick on his feet and a fast learner in the kitchen.
“Larry!” someone called through the service window. Arnold waved with a giant smile on his face, then pushed up the giant glasses that had slipped down his nose.
Larry beamed at his boyfriend. They exchanged a meaningful look before Arnold took his seat.
“He’s back from school?” I asked Larry. They’d been doing long-distance for a few years while Arnold attended college at the state university.
He nodded. “He has a couple weeks of winter break before his last semester,” he said, then added, “You’re still okay with me taking the rest of the week off to take him on a trip?”
“Of course.”
He nodded again. Then, in a much quieter voice, he said shyly, “I’m going to ask him to marry me.”
I looked up from my prep and beamed at him. “Good for you. I have no doubt he’s going to say yes.”
Time really did fly by. The teens who used to frequent the diner had now become men ready to start their new lives together.
So much had happened in these past few years. The fucker who’d stalked Atlas five years ago had officially been convicted on counts of stalking, harassment, and assault, among other things. The trial had taken months, and I knew Atlas took it hard despite trying not to show it.
Our lawyer said Atlas didn’t have to go to the trial if he didn’t want to, and with video evidence from the security cameras and one of him threatening to murder me, they had more than enough to put the guy away.
Atlas proved to me how fucking strong he was and insisted on standing against him at the trial. With his courage, others started coming forward to give testimony of his stalking and harassing them too. Apparently, Atlas hadn’t been his first victim, but he sure as hell was his last. The fucker received the maximum sentence, and both Atlas and I breathed a huge sigh of relief knowing we’d never see him again.
Knowing Garrett had been close enough to share bed partners with this fucker, I thought he might have been in on the whole thing. Or hell, stalked the other poor victims too, but there wasn’t any evidence of Garrett’s involvement, and the stalker had kept his mouth shut about his friend. I was just glad Garrett had left town long ago and hadn’t been seen since.
Good riddance.
Later that day, after the last customer stayed long after official hours to chat with us—yes, we had official hours now, though they still ended up being suggestions more often than not—Atlas and I closed the diner and headed upstairs to our home.
Shadow popped out from one of the dark corners to quickly brush against Atlas’ leg before rubbing himself all over me. I could tell he accepted Atlas as part of the family, but he was still stingy with anything more than a couple pets from him.
I scooped Shadow up into my arms like a baby and cuddled the cat for the few minutes he’d allow. Shadow had never been a lap cat, and he would always be skittish around new people, which was okay. He was perfect just the way he was.
“It’s my turn to get some loving from my husband,” Atlas whispered to the cat.
He booped Shadow’s nose, which had the feline swatting a large paw at him before jumping out of my arms. Shadow gave what I could only describe as a glare to Atlas, but then shot off mixed signals by rubbing against his leg beforesashayingaway to find a comfortable spot to nap.
Atlas met my eye, and we laughed at the silly cat. We kicked off our shoes and flopped on the couch. Atlas practically lying on top of me, which just happened to be his preferred position.
Mine too, if I were being honest.
I looked around the living room, tracking all the tinychanges from the last five years. Things Atlas had collected—mementos filled with memories of our life together—and it really hit me how different things were now.
After Angelina left, I’d been so certain I would be okay living the rest of my days with Shadow. But I hadn’t realized how empty my life had truly been and how bare my walls were.
Then Atlas came rushing into my life, fighting for a chance at something I thought had an expiration date. Now, cradling the love of my life close to my heart, I knew for certain there was no ending in sight for us.
