Page 34 of His to Save

“So, no, you’re not an idiot. You’ve experienced trauma, and you’re going to need time to heal. Give yourself some grace, yeah?”

“Sorry.” I sniffle, hating how out of control I feel. For once, I’d just like to benormalinstead of a cowering or crying mess.

“Let’s head inside.” He gestures for Ellis to come on, and together the three of us head inside. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”

I take in the space and immediately scoff at his words. What’snot muchto him is everything to me.

Their cabin has an open floor plan that allows me to see the living room, dining room, and kitchen all at once. Light floods the space, thanks to picture windows and a skylight. The wood accents, mixed with leather couches and plush rugs, all just screamhome.

“You can see where everything is out here. You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen, and the TV is one of those smart ones, so knock yourself out. Now let me show you to your room.”

Ellis starts to speak but Atlas sends him a withering glare, effectively silencing whatever he was about to say.

Atlas guides me down the hall, pointing out Ellis’s door before swinging open the one across from it. “You’ll be staying in here. There’s a connected bathroom and?—”

He draws up short when he notices I’m frozen in the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking around the room and then back to me.

“This is your room.” His earthy scent hangs heavy in the room, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

“It is.” He speaks the words slowly, drawing each one out. “Don’t worry, though, you’ll have the space to yourself.”

Knowing that he doesn’t expect me to share the bed with him is a relief, and yet for some reason, I blurt out, “But where will you sleep?”

His lips twitch. “You worried about me, Pip?”

I dip my chin and nod. “Maybe a little.”

“I’ll be on the couch. It pulls out into a bed.”

I’m torn between guilt and excitement. I feel bad he’s being displaced—even if it’s only temporarily—but I’m also so,soexcited about sleeping in such a big, cozy-looking bed.

The cot Rand had for me was as hard as the floor, and the motel bed wasn’t much better. But Atlas’s bed has to be a king, and it’s topped with loads of pillows and the fluffiest duvet I’ve ever seen.

It looks like heaven, really.

“I’m sure you’re overwhelmed, but I need to talk to you about something,” Atlas says, breaking my trance-like focus on his bed.

“What is it?” Nerves dance along my skin as I brace for whatever blow he’s about to deliver.

“Before I found you, I had Ellis go to my dad’s house for a welfare check. He found the place wrecked and…” He swallows hard. “And the, um, basement. Anyway, he had to call it in, and he needs to talk to you about it all, officially.”

“Oh.” I pinch my eyes shut and force myself to breathe the same way Atlas did earlier.Inhale, hold it, exhale.

Atlas doesn’t rush me; he just patiently waits while I get myself together. I don’t know if reincarnation is real, but if it is, he must have been a saint in a past life, because the man is easily the most patient person I’ve ever known.

“Why does he need to question me? Am I in t-trouble?”

“No, Nora, no. Not at all. The things we found there were concerning enough for him to need to file a report, and since youlived there, he needs to ask you a few things about, well, all of it. He’s also going to ask if you want to press charges against my—” His throat works. “Rand.”

“Okay.” I nod. “I can do that. But—will you…stay with me? You know, while he asks his questions.”

Atlas flexes his hands at his sides, almost as if he’s trying to keep himself from reaching for me. “I won’t leave your side.”

Back in the living room, Ellis is already seated in a comfy-looking recliner.

“You can take the couch or?—”

---