Page 140 of His to Save

“Surely yes.” Nora shoves her stool away from the bar and hops to her feet.

“Gonna need you to take a breath and explain,” Ellis says, while I just gape at her in shock.

I pride myself for being in tune with Nora, down to the point of almost anticipating her every need, but it’s crystal-fucking-clear that I’m missing something. And I don’t like the way it feels. Not one bit.

“Nora?” I croak, desperate to soothe whatever’s bothering her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her hazel eyes filling with tears.

“It’s okay. You’ve been through so much,” I say, trying to comfort her.

“No.” She steps away from me. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?” My head is spinning trying to figure her out. “Please talk to me, Pip. How can I protect you?—”

“That’s just it!” she shouts, her face red with anger I never realized she was carrying.

“There’s nothing left to protect me from. Rand is dead. He’s gone. But I’m not.” She thumps her small fist against her chest. “I’m still here. He. Didn’t. Win.”

Nora’s trembling and crying as she lays into us, and all I want to do is take her in my arms. But I know damn well that’s the wrong move.

“I’m not some broken little doll y’all need to super glue back together. I’m here and I’m whole and I’m healing. We…” She sniffles as she swipes angrily at the tears lining her cheeks. “We have our entire lives ahead of us—but how am I supposed to live mine if you two want to keep me under lock and key?”

“Fuck, Pip,” I say, finally finding my voice. “I-I had no idea you felt like this.” I take a step closer to her and then freeze. “I’m sorry.”

Nora raises one delicate brow.

“I am.” I flex my hands at my sides to keep from balling them into fists. “I’m not sorry for worrying about you or for wanting to protect you, but I am sorry my actions made you feel smothered. You’re right, there is no imminent threat anymore with Rand gone.”

Ellis remains silent, allowing the two of us to hash it out.

“I just want to experience life—all of it, the good and the bad?—”

“Let’s maybe take a long break from the bad, yeah?” Ellis says lightly.

“For a long time, I didn’t think I’d ever see anything outside of the four walls of your dad’s basement, but I’m finally, truly free and I want to live my life—with you by my side—to the absolute fullest. Even if it hurts sometimes, I know I’ll make it with you there to catch me. I love you, Atlas.”

Ellis huffs under his breath like a bear-sized toddler.

“And you, too, you big idiot. But y’all have to let me spread my wings, otherwise this house, which I love, will start to feel like a cage.”

“You hear that, man?” Ellis asks, wagging his brows. “Your girl loves me.”

“Like a brother,” Nora and I say at the same time, effectively alleviating the last of the lingering tension. “But seriously, Pip.I’ll do my best to take a step back. I love you—so much. But maybe be patient with me? I almost lost you.”

“Deal.” She grins, and I swear to God, she’s glowing—Nora’s the most beautiful woman on the planet, and she’s all mine. “Baby steps. Now, let’s eat so I can tell you two idiots about a new calming technique Maggie taught me.”

CHAPTER 51

NORA

It’s not the chipper sound of birds singing or the soft dappled sunlight shining in between the crack in the curtains that wakes me up the next morning.

Nope.

It’s the sound of someone knocking on our front door like they’re seconds away from kicking it down and forcing their way inside.

“What the hell?” Atlas mutters, shoving the blankets off himself before stumbling out of bed.

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