I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Atlas POV

A few days before the wedding…

“Lawson!” Coach’s voice boomed across the hallway the second I stepped into his office. He looked up from his desk with a grin, like he’d been waiting for me all morning. “Just the man I was looking for.”

I furrowed my brows. “Everything okay?”

“Of course,” he waved toward the chair across from him. “Take a seat.”

I dropped down into the chair, still a little on edge. Coach rarely smiled unless someone broke a record or won a national title, and even then, it was usually more of a nod than a full-blown grin.

He went back to typing on his laptop, eyes flicking across the screen. Then he looked up.

“First off, great job last week,” he said, nodding. “Not just on the ice, but the way you led the team out there. That’s what I like to see in a captain.”

“Appreciate it, Coach,” I said, sitting up a little straighter.

“And apparently I’m not the only one who noticed.” He leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers over his stomach.”Got a call from two NHL scouts yesterday. Said they were impressed with your game. Real interested.”

My heart thudded in my chest. “Wait…what?”

Coach smirked like he was proud of catching me off guard. “Yeah. NHL, Lawson. They’re watching.”

For a second, I didn’t say anything. Just… blinked. That was the kind of thing you daydreamed about while doing suicide drills until you puked.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anything.

80

“I’m not saying you gotta decide anything now,” Coach said, his voice calmer now, more like a mentor than the barking drill sergeant we were used to. “Take your time. Think about what you want. With your skill? This won’t be the only call you get. Not even close.”

I nodded, still a little shell-shocked. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Enjoy your break.”

“You too, Coach.”

As I stepped out of his office, the hallway felt… different. Familiar, but suddenly more temporary. My cleats clicked softly against the tiles as I headed toward the locker room, my thoughts a mess of excitement and anxiety.

11:40 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 115

The news was incredible, but it felt bittersweet.

ཉཱ(80)

I’d be leaving this place soon. The rink, the team, the smell of sweat and fresh ice. The stupid inside jokes scratched into the locker walls. The brotherhood.

I walked into the locker room, letting my fingers graze the edge of the bench, then my locker. My nameplate. The old dent in the wall from when Sam tripped and knocked over the equipment cart.

I smiled.

Did I regret walking away from all of it?

Not for a damn second.

Yeah, I’d miss it. Of course I would. But Emery… Emery was everything. And with her by my side, we’d figure it out, whatever came next. Hell, I couldn’t wait to tell her about the scouts. Her eyes were gonna light up like fireworks.

Then the door creaked open.

I turned, and froze.

Howard.

He stood there, arms crossed, jaw tight. The excitement drained from my body in seconds. His expression shifted fast, surprise, confusion, and then just plain fury.

I couldn’t even blame him.

“Hey, man…” I started.

“Don’t even do that.” His voice cut sharp and cold.

“Look, about…”

“You know what? Fuck you, Atlas.” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “You’re such a two-faced hypocrite. To think I told you shit about her….while all along…”

His fists clenched at his sides. I could see his chest rising and falling like he was holding himself back.

“If you hurt her…” His voice dropped, low and tight. “I swear to God, I’ll kill you.”

And just like that, he brushed past me, bumping my shoulder hard enough to shift my stance.

“Yo! What was that?” Ford’s voice echoed as he stepped into the room, eyebrows raised.

I shook my head, exhaling through my nose. “It’s fine,” I muttered, patting Ford on the shoulder with a grin I didn’t quite feel. “We’re good.”

Howard needed time, and that was fine. I wasn’t gonna chase him down or try to force some half-assed apology he wasn’t ready to hear.

11:40 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 115

I just hoped he knew our friendship was real to me. Every late-night practice. Every game we won together. Every dumb prank we pulled. None of it was fake.

And yeah… maybe I messed up by not telling him sooner. By crossing that invisible line.

But falling for Emery hadn’t been some calculated move. It just… happened.

Like breathing. Like gravity.

I didn’t plan on it, but once it started, there was no stopping it.

80

It was finally the day. The day that was supposed to change everything.

I stood in front of the mirror in my black suit, staring at my own reflection like it might give me answers I didn’t have. My hair was behaving for once. The jacket fit perfectly. The shirt was crisp.

The tie, though?

Yeah. That thing hated me.

I tugged at it, twisted it, tried that stupid YouTube method I’d watched twice last night, and somehow made it

worse.

“Shit” I cursed. Been to several dates, events and even prom but still don’t know how to knot a tie.

I would’ve asked Emery, used the opportunity to see her and sneak a quick kiss, but she was probably getting dressed with mum’s bridesmaids. Well I guess my kiss had to wait.

I exhaled and stepped into the hallway, tie still hanging uselessly around my neck.

Mom.

She’d help.

I walked down the corridor toward her room, From what I’d heard, the makeup artist was running a little late, something about a broken zipper on a kit bag or whatever. When I reached her door. But just as I raised my hand to knock, something… shifted.

A chill crawled up my arms.

Actual goosebumps.

I paused.

The hallway felt suddenly too quiet. The kind of quiet that presses against your ears.

“What the hell…” I whispered.

I knocked. No answer. I frowned and pushed the door open slowly.

11:40 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 115

“Mom?”

The room was empty.

The curtains were half-drawn. The bed untouched. But I could’ve sworn I’d heard something. A sound. A breath. Something.

My gaze dropped to the floor.

A book.

Lying near the wardrobe. How did that get there, clearly it was knocked down.

My pulse picked up.

Slowly, I bent and picked it up, eyes scanning the room. Every nerve in my body was suddenly on edge.

“Was someone in here…?” I muttered.

My eyes drifted to the wardrobe. Something about it felt wrong.

Too still.

I took a step closer. Then another. My hand lifted, hovering just inches from the handle.

And then…

“Atlas.”

I spun around so fast my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

“Mom.”

80

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify