Page 62 of Atone

She’s teasing her lower lip with her teeth as she tightens her grip on the steering wheel. It’s rare this girl lets her nerves show, but today they’re written all over her face. Etched in the pinch of her eyebrows and climbing in the blush up her cheeks.

“What about it?”

“I know I’m probablynotsupposed to bring it up.” She worries her lip again. “But at the risk of sounding desperate—and because you’ve already been clearly stalking me anyway—what are we doing, Alex?”

Her green gaze flits to mine, and an avalanche hits me square in the chest, sending my insides toppling in on themselves.

Sun streams through the windows, drawing out red in Mila’s thick chestnut hair, and I want to wrap it around my fist. To slink my fingers around her waist. To breathe in her every exhale and see just how long it would take to melt her into my body.

She never should have made herself mine.

“I know what people say about me,” she continues, her voice losing surety with every word. “But I don’t fuck every member of Sigma House. And just because I don’t try to fight the rumors around campus doesn’t mean they’re true. At least… not all of them are true. Yes, I’ve spent lots of time at Sigma House. And yes, I’ve hung out with a few of your fraternity brothers. But I don’t just open my legs for anyone with a pulse.”

Her delivery is blunt but shameless. One of the manythings that piques my curiosity when it comes to her. Mila doesn’t mind perpetuating the lies people spread, so long as it works in her favor.

I understand that.

“Also, that’s not what this is, so I thought you should know,” she continues, almost like she’s talking to herself as she works through whatever is bothering her. “Last night was?—”

She stops herself, dragging her teeth over her lower lip as she searches for the answer.

“Different,” I finish for her, reaching for her hand.

Her breath catches, like it does every time she hears my voice. Like she still thinks it might be a figment of her imagination.

Maybe I should have left it that way. It was safer when my thoughts were locked in a cage. I know better than to trust what can so easily be used against me. But something about this girl with her bright-green eyes has me peeling open parts of myself I swore I’d cemented shut.

And right now, I need her to know that I don’t give a shit what happened before me because everything moving forward is just about us.

“Yeah, we’re different.” She swallows hard, keeping her face on the road. “I know we shouldn’t do this, Alex. Because of Patience, and because you just got out of Montgomery. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through right now. I’m not trying to get in the way of you healing or readjusting. I just… I couldn’t help it.”

Me either.

Althoughher levelof not being able to help it and mine are likely nowhere close.

Mila pulls the car to a stop outside her dorm, and Iclimb out first, circling to her door. I don’t think she waits intentionally, but she’s still frozen in her seat when I open it.

When she finally climbs out, she rolls her shoulders back, and it pushes out her tits. Next time I fuck her I need to strip her naked so I can memorize every beautiful inch.

A breeze rustles her hair, so she wrangles it over one shoulder.

Mila is absolute perfection. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And that beauty seeps into her pores. It’s bone-deep.

What captivates me about Mila Bianchi goes beyond her pretty face and practiced smiles. It’s the knife strapped to her thigh. The trauma in her eyes. The honesty in her words, when I spent too many years pretending to be someone else for the sake of the people around me.

Her gaze drifts to my scarred arm, and I wonder when she’ll ask me about the trial—because I know she will. She’s curious but trying to be respectful. Which is more than can be said about the people who spread rumors and whisper behind my back.

I’ve heard all the theories, and while none of them are correct, Declan and Kole fed what lies were necessary—lies to keep the truth at bay.

“I’m sorry if I’m complicating this with what I just said.” Mila’s gaze drifts to the ground. “I’m not trying to push a relationship on you after one night.”

“Complicate it all you want.” I step closer, and her gaze moves to my hand snagging hers. “I don’t mind.”

Mila looks up at me with the full force of the sun. So much hope, it’s a pity her being around me too long will do nothing but douse it.

“Okay.” She smiles, but it’s tentative because I placated her question more than offered a straightforward response. “I should get some studying done. I’m taking an online class this summer to get ahead. But I’ll be at the carnival later if you don’t have plans and want to meet up.”

I nod in response, knowing for a fact she’s uncomfortable going there when the root of her nightmares is sewn in those tents.

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