Faded Embers

18

Atlas' POV:

It's been a week since Miles was shot and he's been in recovery. The wound is slowly healing, but he's still in pain and Calin has been panicking over him instead of getting a job like Miles asked him to.

Bailey and Toast went home, and I'm honestly considering getting a cat of my own. Having Toast around was great, but Bailey was a bit of a hassle. She's sweet but it's hard to handle a dog when I'm not at home all the time, so a cat would be preferable. They're way more independent.

Everything is going pretty fine for me personally; Sean has been staying with me for the past week and I love having him around, but he's going to give me grey hair at some point!

He's been stressing over all of Miles' businesses and has been trying to act like he's perfectly fine (he's not). Most of Sean's waking hours are spent stressing and visiting all of the pubs and clubs that Miles has, and his sleeping hours are spent disturbed and he tosses and turns a lot.

I only know this because I've been waking up later and going to sleep when he's already in bed so I see how disturbed his sleep is. Thankfully, I've been able to get to sleep but I feel terrible that Sean is doing so badly with his own sleep schedule.

My eyes open when I hear movement and I see Sean getting up and getting ready for work.

"Sean, it's six in the morning."

He jumps a bit, hearing my voice, but he doesn't lay back down. "I've got to go check on the Royal Garden."

"Why? You were there three days ago!" I exclaim and Sean shoots me a dirty look. "Come on, you were up late at the Ember. You need more sleep."

"I'm fine," Sean tries to insist, but the bags under his eyes betray him. "I promise."

I get up and grab Sean around the waist, carrying him back to the bed. It's pretty easy because he doesn't put up much of a fight, but he's huffing and pouting the whole way.

"Sleep," I order, sitting on top of him. "Or I'll crush you."

"Get off! I've got shit to do!"

"I can't hear you," I say childishly, covering my ears and closing my eyes. "I only listen to good boys who sleep."

I shriek when I feel Sean's fingers dig into my sides and knock me off balance. I fall onto the other side of the bed and glare at Sean as he gets up and continues to get himself ready.

"Sean, sweetheart, please just sleep."

"I will later."

"Okay, liar."

Sean gets huffy again and grabs his backpack. "I have a lot of shit to do today, Atlas. Miles is still out of commission because your best friend won't let him leave the house."

"He means well."

"Oh, I know. I completely respect him for dealing with Miles' whiny ass and I'm glad Miles is healing, but I'm ready for him to take over again."

I am too because I'm tired of watching Sean stress over everything when he just wants to be a bartender and have his job back. I'm not to stoked about him working at the Ember right now because apparently the new guy there keeps flirting with him, but I'd rather him be there than run around stressing out over tasks that aren't his.

"Have a great day," I say, hugging Sean and kissing him. "Keep me updated on what you're doing, alright? Maybe we can meet for lunch."

Sean nods and kisses me once more before he disappears out the front door.