It Ends with Us

Why is my heart doing this to me?
“Aw, that’s sweet,” Brad says. “Lily saved your life, now you’re saving
hers.”
Atlas lowers his cards and glares at Brad. “Excuse me?”
“Relax,” Brad says. “Me and Lily are tight, she knows I’m kidding.” Brad
looks at me. “Your life might be complete crap right now, Lily, but it’ll get
better. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
Darin laughs. “You’ve been beat up and pregnant and hiding out at
another man’s house?” he says to Brad.
Atlas slaps his cards on the table and pushes back in his chair. “What
the hell is wrong with you?” he yells at Darin.
I reach over and squeeze his arm reassuringly. “Relax,” I say. “We
bonded before you got here. I actually don’t mind that they’re making
light of my situation. It really does make it a little less heavy.”
He runs a frustrated hand through his hair, shaking his head. “I’m so
confused,” he says. “You were alone with them for ten minutes.”
I laugh. “You can learn a lot about someone in ten minutes.” I try to
redirect the conversation. “So how do you all know each other?”
Darin leans forward and points at himself. “I’m the sous chef at Bib’s.”
He points at Brad. “He’s the dishwasher.”
“For now,” Brad interjects. “I’m working my way up.”
“What about you?” I say to Jimmy.
He smirks and says, “Take a guess.”
Based on the way he dresses and the fact that he’s been called arrogant
and pompous, I’d have to assume . . . “Maître d’?”
Atlas laughs. “Jimmy actually works in valet.”
I glance back at Jimmy and raise an eyebrow. He tosses three poker
chips down and says, “It’s true. I park cars for tips.”
“Don’t let him fool you,” Atlas says. “He works in valet, but only because
he’s so rich he gets bored.”

---

I smile. It reminds me of Allysa. “I have an employee like that. Only
works because she’s bored. She’s actually the best employee I have.”
“Damn straight,” Jimmy mutters.
I take a look at my cards when it’s my turn and toss in the three poker
chips. Atlas’s phone rings and he pulls it out of his pocket. I’m raising the
pot with another chip when he excuses himself from the table to take the
call.
“Fold,” Brad says, slapping his cards on the table.
I’m watching the hallway Atlas just disappeared down in a hurry. It
makes me wonder if he’s talking to Cassie, or if there’s someone else in his
life. I know what he does for a living. I know he has at least three friends. I
just know nothing about his love life.
Darin lays his cards on the table. Four of a kind. I lay down my straight
flush and reach forward for all the poker chips as Darin groans.
“So does Cassie not usually come to poker night?” I ask, fishing for
more information on Atlas. Information I’m too scared to ask him myself.
“Cassie?” Brad says.
I stack my winnings up in front of me and nod. “Isn’t that his
girlfriend’s name?”
Darin laughs. “Atlas doesn’t have a girlfriend. I’ve known him for two
years and he’s never mentioned anyone named Cassie.” He begins passing
out new cards, but I’m trying to absorb the information he just gave me. I
pick up my first two cards when Atlas walks back into the room.
“Hey, Atlas,” Jimmy says. “Who the hell is Cassie and how come we’ve
never heard you talk about her?”
Oh, shit.
I’m completely mortified. I tighten my grip around the cards in my
hands and try to avoid looking up at Atlas, but the room grows so quiet, it
would be more obvious if I 
didn’t
look at him.
He’s staring at Jimmy. Jimmy is staring at him. Brad and Darin are
staring at me.
Atlas folds his lips together for a moment and then says, “There is no
Cassie.” His eyes meet mine, but only for a brief second. But in that brief
second, I can see it written all over his face.
There never 
was
a Cassie.
He lied to me.

---

Atlas clears his throat and then says, “Listen, guys. I should have
cancelled tonight. This week has been kind of . . .” He rubs his hand over
his mouth and Jimmy stands up.
He squeezes Atlas on the shoulder and says, “Next week. My place.”
Atlas nods appreciatively. The three of them begin to gather their cards
and poker chips. Brad pries my cards from my fingers apologetically
because I’m unable to move as I clutch them tightly.
“It was lovely meeting you, Lily,” Brad says. I somehow find the strength
to smile and stand up. I give them all hugs goodbye and after the front
door closes behind them, it’s just me and Atlas in the room.