Page 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ATLAS

Group text with Mom, Atlas, Xander, Declan, and Lincoln:

5:28 p.m.

Mom:

Atlas, why aren’t you answering your phone?

What’s this I hear about you chasing some guy down Main Street with a chainsaw?

Lincoln:

It was for a good cause.

His girlfriend was being harassed.

Mom:

GIRLFRIEND?!

?! Why is this the first I’m hearing about a girlfriend?

???

Declan:

I wish I wasn’t hearing about it at all.

Lincoln:

Don’t worry, Mom, you’re not far behind the rest of town.

Atlas and his new lady friend made their declaration at the bar on Saturday.

Word spread like wildfire.

Mom:

And the chainsaw?

Xander:

What have we told you about not believing everything Mabel says?

Mom:

How do you know it was Mabel?

Xander:

I don’t have to be in town to know that.

Mom:

So Atlas having a girlfriend isn’t true?

Lincoln:

No, it is.

The chainsaw thing is a little over the top, though.

Even for him.

Mom:

How serious is this?

? How long have they been dating?

? And why hasn’t he brought her over to meet me?

?????

Declan:

An excellent question.

Atlas?

Lincoln:

He’s probably busy with his new girlfriend doing coupley things.

But he told me he’d bring her by this week for family dinner.

Mom:

Perfect! I can’t wait!

!!

Declan:

Neither can I.

Mom:

Does she have any allergies, Atlas?

What’s her favorite food?

I want to make a good impression!

Group text with Atlas, Xander, Declan, and Lincoln:

5:42 p.m.

Atlas:

I’m going to kill you.

Declan:

Which one of us are you talking to? Atlas:

Yes.