Growing Fires with Old Ashes

20 - Restroom

Atlas.

"So, don't you think it's time to give them to their rightful owner?" I whispered in her ear, still dancing.

She opens her mouth to react, but no sound comes out. I turn her around so her back is against my chest, her head turned sideways to mine.

I lean closer to her ear. "Meet me in the restroom in twenty" I whisper with my lips softly pressed against her neck. I let her go as the last tunes of the song die down and applause fills the room instead. I turn around and walk away, but I can't help but be bothered at the cold air replacing the comforting warmth from where Sage was just two seconds ago.

But I also can't help to be pissed at her. She brought him as a date. That clueless motherfucker, so fucking clueless of what his 'girlfriend' is doing behind his back. I just need her to break-up with him, hence why I asked her to join me in the restroom. I'm going to show her who she belongs to.

I walk over to Don standing with a confused expression on his face, staring at his drink. "Something wrong with it?" I go to stand next to him.

"What do you mean?" he asked while glancing up at me.

"Your drink, you can get another one."

"What? Oh no, it's fine" he grits. What's up his ass?

"Ok? Well spit it out. What is bothering you?" I try.

"That girl, you can't let her keep you from focusing Atlas! Get your shit together and dump her." He says while lighting a cigarette. "She'll get desperate for more, which you can't give," he sighs. "Son, I care a great deal about you and trust me when I say you do not want distractions. Now do as I say for once and keep your stubborn mind at bay."

I take his cigarette from him. "I know, she is just messing with my head. She'll be gone after tonight." The words were already out before I could think about it. Sure, I want to see where I can go with Sage, but any wise man knows that I can't disappoint Don. However, I sure as hell can't let her go now that she is finally back. I take a drag from the cigarette while the thoughts pound in my head.

The man who saved me from my own downfall or the girl I fell in love with seven years ago?

It was a dilemma I dread to think about. It was a dilemma I try to push to the back of my mind. It was a dilemma that needs a decision someday. My decision.

"She better be" Antonio interrupts my train of thoughts. "Son, you deserve your chance at love, everyone does, but not yet. Not until you're done with your training. Not until you are stable at the position you're destined for."

"I understand" is all I say as I stare at my cigarette.

"If she is still here after you're done with you training, she's a keeper" I glance at him with a playful smirk, wondering where he learned about the word 'keeper'. "What? Oh, you're shocked because you didn't think I actually know what you are saying when you're talking about girls. Fucks sake I'm thirty-seven not eighty" he elbows me in my ribs.

"You look like you're eighty" I shoot back with my smirk still visible on my face.

"Funny, that women just said something else" he said while pointing and looking at a woman standing in a group with other people, stealing glances at Don. "And stop smirking before I wipe it of off you" he said earning a chuckle from me.

Sage.

"Hija! There you are, come and join us." I hear my mother say and I walk over to her and some other people I don't know. "Your dancing was great" she kisses me on both cheeks as I force a smile. I just can't stop thinking about Atlas.