Page 68 of Blinding Lights

I should walk away. Now is clearly not the time for us to talk, and I’ve delivered the donuts. There’s no need for me to stay. Only when Atlas steps forward, my mind flashes to the reason I’m so guarded and I freeze in place. Because it’s no longer Mom lying on the ground in my vision—it’s Henley.

I blow out a breath, leveling Atlas with a stare, my muscles so tense they ache. “I said why I’m here. What are you doing here?” My brows crease as my lips thin. “Can you imagine my surprise when I saw my best friend’s car parked outside my baby sister’s house?”

My best friend? What the fuck, Beckett? Low blow.

Henley doesn’t let Atlas answer, shooting me a glare of her own. “Well, you’ll have to understand the surprise I felt from you even stopping by. Don’t act like that happens often. I won’t stand here and let you make Atlas feel guilty because you suddenly want to be a caring big brother again.”

I flinch, her words like a knife to the chest. “I’ve always cared, Hen.” My voice softens as an ache settles inside me.

Atlas moves to Henley, wrapping his arms around her as though she needs protecting from me, his eyes meeting mine. “Let’s talk on the porch, B.”

I head back outside without giving him a response, and pace the porch as I wait for him to join me, popping my lips to distract me from their hushed whispers.

A million thoughts run through my mind with one particular memory standing out. Vegas.

My anger rises. If I’m right…

Atlas joins me, and the second the door closes behind him, I’m on the attack. “Henley’s the one you were pictured with at the wedding chapel in Vegas, isn’t she?” I’m technically asking a question, but deep down, I’m certain I know the answer.

Atlas’s wide eyes betray him, and after a few torturous seconds, he nods.

“Fuck, Atlas. So you drunkenly married my sister. Is that what you’re telling me?”

He huffs out a breath. “Yeah, but it’s so much more than that.” He pauses and I try hard to convince myself I need to hear him out. But fail.

“Are you still married?” I grate through clenched teeth, praying he says no.

“Technically, yes.”

Jesus Christ. “What the fuck is going on?” I throw my hands in the air. How can he be so reckless?

“There is still the option to get it annulled, but in order not to draw attention to the situation, we held off on doing the paperwork.” He pauses, the sincerity in his eyes making me uncomfortable. “And in the meantime, I convinced her to give me a real shot.”

Fuck. “That doesn’t sound smart.” I pinch my nose as I shake my head. “You do realize she’s been in love with you since she was, like, nine years old, right?” I cringe as my words betray my sister, but he needs to hear them. He’s clearly not thinking straight.

Though he doesn’t look at all surprised. “That ship sailed when she was eighteen and came to visit us in Alabama.”

“What?” I snap. If he hurt her⁠—

He frantically shakes his head, cutting me off mid-thought. “Nothing happened, but she told me her feelings, and because I knew you’d hate me if I even so much as entertained it, I told her we would never happen, and in doing so, I killed her childhood crush on me. Needless to say, I’ve been the one begging her to give me a chance this time around.”

A little part of me wants to say good, but considering I caught them mid-embrace, I don’t think Henley’s making him work for it. I should feel guilty, but I don’t. Henley’s been through so much with our father wearing her confidence down, and she wasn’t as strong at eighteen as she is now.

Though I am curious. “What if she decides she wants to go through with the annulment? Or if not, have you thought about what will happen when the news hits that it’s her?” I try to keep my tone even, but it’s impossible to hide my feelings. I hope to God I’m wrong, but something tells me he hasn’t considered what a public relationship will do to Henley.

“If she wants the annulment, I’ll have my lawyer continue with the paperwork. And I’ll protect her at all costs. I won’t stay silent and let her be dragged through the mud by people who know absolutely nothing about us.”

“How can you stop it?” I’m glad Henley’s thinking straight, but that doesn’t remove the risk.

“I’ll be there⁠—”

“Will you?” I cut him off. “Will you be there all the time? What about when you’re playing away games? What about the nights you’re out celebrating and a photographer catches you in an innocent moment that looks anything but? What if they harass Henley because of it? And if you’re there what⁠—”

The door creaks, making me pause, saving Atlas from the rest of my wrath. His previously shocked expression morphs into one of calm as Henley steps out, now thankfully wearing pajama pants.

“You two done?” Her eyes dart to mine, and for a split second, they flash with suspicion before she turns back to Atlas. “Even though I’m annoyed that my brother stole your last five minutes here, I don’t want you to be late.”

Atlas glances at his watch and curses. “Shit, she’s right. I have practice in less than two hours.”