Page 7 of His to Save

ATLAS

“Please don’t be mad,” I murmur, reaching across the center console for Scarlet’s hand.

Much to my surprise, she allows me to interlace our fingers. She’s been giving me the silent treatment and glaring like a pissed-off alley cat ever since she came back to my room to find me with my nose buried in Nora’s diary, instead of coming straight out to her after getting ready.

“I just don’t get it, Atlas.” She strokes her thumb over my knuckle. “First you forgot we even had plans, and then after being reminded, you still blew me off to read your sister’s diary.”

Not my fucking sister,I think to myself, knowing better than to say it out loud. I’m trying to shove the worms back into the damn can, not open it from both ends.

“I’m not trying to be rude,” she continues, “but like, it’s kind of weird, don’t you think?”

“Weird how?” I ask, turning into The Creek’s parking lot. Although, if I’m being honest, I’m not entirely sure I want to hear her answer.

“Seriously?” She yanks her hand out of my grip. “You don’t see anything weird or creepy about a grown-ass man reading his little sister’s diary?”

I heave out a breath and throw my truck into park. “First of all, Nora’s not my sister. My dad married her mom?—”

“Fine, she’s yourstepsister,” Scarlet growls, cutting me off. “That’s still family.”

Anger simmers beneath my ribs, but I swallow down the urge to lash out, and continue evenly. “Second, I barely even know Nora. Hell, I’ve probably only been around her a handful of times in theyearsour parents were married. Third, it’s not that I care about what’s in her diary, it’s that she left it for me, with a notebeggingme to read it. Begging me, Scar. You’re over here making me out to be some kind of fucking pedophile, and that’s fucked up, big time fucked up. Not to mention, you know Dad’s been MIA and I’m worried aboutbothof them. So, excuse-the-fuck-out-of-me for latching onto any clue I can.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Scarlet looks away, shame coloring her cheeks. “I guess I was just jealous you forgot about me.”

Leaning over the console, I run my knuckles under her chin, drawing her gaze back my way. “No need to be jealous, Scar. You know you’re my girl.”

The words sour on my tongue the second I form them, because Scarlet and I both know she’snotmy girl a hell of a lot more than she is. I mean, shit, it wasn’t even an hour ago that I was thinking we should take a break again.

“You mean it?” she asks, blinking up at me through thick, sooty lashes.

I really don’t…

The realization smacks me across the face with the force of a two-by-four, but I’m not trying to spend the night fighting, so instead I force my lips up into a grin and nod. “You know it. Now let’s go find Ellis and order some drinks.”

We both open our doors at the same time—I used to try to open Scarlet’s for her, but after about the second or third time,she let me know she could get her own damn door—and meet in front of my truck.

“Are you actually gonna dance with me?” Scarlet asks, stepping ahead of me to get to the door.

I ball my hands into fists at my sides and let her hold it open for me. It’s not that I’m against women doing things for themselves, it’s just one of the many things my mama ingrained in me before she passed away.

Swear to God, some days, I can still hear her voice as clear as day telling mehold that doorora gentleman walks on the outside of the sidewalk to place himself between his companion and harm.

But Scarlet’s as headstrong as an ox, and I know damn well I’m better off respecting her feelings than pushing my own on her.

The second we enter the dimly lit bar Scarlet’s hips begin to sway in perfect time with the music pulsing through the speakers. I follow behind her as she weaves her way through the crowd in search of Ellis.

I’m not sure who’s playing tonight, but whoever they are, they have a hell of a following, because there are people wall to fucking wall in here.

I scan the bar and by sheer luck I spot him and his date cozied up together in a booth on the far wall. With the way he’s leaning in close and whispering in her ear, I’m half-tempted to leave them to it.

But Scarlet spots them, too, and takes off in their direction before I can suggest giving them some space.

“Well, well, well,” Scarlet chides as she approaches their table. “Isn’t this…intimate.” She’s always been a bit weird whenever Ellis dates, and maybe that should bother me, but it doesn’t.

You’re not invested enough to care…

Revelations are hitting me left and right tonight, or maybe I’m finally admitting what I’ve always known. Either way, I’m going to need a drink or two to survive the night.

Ellis straightens in the booth, wrapping a protective arm around his date in the process.

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