Page 41 of His to Save

“Thank you.” She clutches the leather book to her chest. “All of you.”

We watch in silence as she retreats back to my room, waiting for the snick of the door closing behind her.

“Atlas.” The way Scarlet sighs my name instantly sets my teeth on edge. “What’s really going on?”

Ellis, the damn jackass, kicks back in his chair, pretending to toss popcorn into his mouth. He knows her cool and calm was all for Nora’s benefit, and now that she’s not here, all bets are off.

Still, I try for dumb, because at the very least I’d like to have this conversation privately. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Cut the shit. You’re treating her like she’s this priceless treasure.”

“She’s been through a lot,” I argue.But that’s not all it is,the asshole part of my brain adds.

“Yeah, she has.” Scarlet nods and I internally celebrate—she’s seen reason. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you have feelings for her.”

I should have known better than to think she’d let it drop. But at the same time, is she right? Do I have feelings for her?

The realization hits me like a two-by-four to the face.

Shit… Oh, shit. She’s right, I definitely have feelings for Nora.

“I can see from the dumbstruck look on your face that you’re only now realizing it.” She rolls her eyes. “Men are such idiots.”

“It’s not… I don’t?—”

Scarlet holds up a hand. “Save it. You’re so gone over the girl it’s sad.”

“She’s my stepsister.” My whispered words hang between us until finally, Scarlet laughs. Hard.

I’m talking belly-clutching, tears-in-her-eyes guffaws.

Personally, I don’t see what’s so funny, because it feels like my entire life just imploded for the third time in as many days.

Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe I’m just feeling really overprotective because of everything my dad did. Like some kind of misplaced guilt.

Fuck, man.Even as I try to rationalize it, the truth might as well be a flashing neon sign in front of my face.

I’m crushing hard on my stepsister. What in the hell is wrong with me?

“I don’t see what’s so funny.” I cross my arms over my chest, feeling oddly defensive.

“There are people out there fucking their actual siblings, and you’re worried about liking Nora—who you’ve spent virtually no time around?” She swipes beneath her eyes. “It’s not like it’s incest, Atlas.”

“This feels weird to talk about with you,” I mumble, my cheeks heating.

“Why?” She tilts her head to the side, like she truly doesn’t get why this is weird. “Clearly we’re over, and honestly, I think you’d be good for her. She needs someone like you.”

I look to Ellis for—hell, I don’t know, consolation? Backup, maybe? But he’s too busy smiling like the cat who got the canary to be of any real help.

“What do you meansomeonelike me?”I’m not sure if her words are meant as a dig or not. Either way, they rankle, like I’m somehow not worthy of Nora.

Not that Nora’s interested in me. God, how could she be? After everything she’s been through, I’m sure I’m the ultimatereminder of all the hurt she’s experienced. No, the best I can ever hope for with her is friendship—and that’s if I’m lucky.

“Someone soft.” Her lips quirk up into a semi-smile. “Someone gentle. Patient. Kind.”

Ellis coughs, and I look his way to see him shifting in his seat, an unreadable look on his face.

“Scarlet,” I say, stopping just as quickly as I start, because what is there to say? We were never really serious about each other, and our relationship wasn’t going anywhere, but it’s still weird to have her tell me that I have feelings for someone else. It makes me feel like a bad guy in her story, and that’s the last thing I ever want to be.

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