Something Worth Fighting For (22 page)

“What?”

“Your mother called Keller.”

“What? Why?”

“She wanted your number. Before you ask, no he didn’t give it to her. But she is looking for you.”

“Fuck her.” I spat.

“Ellie!” Dad tried stifling his grin. “She wants to apologize.”

“Yeah? She can shove her apology up her perfectly bleached asshole.” I felt the darkness close in over me, my own personal raincloud hanging overhead. Atlas laughed next to me but it sounded far away.

“It’s not my place to tell you what to decide but she left her number.”

“I hope she’s holding her breath.” I grumbled. I couldn’t deal with being around them anymore. Without a word, I headed up to my room. Pulling out a large suitcase I began to carefully place my clothes, bathroom items, laptop, and other things into it.

“You don’t have to pack everything tonight, ya’ know?” Atlas watched me from the doorway.

“I know, I just needed something to help blow off steam.”

“We should teach you how to box.”

“That could be dangerous for you.”

“Good point. Ready to go home?” He picked up the full suitcase as I grabbed my pillows.

“Home sounds good.”

On our way out dad stopped me at the door. He tucked an envelope in my bag then hugged me tightly. “That’s her number. I’m a phone call away, day or night. Remember to come home. I love you endlessly, Ellie.” He spoke into my ear as I clung to his shirt.

“I’ll always come home. I love you, Daddy.” I kissed his cheek as Atlas stood patiently, holding the door open.

“I’ll take care of her, Ben, promise.” Atlas wrapped his free arm around my waist.

“I’m going to hold you to that.” Dad patted his back as I walked down the stairs. In the car I blew him a kiss as he waved.

“On to our next adventure.” Atlas rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb.

“To the rest of our lives.”

Things were going great the week since I moved with Atlas and Adam. They had thrown me a small party for my birthday that even my dad showed up for. The guys had cooked and Darcy brought a cake along with a bag full of nail polish, facial products, and everything else we would need for a pamper day when the guys left.

“Did you have a good birthday?” Atlas was laying next to me, rubbing circles on my shoulder.

“I did, it was perfect, thank you.” I smiled sleepily at him.

“I have one more present for you.”

“The flowers were enough for me, silly.”

“I know but it’s something I wanted to give you.” He reached into the nightstand and handed me a small black box.

“Atlas...”

“Just open it.” He kissed my arm as I opened the box.

“Dog tags.” I laughed, holding them up.

“My tags, an extra set. You know they’re important so please don’t lose them.”

I sat up as he slipped them over my head. “Thank you,” I clutched them in my hand. “Now I’ll have a piece of you while you’re gone.”

“That’s what I thought. I have you on my iPod and you have this.”

“I’m going to miss you.” I said quietly, staring down at him.

“It’s going to be hard.” He admitted.

“I know it will. But I chose you and when I chose you I made the decision to serve. When you serve, I serve too. You fight for our country and I fight for you.” I placed my hand on his cheek.

“That...” Atlas nodded at a loss for words. “Thank you,” his voice was soft in the dark room. “For standing by me, for supporting me, for not begging me not to go, for loving me like you do. I know it’s probably not easy to love me. But you do and that’s more than I could ever ask for. What you just said makes me love you even more.” He ran his hand down my face.

“You’re something worth fighting for.”

“I love you, Penelope.”

“I know, I love you, Atlas.”

❋❋❋

My finals were over allowing for me to be able to spend as much as much time with Atlas as possible before he left. I had helped him pack his two bags and prepare as much as I could. As the days went on it was harder to walk past his bags by the door.

The day before he left I stood by the door staring at those bags. They were my own secret arch nemesis. Sitting there, waiting, mocking me, every day. I wouldn’t admit it to him but inside I was breaking. He was really leaving.

“You okay, Ginger?” Atlas had a towel wrapped around his waist, fresh from the shower.

“Yeah baby, I’m fine.” My voice was trying to give away my despair.

“Come here.” Without hesitation I walked straight into his arms, breathing him in. “We’re going to be fine, you and I.”

“I know. I miss you already.”

“Don’t, not yet. Today is all us. I want to go do something today and you’re not talking me out of it.” Atlas’ mischievous grin had returned.

“Alright, lets do it.” I wasn’t about to tell him no on the last day I had him.

“Good, I need to get dressed so we can go.”

“Mmm, do you have to?” I ran my hands down his chest.

“You just can’t get enough of me can you?”

“Not possible.”

“Okay, okay, clothes or we’re going for round three.”

“Now who can’t get enough of whom?”

“Good point.”

“Alright get dressed. I’ll wait in the living room.” I kissed his chin leaving him to dress. My shoes thumped against the floor as I waited impatiently. Adam was watching me as I paced.

“Hey Ellie?”

“Yeah?”

“Take care of Darcy for me.”

“Always,” I stopped, “You remember the first night you met Darcy? When the two of you were dancing, that’s when I knew, when I saw it.”

“Saw what?” He asked, confused.

“The way Atlas looks at me. It’s the same way you look at Darcy. It when I knew I was really in love with Atlas.” I looked up to see Atlas smiling the one hundred thousand megawatt, stop your heart smile. My own heart skipped a beat as he strolled over to me.

“Maybe I’ll marry her when I get back.” Adam said, thinking out loud.

“I’ll make sure no one beats you to it until then.” I spoke to Adam but I couldn’t take my eyes off Atlas.

