15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

I don’t want to tell them no, because then they’ll know I’m here
alone. I don’t necessarily hold much trust in the male population this
week.
The phone in my hand rings and all three of us jump from the
unexpectedness of it. It’s Atlas. I swipe the answer button and bring it
to my ear.
“Hello?”
“It’s fine, Lily, they’re just friends of mine. I forgot it was Friday, we
always play poker on Fridays. I’ll call them now and tell them to
leave.”
I look back at the two of them and they’re just standing there,
watching me. I feel bad that Atlas feels like he has to cancel his plans
just because I’m crashing at his house. I shut the door and unlock the
deadbolt, then open the door again, motioning them inside.
“It’s fine, Atlas. You don’t have to cancel your plans. I was about to
go to bed anyway.”
“No, I’m on my way. I’ll have them leave.”
I still have the phone pressed to my ear when the two men enter
the living room.
“See you soon,” I say to Atlas and then end the call. The next few
seconds are awkward as the guys assess me and I assess them.
“What are your names?”
“I’m Darin,” the tall one says.
“Brad,” the shorter one says.
“Lily,” I say to them, even though I already told them my name.
“Atlas will be here soon.” I move to close the door and they seem to
relax a little. Darin heads into the kitchen and helps himself to Atlas’s
refrigerator.
Brad takes off his jacket and hangs it up. “Do you know how to play
poker, Lily?”
I shrug. “It’s been a few years, but I used to play with friends in
college.”
Both of them walk toward the dining room table.
“What happened to your head?” Darin asks as he takes a seat. He
asks it so casually, like it doesn’t even cross his mind that it might be a
sensitive subject.