Page 161 of Monstrous Serpent

“Hey, Little J.”

The fuck?

I twist a little, and my lower back spasms. “Dammit.”

“Easy.” Atlas moves to my side, crouching down and resting a hand on my knee. “Hope it’s okay that I stopped by.”

“What . . . what are you doing here?”

His cheeks redden, and he shrugs. “Missed you.”

The bruising along his jaw has faded to a sick yellow-green and the slash on his cheekbone is closing, but it's deep enough to scar.

My stomach sinks. Wish he hadn’t gotten hurt like that. I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I . . . I missed you too.”

Atlas stands and nods toward the seat next to me. “Can I sit?”

“No, just stand there.”

The fucker nods, shoves his hands into his pockets, and actually fucking stands in place.

“Atlas, sit the hell down.”

He sits gently, careful not to cause my body to shift. “How are you feeling?”

“Just lovely.”

Davis walks in, smiling wide. “We were just about to watch Haikyuu.”

Atlas grins, but it's sad, and I fucking hate it. After finishing off the rest of my juice box as fast as I can, I hold it out. “Hey, butthead. Throw this away and then give us some space.”

My little brother scoffs, then snatches the box from my hand. “You’re the butthead, butthead.”

Atlas chuckles as Davis leaves the room. “Kinda missed that too.”

“What? Watching us argue?”

He nods. “Reminds me of home. Miss my brothers and sisters. Max is the youngest. He’s the same age as Davis.”

I pick at the throw blanket covering my legs. “Well, you’ll see them when you go home for Thanksgiving.”

“Not going.”

I look up, staring at him. “Why?”

He takes my hand into his. “Because you’re here. You’re hurt. And until you’re better, I’m not going far.”

My eyes drop to his wrists. Last time I saw him, they were in bandages. But now . . . My chest constricts as I carefully run my thumb over the thick, dark scabs. “Does it hurt?”

“More tender than painful.”

I trace the Patrick Star tattoo. Still want to know the story behind that. Makes sense for Atlas, but Hunter with a fucking SpongeBob tattoo? Can’t wrap my head around that one.

“Little J, I’m going out of my mind. Hunter is too.”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip. “Is he mad? Is that why he didn’t come?”

Atlas adjusts his hand, so our fingers thread together. “No. He had to go out of town to take care of some stuff, some paperwork that needs to be handled.”