Something Worth Fighting For (13 page)

“Damn,” a girls voice broke us apart, “Gentlemen please take note, that is how you kiss a girl.” My face was bright red as Atlas laughed. There had been a small crowd gathering around to watch the show. We were so caught up in each other we didn’t even notice.

“We should--”

“Yeah,” Atlas laughed, helping me off the car. He waved as I ducked into the passenger seat.

“Oh God I didn’t even see them.”

“Yeah, me either,” Atlas shook his head, “Then again I don’t see anyone if you’re around.”

“Good answer.” I teased as Atlas pulled away from the school.

“Just the truth.”

“So I have something for you. I know your birthday is passed and since you weren’t home for it it kind of gave me a little time to work on something...” I pulled a small wrapped box from my purse.

“Ellie you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Shut up. It didn’t cost me much and it’s nothing spectacular but I wanted to do something.” I bit my lip setting it on the dashboard.

Atlas pulled into the grocery store parking lot, stopping a few rows from the door. He grabbed the box carefully unwrapping it. “I didn’t know what to get you.” I confessed as he opened the box.

“Um, Ellie, this is my iPod...”

“I know that, genius. Turn it on.” The small light flickered on as the screen as a smile spread across his face.

“You made me a playlist?”

“Sort of,” I watched his reaction as he opened the list scrolling through the songs. “I sang you a playlist. I know it’s probably stupid but...”

“No, it’s perfect, you sang for me.”

“I needed something to do while you were gone. I covered a few songs you already had then added ones that reminded me of you.”

“You are incredible. This is hands down the best gift ever. I’ll have you wherever I am now.” He smiled, genuinely happy.

“I am so glad you like it. I deleted it at least half a dozen times.

“I love it, thank you.” He leaned over, kissing me softly.

“You’re welcome.”

Atlas put in the earbuds and wore them the entire time we were in the store. He would stop and stare at me for long moments as if I was nothing he had ever seen before. He followed me around pushing the cart, lost in his own world while I marked things off my mental checklist. We checked out and loaded the car without saying two words to each other. Even the drive to my Dad’s house was silent.

When we had everything inside Atlas stepped onto the porch, leaning over the railing. I watched him while as I prepped food and wrote directions for the guys. When I had the steaks marinating for tonight and everything cleaned up, I stepped out onto the porch. He had been here for close to two hours.

“What’s wrong Atlas?” I finally asked, breaking the heaviness between us. He pulled out the earbud, sighing.

“You don’t know how much this is going to help. Just when I thought I couldn’t love you more, you do this.” He held up his iPod.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m being deployed in December.”

All the air was sucked from my lungs. I clenched the windowsill in my hand to keep my knees from giving out on me. “For how long?” I choked out, fighting back tears.

“Nine months,” he said quietly.

I knew this was part of his job; that this was his life, and for yet another time a man I loved would be going across the world from where he belonged. It didn’t matter how much I hated it or how much I didn’t want him to go. I knew that for nine months I would worry, I would cry, and I would wait for him.

My world would stop for nine months.

Chapter Nine

I was not going to cry or feel sorry for us yet. It was his job, his duty, and what he loved. Instead, I held him closer, kissed him longer, and made sure to tell him how much I love him every chance I had.

We decided on the flight to Texas to record their reactions. Andy would be at work and Ares at school. Granbury High School would be our first stop; we would surprise him and then take him along to surprise their Mom.

Atlas’ two longtime friends met us at the airport. Micah and Jackson had drove Atlas’ truck up so we would have a way around town when we got there. The big black Ford F-150 was completely tricked out. Black on black with chrome accents and oversized tires. Atlas had to actually pick me up and put me in the seat.

“How long have you two been together?” Micah leaned forward as I stared out the window in awe.

“About seven months.” Atlas looked comfortable behind the wheel of the monster truck.

“Propose to her yet?” Micah joked but his eyes were cutting me like a knife. There was something about him that made me uncomfortable.

“At least half a dozen times.” I laughed.

“I know what I want.” Atlas defended himself.

“You’re persistent I give you that.” I tilted my head looking at him out of the corner of my eye.

“You’re worth the chase.” I watched the corner of his mouth turn upward.

“Quinn’s always been that way.” Jackson, who preferred Jacks, piped up. “When we were young he was always the one to get his way. Man, remember when you argued with the ref over stepping out of bounds? I thought coach was going to bench you forever.”

“It was a bullshit call. Favorites playing bastard.” Atlas laughed.

“Shit, what about the time you fought Chance? You destroyed that tool. Took six of us to pull him off.” Micah fist bumped Jacks.

“He was a dick.”

“Still is.” Both guys in the back seat said together.

We laughed the entire drive from DFW to Micah’s house in Granbury. Atlas thanked them and promised we would be at his party Saturday night. “Ready?” I asked him as we checked into the front office at the school.

“Nervous,” he confided as I used his cell phone to start recording.

“Here we are with Sergeant Atlas Ryker at Granbury High School. We’re getting ready to go surprise his little brother Ares.” I narrated, filming Atlas walking down the hallway.

“You go in first, ask for him.” He nodded to the cafeteria door. I opened it, stepping inside.

“Um...” I cleared my throat. “Excuse me?” Nothing. “Hey! “I yelled. “I am looking for Ares Ryker.”

“You found him, baby.” A younger version of Atlas stood up.

“Don’t call my girl, baby, punk.” Atlas laughed walking in behind me.

“Oh fuck! Atlas!” Ares dropped everything in his hands and jumped over the back of his chair, scrambling for his brother.

“Watch your language.” Atlas admonished him as he caught his brother, arms open with a force that knocked him to the ground.

“You’re here.” Ares was clearly choked up as he touched Atlas’ head.

“Yeah man, I’m here.” Atlas helped him up as Ares wiped his eyes quickly. “Come on I want to go surprise Mom next.” He kissed the side of his younger brothers head. Watching him with Ares, I swear if it was even possible, I fell more in love with him.

I cut the filming and saved the video. Pocketing Atlas phone I linked my arm through his. “Hi Ares, I’m Ellie.”

Ares took me by surprise as he hugged me. “Thanks for being here.” He said loud enough for only me to hear. Patting his back I smiled over at Atlas.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

We stopped so Atlas could get his mother flowers on the way to her office. “Man, Micah and Jacks are some lying son of a bit--”

“Ares...” Atlas warned.

“Britches?” He offered. “Told me they needed to move some shit and wanted to borrow the truck.”

“They got you good.” Atlas reached over lacing our fingers together.

“So how are we doing this one?” I looked between the two strikingly similar men.

“How about I go in, tell her I got in trouble and that there’s someone that wants to speak to her about it?” Ares suggested.

“Works for me.” Atlas agreed pulling around the back of Manning & Ryker Designs. I was impressed by the beautiful building. All vintage worn brick yet upscale on an old downtown square.

“Alright, I’m going in!” Ares pushed through the door as I started recording.

“It’s Ellie again. We’re now at Andy’s office while Ares sets up the surprise.” I was pointing the phone at Atlas who waved with a bouquet of daisies.

“Ares Felix!” I could hear a shrill female voice from inside. Atlas opened the door and I followed close behind him. We walked straight through the immaculately decorated office. A gray haired woman ran out of her office after us, I assumed she was the Manning part of the name.

Atlas knocked on the door of Andy’s office. “Just a minute!” We heard her yell from inside. Atlas knocked again. “Hold on.” Knocking again. “Hold on, dammit!” I bit my lip to stop from laughing as Andy tossed open the office door.

“What?!” She growled then gasped. “Atlas!” She threw her arms around Atlas’ waist, sobbing into his clothes.

Atlas wrapped her in his arms, rubbing her back. “Hey Ma,” he said softly.  I turned off the video as he kissed the top of her hair, pulling her back to arms length, getting a good look at her.

“Surprise!” Ares grinned exposing dimples. Apparently they ran in the family.

“I didn’t think you were coming until tomorrow night!” Andy wiped her eyes, swatting his arm.

“I can leave if you want.” A smile spread lazily across his face.

“No! You’re not going anywhere Atlas Quinn!”

“Mom, this gorgeous woman is Ellie Grant.” Atlas pulled me to him wrapping an arm around my waist. “Ellie, my mom, Andy.”

“It’s a pleasure to me--”

“Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!” Andy interrupted, engulfing me in her arms.

“Thank you?” I laughed uncomfortably as Atlas kissed my temple.

“Let me get my things and we’ll be out of here.” Andy’s heels clicked against the stone floor as she shuffled back into her office.

“Mom’s a hugger.” Ares shrugged.

“Yeah, kind of noticed. You are too.” I pointed at him, smiling.

“I get it honestly.”

“Okay let’s go.” Andy shut her door then stared at Atlas for a long moment. I nudged him, nodding to the flowers he still clutched in his hand. He handed them to her with a lopsided grin. “Thank you, baby.” She gave him a bright, genuine smile.

“Don’t you dare show up at this office while this man is in town.” The gray haired woman finally spoke.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Martha.” Andy laughed. “Have a happy Thanksgiving.”

“You too, Andy.” Martha waved to us from the door.

“See you at the house?” Atlas asked as Andy and Ares went over to a red Lexus SUV.

“Yeah, baby.” Andy ducked in the car as Atlas helped me into the truck.

“She likes you.” Atlas finally spoke as we followed behind the red SUV.

“Good, I like her.” I smiled at him taking in my surroundings. “This place is seriously beautiful.”

“Yeah but North Carolina feels like home.” Atlas spoke softly.

“Why is that? Been there that long?”

“It’s where you are, Ginger. Wherever you are is my home.”

My heart constricted, I loved this man so much. Swallowing my girly tears I smiled at him but I knew he could see the glassed over shining of my eyes. “I love you, you know that?” I asked finally finding my voice.

“Yeah Ginger, I know.” He kissed the top of my hand as he pulled into the driveway of the stone and wood house.

“Holy hell!” I leaned my head down looking at the lake house.

“Yeah, sit or she’s going to chew my ass out.” Atlas shrugged, hopping down from the drivers seat. He ran around opening the door for me under his mothers approving gaze. Ares pulled our bags from the bed of the truck and we followed them into the house.

We walked into an exposed stone living room with floor to ceiling windows, it reminded me of my own room except it has a full view of Lake Granbury instead of the ocean. There was a bar, TV mounted to the wall, granite counters,  stone floors, it was palatial.

“I’m going to change, I’ll be right back.” Atlas kissed me quickly and headed off down the hallway.

“This place is amazing.” I walked over to the windows to look out at the view.

“Thank you. What’s your home like?” Andy asked as she sat on the couch, pulling off her heels.

“I live...” The truth was I pretty much lived with Atlas now. “My father has a beach house. The ocean is pretty much our front yard.”

“Bikini, nice.” Ares grinned from next to his mother.

“Ares!” Andy smacked him on the back of the head. “What does your father do?”

“He’s a Master Gunnery Sergeant.”

“A what?” She asked clearly confused.

“He’s a Marine, so are my two older brothers, Tobias and Keller.”

“So you know the lifestyle.”

“Yes ma’am.” I nodded, sitting on the couch opposite from the one they were on.