Salem freezes a few feet from the doorway, unsure if he heard right. He's not used to Atlas saying things like that. Sure, it's been three years since they had a real conversation, but still. It takes a lot for Atlas to allow himself to be emotionally vulnerable—well, actually, any kind of vulnerable.
"What?" Salem asks, refusing to turn around. Atlas' voice sounds closer when he elaborates.
"Even if you don't need me." Atlas continues, and Salem can tell from his tone of voice alone that he means every word. "I need you. I want you in my life, I don't care what it takes."
Seriously, Salem doesn't know what to do. He just doesn't. Atlas never f*****g says these things, he doesn't tell Salem things like that. Salem has always thought that their relationship was sort of one sided, when it
