I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

The next morning my place smelled the fish pancakes Warmweet, detery. Be the kind of morning you don’t ge ames is being generous for once. And just like i spected looked overdred on her cute the way she red the rope and

Maybe I could get her one. I thought

was in the kishen a big and around her wase. T wand. My chest did that staged thing again

She turned when she heard me, and her quile brightened careery, you might give a man a heart attack.

Now be up card the said

Yeah I replied leaning against the doorway; trying not to look as wrecked as 12. And so are you. Making pancakes I see. “Ihed a brow. Tee of your govials agam.” I teased.

She smiled, feping a pancate with the kind of confidence that old honestly be illegal “Yeah bike thank you for magic stars and the biful night”

I huffed a quiet laugh. Hmm. Guess I should make you happy more often if it gets me fresh pancakes and baked good

She shrugged like she was trying to play it cool, but her mouth ruched. And my firend you be discovered the hidden secret to Emery’s heart, freshly baked. “She paused smiling om Good Duch

I chuckled. “Noted”

Then she looked me up and down, slow, way too slow for my say

And speaking of snacks” she said, eyes narrowing with amusement, you’re all dressed and looking good for de

I frore for half a second. Tried to act normal even though the butterflies in my stomach were throwing a whole da at the fact she’d just said I looked good

I cleared my throat. “Mom wants us to meet at some fancy restaurant.” I shrugged. Says it’s a surprise.”

“Aw” she said, genuinely soft. “That’s sweet.”

Then she sighed dramatically, like she was thinking. “Maybe I should use that opportunity to drag Dad to a bowling alley”

I lifted a brow. “You’d destroy him.”

She snorted. “Obviously. But knowing him, he’s probably on a zom call with his team.” She tipped another pancake. “That man never gets a break.”

I chuckled and pulled out a stool, sitting down at the island. “I say you still go for it”

She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Good idea… and why are you sitting?”

I blinked. “Because I’m about to have your special pancakes?”

She gave me a look like I’d lost my mind. “And keep Daisy waiting? No way. Get your ass out of here.” She pointed the spatula at me. “I’ll save you some”

I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. Yeah, Mom would be waiting but moments like this were what I’d prayed for Emery grabbed a fork, cut off a little piece, and held it out. I leaned in and took a bite.

“Mmm” I said, eyes widening a little despite myself “This is ready good”

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Chapter 158

She smirked, pleased. “I know. Now leave.”

She stepped closer and gave my shoulder a gentle push, like she was physically escorting me out.

“Have fun with Daisy,” she said, softer now. “And… say hi.”

I chuckled, backing toward the door. “Yes, ma’am.”

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She shut the door behind me, and I stood there for a second, smiling like an idiot. Yeah. I was definitely leaving earlier.

Sorry, Mom

*

The plan was dinner with just me and Mom. So why the hell did she think it was necessary to invite… what was her name again? I stared at the table setting like the answer would jump ou of the napkin folds.

Lois. Maybe. Lily. Laura…

For Fuck sake, I couldn’t even remember, and that alone told me how checked out I was.

She leaned forward with that bright, eager smile people wore when they thought this was the start of something.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, smile widening like she’d been waiting for this moment all week. “I’m a big fan, by the way.”

“Thank you,” I replied automatically, the words coming out polite even though my jaw was tight.

Mom clapped her hands lightly, looking way too pleased with herself, like she’d pulled off some master plan instead of setting me up for emotional torture.

“Now that we’re all here,” she said, “let’s get a seat, shall we?”

We sat.

The restaurant was too quiet. Too perfect. Too expensive. The kind of place where everyone talked like they were being recorded, and the forks probably cost more than a car payment.

I barely touched my meal.

Lucy, yeah, that was her name, talked a lot. Not in a bad way. She seemed sweet. Normal. Probably genuinely excited to be here. Which made me feel worse, because she had no idea she was collateral damage in my mother’s desperate attempt at damage control.

Every time she asked a question, I answered politely. Smiled when I was supposed to. Nodded at the right moments.

Even though I was fucking pissed.

My mind kept drifting back to Em.

Back home, in my kitchen, wearing my apron like she’d always belonged there. Flipping pancakes and roasting me like it was her favorite hobby. I could’ve been there right now, sitting at the island, teasing her, watching her roll her eyes, listening to her laugh. Instead, I was stuck in this restaurant that felt like a box. With a nice lady, I had no plans to lead on.

So I did what I had to do.

I set my fork down carefully, like the sound of it clinking against the plate might set Mom off

“I’m sorry to cut you off,” I said, keeping my voice even, “but I should take my leave”

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17.13 Mon, Mar 2 TA M.

Chapter 158

Mom’s head snapped up so fast I thought she might pull something.

“What?” she said, blinking hard. “Atlas, you just got here. It’s barely been thirty minutes.”

“I know,” I said, already pushing my chair back. “But there’s somewhere very important I need to be.”

I watched Mom’s jaw tighten.

Like she knew exactly what “important” meant.

I turned to Lucy, forcing a small smile…apologetic, polite.

“It was nice to meet you, Lucy.”

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Her smile faltered for half a second before she pasted it back on. Same to you, Atlas. I hope we can do this again.”

I gave her a nod, because what else could I do? Then stood fully. Behind me, I heard Mom shifting, the soft scrape of her

chair.

“I’m so sorry,” she muttered, probably to Lucy.

Then I heard her heels.

Fast. Purposeful. And very much pissed.

“Atlas.”

I kept walking.

Not because I didn’t hear her, because I did. Loud and clear. I just didn’t trust myself to turn around without sayin something mean. My jaw was tight enough to crack a tooth, and my hands were balled into fists in my pockets like the only thing keeping me from losing it.

Her heels clicked faster behind me.

I stopped anyway, right before the hallway opened back up into the main dining area. My eyes squeezed shut for a second. One breath. Two. Like that was going to fix anything.

Then I turned.

Mom was right in front of me, chest rising with anger, eyes sharp and shining at the same time, like she was furious and scared and determined to win all at once.

“What is wrong with you?” she snapped.

The question hit me like I was twelve again. Like I’d just broken something expensive, and she’d caught me mid-crime.

I let out a short laugh, no humor in it. “I should ask you the same thing. Why would you set me up with Lucy?”

Her brows shot up like she couldn’t believe I was asking.

“Because she’s a nice girl,” she said, as if that answered everything. “And you’re single.”

“I didn’t ask for that.” My voice came out low, controlled, but I could hear the edge in it. “There was a reason I didn’t reach out to her.”

“And what reason is that?” she demanded.

I opened my mouth…

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Chapter 158

She didn’t even let me speak.

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“No,” she said sharply, shaking her head like she’d already figured it out. “I know what this is.” Her voice dropped, heavy with accusation. “Or let me be specific, who this is.”

My stomach tightened.

“You’re fucking Emery again, aren’t you!”

Something cold slid down my spine.

My jaw clenched. “What the hell, Mom?”

She took a step closer, lowering her voice like that made it less ugly. “I knew it. This is bad.” Her eyes narrowed. “And it’s all Emery’s fault.”

“Stop,” I said, immediately.

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