I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Atlas POV

I couldn’t remember the last time I stared at one image this long.

Or the last time a single picture got this much out of me. And no, none of it was PG.

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God knows I tried to be a gentleman. I really did. I’d been doing a pretty decent job too, all things considered. I didn’t lose it after her “accidental” pictures. Didn’t lose it in the shower. Didn’t lose it during team dinner. Didn’t even lose it lying awake in that hotel bed while those images tortured me night after night.

But coming home screwed me up in a whole different way.

Just the thought of Emery being here, her scent still hanging in the air, her presence somehow all over my room, messed with my head in ways I didn’t want to think too hard about. Even a call from crazy ass Ford didn’t get me out of the mood neither did my Postgame notes or anything Eventually, I gave in.

And if I was being honest, it felt really damn good to finally get some release. What I hadn’t expected, what I definitely hadn’t planned for, was finding Emery in my closet right after.

My closet.

Like some gorgeous little menace had broken into my room, messed with my shirts, hidden in the dark, and then somehow ended up mildly concussed in my arms. After I got her into bed, made sure she was okay, and stayed until she finally drifted off, I went back to my room with my head completely wrecked.

How?

Why?

How long had she been in there?

Had she seen everything?

Yeah. Stupid question. Of course she had.

She heard me moan her name like some horny teenage idiot with zero self-control and a celebrity crush.

I dragged a hand through my hair and stared up at the ceiling.

I should’ve been mortified. I was mortified. But if I was being really honest…dangerously honest, there was a part of me that couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that she watched.

Did it mess her up too?

Did she stand there in my closet, breathing hard, wanting me the way I wanted her?

“Oh for fuck’s sake” I muttered.

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Chapter 174

Because the second that thought hit, I was hard all over again.

I grabbed my pillow and shoved it over my face. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

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The next morning, I decided to act normal.

That was the plan.

No weirdness. No staring. No bringing up closets, concussions, or the fact that she’d told me my dick was big like she was complimenting the weather.

Just be normal.

So I got up early, hit the gym downstairs, came back sweaty and half-awake, and started making coffee. Figured if I looked relaxed enough, maybe she would too.

Then she walked out of her room looking drop dead gorgeous and like she had seen a ghost?

She froze. I smiled. Offered her coffee.

She bolted.

Just turned and fled like I’d pulled a knife instead of a mug. I stood there in the kitchen holding my coffee, staring after her for a second.

Then, against my will, a grin pulled at my mouth.

She looked adorable.

Completely panicked. Mortified. Cute as hell.

Practice was solid. Honestly, better than solid. The boys were flying out there, we hit our stats, and the pace was exactly where it needed to be. Everybody was in a good mood after, because if we bring that same energy into the game, we’re walking away with the win.

The locker room smelled like sweat, tape, and whatever body spray Fredrick insisted counted as hygiene. I was sitting on the bench untying my skates, still half thinking about Emery running from me that morning, when Fredrick’s voice cut through the noise.

“Oh, who’s got you smiling like that, Cap?”

I looked up and found him leaning against the stall with that stupid grin on his face, eyebrows going up and down like he was proud of himself.

Jamal looked over immediately. “No way. Mr. I Don’t Date finally got himself a girl?”

I snorted and went back to my laces. “You two keep digging into my private life, and I’ll have you bagging

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Chapter 174

pucks after practice for a month.”

:

Fredrick pointed at me dramatically. “Hear that? Threats. He’s hiding something.”

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“Oh, damn,” Jamal said, grabbing his stuff. “Fred, I just remembered Coach needed us to… do something.”

“Yeah,” Fredrick said, already backing away. “Very urgent. Super team-related.”

“Get out of here,” I muttered.

They laughed and disappeared, the idiots.

Rhys walked over a second later, chuckling under his breath. “Assholes.”

I shook my head and focused on yanking off my skate. “You’re friends with them too.”

“Doesn’t mean they’re not idiots.”

I smirked a little, but when I looked up, Rhys was still standing there, arms folded, watching me with that annoying grin that meant he thought he knew something.

“What?”

He tilted his head. “You know you can’t scare me with bagging pucks.”

“Good for you.”

He nodded toward me. “You’ve had this weird glow lately.”

I stared at him. “A glow.”

“Yeah,” he said, way too amused. “Like a man who either got laid or is thinking about getting laid.”

“Fuck off.”

His grin widened. “I’m just saying… maybe it has something to do with your sudden roommate.”

I shot him a flat look. “You wanna lose teeth?”

Rhys laughed and raised his hands in fake surrender. “There he is.”

Before he could keep running his mouth, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and answered right away. “Hey, Gia”

Something in his tone made me look up.

He straightened a little, his expression shifting

“What are you saying?” he asked, frowning now.

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Chapter 174

I stood, towel in hand. “Everything okay?”

Rhys held up a finger, listening. “I can’t hear you…wait… Are you with Emery?”

That got my full attention.

I dropped the towel onto the bench. “What?”

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Rhys pulled the phone away from his ear for a second. “I think Gia’s wasted,” he said. “And I’m pretty sure Emery’s with her.”

I was on my feet instantly. “Are they okay?”

He looked back down at his phone, scrolling. “Yeah, I think so. Just drunk.” He squinted at the screen. “Let me get her location.”

I paused, eyeing him. “You have Gia’s location?”

Rhys looked up, unimpressed. “She asked for mine too, jerkass. Me, her, and Declan share locations. Safety thing.”

I grabbed my hoodie. “Right.”

He smirked. “You sound jealous.”

“I sound like I’m trying to figure out why you know where my roommate is before I do.”

“Your roommate,” he repeated, grinning.

“Say that again and I’m leaving you here.”

He laughed. “Lou Bar. That’s where they are.”

I was already heading for the door.

Rhys followed behind me, still way too entertained. “You move real fast when it’s Emery.”

I shoved the locker room door open. “Shut up and lead the way.”

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