I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Atlas POV

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Emery and I never had the talk. Before she woke up, I was already gone. And I made damn sure I got back late, either when she was asleep or locked in her room. That’s been the pattern for the last two days.

I know. I’m acting like a jerk.

Giving her the cold shoulder, dodging the conversation… But it’s not just that I’m pissed. I’m scared, too. Scared that maybe that night…the night I thought meant something, was her way of telling me it didn’t.

That maybe it was goodbye dressed up as something else.

God, this is so messed up.

“Dude, you sigh one more time like that, and I’m calling in a damn therapist,” Ford said, tugging off his sweaty jersey.

“I know a good one,” Howard added, plopping down on the bench beside me and tossing his towel over his shoulder.

“Who needs therapy?” Omar asked, walking in with his usual swagger, flipping his water bottle and catching it like he was auditioning for a Gatorade ad.

“Lawson,” Ford answered, shooting me a smirk. “Ho baby,” he winked at Omar.

Omar flicked him on the forehead without hesitation. “Stop being weird.”

I rubbed a hand down my face, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. Another sigh slipped out before I could stop it, what was that now, the hundredth time? Maybe two hundred? I’d lost count.

“See?” Ford pointed at me like he’d just cracked a code. “Textbook heartbreak. He’s down bad.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, not even convincing myself.

“Sure,” Ford said, hands raised like he wasn’t the one poking every nerve. “Just helping.”

Omar squinted at me. “Seriously, man. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, heart beating like I was about to admit I committed a felony.

You could lie… or you could tell the truth and maybe feel a little less like shit.

I took a breath. “There’s this girl.”

“Ouuuuh,” Ford dragged out, scooting closer with a dramatic eyebrow wiggle. “Captain Lawson’s got a crush.”

I didn’t answer. Just rubbed the back of my neck, staring down at my hands like they might answer for me.

18:19 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 103

“We’ve been… seeing each other,” I said eventually. “Not officially or whatever, but we’ve been hooking up. Kissing, hanging out. It’s been a thing for a while now. And I thought she was into it, into me.”

Their eyes were on me now. No jokes. Just waiting.

“So we planned to go to the movies. First time, you know… just us doing something normal.”

“And?” Howard asked.

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“When we got there… her friend showed up, and like that wasn’t enough, she said she wasn’t feeling good and left, leaving me with her friend.” My jaw clenched. “A friend who apparently has a thing for me. And she just… left us. Like, she planned it.”

Omar winced. “Damn.”

“Dude,” Ford said, setting a hand on my shoulder. “You know I love you, right? You’re my brother, my best friend.”

“I thought I was your best friend,” Omar cut in.

“Not now, baby.” Ford waved him off and turned back to me. “I would never lie to you. So I’m just gonna say it straight…”

I braced for it.

“You got played.”

“Bro,” Howard said, wincing.

“I’m serious,” Ford continued. “What girl ditches a date with a dude she’s into just to push him at another chick? That’s not romantic. That’s messed up. And the only reason she’s been hanging with you at all? Could be the face. Or the abs. Or maybe, and I’m just sayin’…” He gave a dramatic pause. “Maybe you’re just that great in bed, you know, big dick energy… and I know cause.” He chuckled, pointing his thumb in his direction. “Also one.”

“Not helping, man,” Omar said with an eye roll.

“It’s fine,” I said quietly. “He’s right.”

And damn, saying it out loud… it burned.

My phone buzzed in my bag. I grabbed it like it was a lifeline.

“Gonna take this,” I said quickly, grabbing my bag and ducking out of the locker room.

I didn’t care what it was, a reminder, spam, whatever, I just needed air.

Ford’s words played on repeat as I walked away.

What girl ditches a date with a dude she’s into just to push him at another chick? That’s not romantic. That’s messed up.

18:19 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 103

And yeah… that one?

That one cut deep.

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Professor Landon stopped me just as I was about to slip out of the lecture hall. The guy was sharp, late 40s, always in a pressed button-down, and had that calculating finance-brain energy.

“Atlas, hold on a minute,” he called out, flipping through a stack of papers.

I turned. “Yeah, Professor?”

He pulled out one of the pages and held it up. “I was going through your assignment last night. The breakdown you did on predictive market trends? Impressive. Very.”

I scratched the back of my neck, a little surprised. “Oh, uh… thanks. I just read a couple books, did some digging, that kind of thing.”

“Be honest, did someone help you? A tutor? An older student?”

“No, sir. Just me and some YouTube black holes.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “You’ve got serious potential in this field. Have you ever considered a career in finance?”

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I gave him a polite smile. “Appreciate that, but hockey’s always been the plan. It’s what I love.”

Professor Landon nodded thoughtfully. “I respect that. But if you ever want to dip a toe in, I’m starting a student research team next month. Something small, but it could lead to opportunities. Might help down the line.”

I paused. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good. Take your time,” he said with a smile, already looking back down at his papers.

I turned to leave, but karma clearly had other plans, because the second I stepped into the hallway, I bumped straight into Sophie.

“Oh, God, I’m sorry,” she said, pulling back awkwardly.

I steadied her. “It’s fine, Soph.”

She gave a stiff smile and moved to walk away.

“Hey,” I said, stopping her, “How are you?”

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