The Dreams Between Us by Brooke Riley

Author:Brooke Riley [Riley, Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

AS WE LEAVE THE dance and get into Mrs. Jameson’s car, I wonder if I can believe him. Maybe there is truth to his promise.

Atlas sits in the backseat with Moriah while I sit up front with Mrs. Jameson.

I ignore the fact that Atlas and Moriah are whispering and giggling. I glance back, though I instantly regret it when I see Moriah has her hand in his. Maybe it’s friendly, but something in my heart says it’s more than that.

But Moriah was so insistent that she knew I had feelings for Atlas. She also said she wasn’t trying to be with him. So what is all this? Could it really be that she’s just touchy and they’re talking?

But my heart drops to my stomach when Atlas walks Moriah to her door, and she leans in and kisses his cheek. I look away, knowing that if I keep looking, I’ll break.

Atlas returns to his seat in the back, talking with his mom as they drive me home. He tells her about the dance and doesn’t ever ask me to fill in any details. I appreciate that very much. Mrs. Jameson pretends she didn’t see Moriah kiss his cheek on the front porch.

I pretend, too.

When they drop me off, I thank Mrs. Jameson for bringing me home. I tell Atlas a quick goodbye before he can get out and walk me to my door. I race up to my house before the tears can break free.

My dad is home tonight, for once. One of his coworkers needed to switch shifts with him, so he had a normal day of work and was home in the evening. He also wanted to be home for my first dance, in case I needed him to come get me.

“How was it, Ophelia? Did you have fun?”

Fun. Of all the words to describe that experience, that isn’t one I would use.

“Yeah, it was alright. I don’t know if I liked it.”

I hated it. Maybe not the part where Atlas comforted me. Or the part where we danced. But everything after that shattered my entire experience.

Moriah accuses me to my face of lying about having feelings for Atlas, then kisses him anyway.

Yeah, it was just a kiss on the cheek, but it still meant something to both of them. And now all I want to do is scream and cry.

My dad tilts his head. “Are you okay?”

“I’m tired. That was an exhausting experience. I’m going to shower and go to bed.”

“Okay, bug. But you can talk to me if something’s bothering you. I’m sorry I’m never here.”

I understand why he’s never here. I don’t resent him for it. My mom made a lot of money and when she dipped out of our lives, he had to do something. And everything he’s doing is a sacrifice to keep us here, in the house I grew up in. I never complain about him being gone, although I miss him constantly.

When I say nothing, my dad pulls me into his arms and I finally break down and sob.

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