Thing is—they all knew.
Okay, definitely Parker and Tessa knew. Maybe even Atalanta had caught the drift too. All this morning chillness, this "happy brunch family" vibe? Yeah, it was a fucking cover-up. They were smoothing over the blazing dumpster fire from yesterday.
Wilder Automotives? Yeah, that place had broken something in both Parker and Tessa—cracked open a door and left it swinging, and neither of them had the guts to admit they weren't okay.
Atalanta could feel it. Like lava, lowkey bubbling under the surface of their skin. Parker was acting like his usual calm, billionaire mastermind self. Tessa? Too damn mature for her age. Handled her trauma like she handled eyeliner—flawless under pressure.
But to Atalanta, they were starting to feel less like two teens and more like two war generals trying to avoid a Cold War-style couple's quarrel. Like, girl could smell the tension.
And to make the vibes even messier, last night?
Parker had gone full Ares mode too.
