Page 98 of Atlas

“Hey, man,” Gray says, voice low, familiar.“I’m not sure when you might watch this.Could be the day after I’m gone, could be a year later.But whenever it happens, I’m betting you and Maddie are the ones raising Grayce right now.You’re the two people I trust most in this world and I know you’d never let me down.”

I swallow hard, my throat thick, fingers curling tight into my knees.

Gray leans forward, rests his arms on the table.“I know I could leave you with all kinds of advice to help you navigate life, but the truth is, you don’t need me.You’ve got your shit together and that’s why I trust you with my daughter.But I do think this is important to tell you.I couldn’t ever tell you in real life, but now that I’m dead… hey, I’ve got nothing to lose.”I smile, let out a tiny chuckle and Maddie slips her hand into mine.“Call me crazy,” Gray continues, “but I’ve always had this feeling that you and Maddie would be a good match.”

“Whoa!”I exclaim, and Maddie taps the trackpad to pause the video.

I turn to look at her.“Can you believe that?”

“Yeah, I can believe it.”

My attention goes back to the screen and Maddie restarts the video.

“I know you don’t like Maddie much—I know that look you get when she walks into the room—but I’m asking you to look past her tough shell.She’s had a hard life, harder than she’ll ever tell you.But she’s also got more love in her than anyone I know.Years and years of it stored up, just waiting for the right person to unload it on.”

The screen blurs, and I blink hard, refusing to miss a word.

“And you, Atlas—you’re the guy who can bring that out of her.You’re steady, loyal, stubborn in all the right ways.If she pushes you, it’s because she’s scared.Don’t mistake that for her not caring.Give her a chance.Give yourself a chance.”

I don’t dare move, don’t dare breathe.

Gray lets out a short laugh.“I think you’d be good for each other.Hell, I think you’d be great.And if I’m right, when you watch this, you’re already halfway there.If I’m wrong, well, then you at least know what I hoped for both of you.”

He goes quiet for a moment, then his voice softens.“Take care of my girls.Both of them.”

The video clicks off.The room is too still, too quiet, except for the hum of the fridge and the sound of Maddie’s soft breathing.

I think back to the last time I saw Gray and before he fell asleep, he had asked me to watch over “her.”I thought he was talking about Grayce, but now I’m not so sure.Maybe he was talking about Maddie.

I blink hard against the burn in my eyes.My chest feels split wide open—raw, exposed, but also steadied.Like Gray reached through the screen, pressed his hand to my shoulder, and said,It’s okay.You can love her.You can have this.

Maddie’s hand is still there, pinky hooked with mine.She whispers, “He told me not to let fear win.In my video.”

I turn to her, and for the first time in a long damn while, the ache over losing Gray eases.I lace our fingers together, my voice rough but certain.“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.We won’t let fear win.”

Her eyes shine, and she nods, resting her forehead against mine.The laptop sits silent on the coffee table, but Gray’s voice lingers, steady as a heartbeat, a blessing I didn’t know I needed.

“How did he know?”I ask, dumbstruck over his foresight.

“He was a genius, I guess.”She laughs.

“Yes, he was.”I lean back and rest my head against the couch, finding Maddie’s eyes on me.“I love you,” I whisper.

She squeezes my hand.“I love you too.And I cannot wait to do this life with you and Grayce.”

“Thank you for taking the chance,” I say earnestly.“You won’t regret it.”

Maddie snuggles in, her head on my shoulder.I close my eyes and bask in the knowledge that I have a good woman’s love and an amazing daughter.

And thank you, Gray.Wherever you are.I promise I’ll take the best care of them both.