He could’ve offered this begrudgingly, hinted that I would be a coward to accept his offer. I studied his eyes, fair skies blue, the arch of his brows, and saw that he was sincere. And in spite of the pain of yet another of Gregory’s betrayals, for once I felt I was not entirely on my own.

From the bedroom, we heard Wallis’s music raised, then from Cricket’s a request to lower the volume, please.

For my family, then. For Wallis, who was recovering from a breakup. For Cricket, whose life had already been upended once. For me, too, my career.

I uncurled my body, straightened my shoulders, and rose from the floor. Did it feel icky? Undoubtedly. But everyone already knew Gregory was a crook. Revealing this information wouldn’t change that. Right? And keeping it to myself would protect our precarious new life from imploding further.

I waited for Atlas to stand too, then readied myself to do what was required. “Kill it,” I said.

Without hesitation: “Done.”

“Thank you.” I jammed my hands into my pockets, not sure what came next with us. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “I can’t promise, though, that this will never come out. Miss Pell talked to me. She might talk to others.”

“Yes.” This had occurred to me. “But you’ve bought us time. The longer it’s been, the less likely anyone will be interested.” We would cross that bridge, in other words, when we got there. But I didn’t even want to imagine it, somewhere in the distance. All I could see was what was right in front of my nose. One day at a time, as Cricket had said.

“Of course,” he said. I couldn’t tell if he believed this, but he smiled like he did, turned and collected his blazer from the back of his chair. “I’ve overstayed my welcome. We’ll talk tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yes.” Tomorrow. I liked this promise.

“And sometime, preferably sooner rather than later, you, me, ramen, video games.”

“Yes.” This one, more enthusiastic than the previous.

After he left, I regretted not hugging him closer. Maybe I should’ve said—wait, Atlas, don’t go? Maybe I should’ve checked to see if he gave me one last glance before he showed himself out. Maybe then I would’ve let myself fall into his arms. There was a good chance, I thought, that he would’ve caught me.

I went to find Wallis. In the space of a few steps, I added, I subtracted, I tried to do some knotty calculations. Did I need to tell Cricket and Wallis? When was the right time to lay this at their feet?

Wallis was on her bed, slender feet tangled in the duvet, absorbed in her phone. I gripped her doorframe. “What can I get you?” I asked. “You barely ate anything at dinner.”