I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Atlas POV

There’s this kind of peace that comes with watching her sleep.

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The slow rise and fall of her chest. Those long lashes fanned against her cheeks. Her lips, pink, slightly parted, like even in sleep she couldn’t fully let her guard down.

God… I could stare all night and never get tired.

That was the plan, honestly.

Stay in the living room so she’d know she was safe. I wouldn’t have minded sleeping on the floor right beside her bed if it helped, but I didn’t want to overstep. It was already a lot that shed agreed to stay here for a while. I couldn’t afford to do anything that made her regret it… or worse, made her run.

So I took the couch.

Uncomfortable as hell, but worth it.

I didn’t even remember falling asleep. One second I was staring at the ceiling, listening to every tiny sound in the building like I was security, and the next…

I opened my eyes.

And she was there.

Curled up beside me on the couch in this awkward position that was definitely gonna mess up her back later. Hair a mess. Face soft. Like she’d finally stopped fighting for five minutes.

For a second, I honestly thought I was dreaming-because Emery showing up in my dreams is basically a daily occurrenc She’s been living in my head for ten years straight.

But this wasn’t a dream.

This was real.

I stared at her, trying to figure out when she’d come out here… and why she chose to sit beside me of all places.

Then I stopped overthinking, because if I did, I’d spiral.

I slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back and lifted her carefully. She made this tiny sound, barely a breath, and I froze like I’d been caught doing something illegal.

“Shh,” I whispered like an idiot, “I got you.”

She relaxed again.

I carried her to the guest room and laid her down gently. Pulled the blanket up. Made sure her prosthetic was close. Made

sure she was warm.

And then I stood there like a damn creep, staring too long.

So I forced myself out.

Because if I stayed? Yeah… I wasn’t sleeping. Not even a little.

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13:04 Mon, Feb 23 AA.

Chapter 146

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“Morning,” Emery said the next day, shuffling into the kitchen.

I looked up from the stove and smiled before I could stop myself “Morning, sleepyhead.”

She climbed onto the chair at the island, and one quick glance told me she’d actually slept this time. Hair a mess in that cute, chaotic way. Faint marks on her cheek like she’d been face-down on a pillow. Eyes still heavy with sleep, not fear.

Thank God.

“You sleep okay?” I asked, trying to keep it casual even though my chest loosened just saying it.

She was already scrolling through her phone. Probably checking to see if the media had her name all over the Internet but thankfully Wrigley had already handled that just like I instructed “Yeah.”

“Good.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

I carried her bowl over and set it down in front of her, fresh oatmeal with sliced bananas, berries, and nuts, exactly how she liked it. I slid a cold glass of milk beside it like I wasn’t trying way too hard.

Her eyes actually lit up.

“Thanks,” she said, softer.

I smirked. “Anytime, Princess.”

Normally she would’ve thrown a fist at me for that nickname, but she was too busy staring at the oatmeal like it was a gift from God.

I grabbed my own bowl and sat across from her. I could’ve sat anywhere, there were like twelve chairs around this isla because my teammates used to come over and those idiots had zero patience. Half the time they’d start eating before food even made it off the stove, so I added more chairs so they could just sit right here and inhale my cooking like a pa starving wolves.

But sitting right in front of her just felt… right.

Not that I wanted to steal glances while she ate or anything.

Nope. (Translation: yeah. Fucking yeah.)

She took a big bite and actually groaned.

I froze for half a second.

Not because it was weird. Because the sound did something stupid to my dick. I swear this morning wood.

“Not trying to inflate your ego,” she said, pointing her spoon at me, “but you’re really good at this.”

She said it like I’d made some five-star meal and not… oatmeal.

I tried not to laugh at her excitement. “It’s just oatmeal, Em. Pretty sure anyone can make it.”

She looked up like I’d offended her personally. “Wrong. I tried once and, let’s just say I ended up with the world’s most burnt. oatmeal.”

I chuckled, leaning back in my chair. “How do you burn oatmeal

She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Okay, so it was looking fine. Then I glanced at my phone…”

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13:04 Mon, Feb 23

Chapter 146

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