“That would be appreciated.” Adam snorted.

“Alright, leaving with my girl, later.” Atlas pulled me out the door.

“So where are we going?” He pulled my keys from his pocket, spinning them around his finger.

“Surprise.”

“Fine, I’ll play.” I sat back in the car as he drove away from our apartment. He drummed along with the radio, bobbing his head. His good mood was infectious, no matter how much I felt like whining.

We sped through town to a little shopping center I knew well. “Don’t tell you’re doing what I think you’re doing?” I looked at the blinking open sign on
Permanent Ink
.

“Oh I am.” he grinned as he parked at the front, “my appointment is now.” I followed him inside to meet Xander.

“Atlas, my man.” Xander stood up, shaking his hand. “Ellie, this is a surprise.”

“Yeah, been awhile since I was in.”

“You two know each other?” Atlas looked between me and the artist.

“Yeah, I did a good portion of her work. How do you two know each other?” Xander waved us back to his room.

“She’s my girlfriend.” Atlas answered as he pulled off his shirt, handing it to me.

“Explains the tattoo. When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Damn,” Xander shook his head as he pulled out the sterile supplies and gloves. “Sure about this?”

“Just shut up and do it.” Atlas smiled over at me.

“What are you getting?” I sat down on one of the would be massage tables that Xander used for a tattoo bed.

“She doesn’t know?” Xander’s brown eyes caught mine.

“No, she doesn’t.”

“What don’t I know?” I watched as Xander placed the stencil on the right side of his chest.

“Better tell her.”

“It’s your name.” Atlas mumbled as Xander fired up the gun.

“Excuse me?” I shook my head certain I didn’t hear him right.

“It’s your name.” He said again, clearer this time.

“You crazy bastard.” I laughed, jumping down and looking over Xander’s shoulder.

“You’re not mad?”

“I’m absolutely furious.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“You’re crazy, I love you, but you’re crazy.” I kissed the top of his head, taking my seat. I watched him as Xander outlined and shaded for about an hour. His eyes were closed, head leaning back on the chair like it was nothing.

When Xander was finished, Atlas stood up, stretched, and went over to the mirror. “It’s perfect, thanks, man.” I stood behind him, looking in the mirror at my name across his chest. It was small, in delicate lettering, and absolutely beautiful. “What do you think?”

“It’s pretty.” I smiled, kissing his shoulder blade.

“Yeah, I think so too.” Atlas dressed and paid Xander while I booked my next appointment with Maize.

“Where to next? I have a surprise of my own so we have to be available at six.” I told Atlas as we got in the car.

“A surprise, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Well I won’t ask since you were so good about not asking me.”

“I wouldn’t have told you anyway.”

“Lunch?” He asked as we pulled away.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“Then lunch it is.”

❋❋❋

“Where are we going?” Atlas asked for the fourth time.

“Atlas we’ve been in the car ten minutes, just chill out.” I turned the radio up, smiling to myself as I headed toward the airport.

“I like to do the surprising not getting surprises.” He scowled, tapping his fingers on the side of the door.

“We’re almost there.”

“Fine,” he leaned back, closing his eyes, bouncing his knees up and down. I turned up the radio, singing along. Ten more minutes and I turned into the airport parking lot. Atlas sat up, looking around, confused. “The airport?”

“Yes.” I parked the car as Atlas came around opening the door for me.

“Do you have something to tell me? I know you don’t want me to leave but this is a little bit extreme, don’t you think?” I took his hand in mine, wanting to feel closer to him.

“Nope and it’s not for us, loser.” I smiled as we went through the sliding doors and over to the gate as people started coming off the plane.

“Atlas!” Ares voice came from within the crowd.

“Ares?” Atlas’ mouth fell open as he looked down at me. “You... You got my family here?”

“They wanted to see you off.” I gave him a wide smile as he took off running for his brother.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Atlas hugged Ares, slapping him hard on the back.

“Atlas Quinn you better kiss your mother.”

“Ma!” Atlas’ arms were around his mom next as she kissed his cheek.

“You look good.” She patted his arm as they walked back over to where I was.

“Thank you for arranging this, Ellie.” Andy smiled warmly at me.

“You’re very welcome. I knew you would want to be here.” Atlas wrapped his arm around my waist and his other over Andy’s shoulder.

“Lets go get your bags.”

We made our way through the crowd of people, gathering their one bag each, and headed out to the car. “I’m driving this time.” Atlas smirked.

“What’s wrong with my driving?”

“Nothing I just don’t like to be driven around.”

“It’s my car.”

“Shush,” he kissed me quickly, stowing their bags in the trunk.

“This is your car?” Ares ran his hand down the side of Max.

“This is Max and he is my baby.”

“Felix would have a fit, he’s always wanted one.” Andy said as she climbed into the back.

“You can sit up front I don’t mind sitting back there with Ares.” I laughed.

“No, go ahead.” After her insistence I climbed into the passenger seat handing Atlas the keys.

“Lets go show you our home.” Atlas was beaming as he pulled away from the airport.

❋❋❋

“I can’t believe you got them here.” Atlas turned on his side, draping his arm across my waist.

“We’re all in this together. They wanted to be here and I wanted to make that happen.”

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Ellie.” He stared at me in awe. “I thank God that I have you. You are my reason to fight. You are my reason to come back home.”