I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Atlas POV

:.

8200

55 vouchers

Howard didn’t just stop at that damn confession. Nope. Once he got it off his chest, it was like someone had opened the floodgates. He talked about Emery nonstop.

In the showers? Emery.

While pulling his shirt on? Emery.

Even when I offered him a ride to the hockey house, because apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment, he still wouldn’t shut up.

He was smiling, his voice buzzing with this stupid excitement as he described how she’d bumped into him, burrito in hand, and how that was their “magical moment.” Cute. Adorable. Fucking precious.

And suddenly, the gift bag she gave him on the rink made sense.

Still, I couldn’t wrap my head around how one clumsy bump could ignite some full-blown crush. But then again… it was Emery. Of course it could. She had that light about her, bright, easy to notice, impossible not to get pulled in by. Even I wasn’t immune.

“Thanks, Cap,” Howard said when I finally pulled up to the hockey house.

I blinked, realizing I’d been gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were white. “Yeah. Sure, man. Sleep well.”

He grinned like life couldn’t get any better, then jogged inside.

The second he disappeared, I slammed back against my seat, dragging a hand over my face. The ride home was abso fucking lutely torture. My chest felt stuffed full of something ugly, and no matter how much I tried to downplay it, the days after were worse.

Every time I saw Emery laughing at her phone, her eyes lighting up, her lips parting in that smile that killed me, my stomach twisted.

Was she texting him?

Was Howard the one making her laugh like that?

What could he possibly say that was so damn funny?

I told myself I had no right to feel this way.

She isn’t yours, Atlas. She never was.

But no amount of pep talk eased the fire in my chest. If anything, it got hotter. More unbearable. Until one day, I just… snapped.

14:53 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 39

70

El 55 vouchers

Before I could second-guess myself, I walked straight into the living room. My feet carried me faster than my brain could stop me. She looked up, startled, blinking at me with those green eyes wide.

“Atlas?” she asked, her voice soft, confused.

I didn’t think… I didn’t plan… I didn’t ask.

I sat beside her, leaned in, and tilted her chin up with my fingers. Her lips parted, breath hitching, but before she could say another word, I crashed my mouth onto hers.

It was reckless. Raw.

Her gasp hit

my lips, warm and surprised, and I swear something inside me unraveled. My hand cupped her cheek as I deepened the kiss, like maybe…just maybe, if I kissed her hard enough, she’d stop thinking about him.

And start remembering me.

Her lips were soft. Addictive. Dangerous.

And I couldn’t stop kissing her.

We’d started out sitting on the couch, but somehow-heck if I knew how-we were now horizontal. I was on top of her, one hand braced beside her head, the other gripping her waist like she might vanish if I let go.

Emery’s hands were tangled behind my neck, fingers threading through my hair, massaging the back of my scalp in slow, teasing circles. It was driving me absolutely insane. My tongue teased hers, coaxing her open. She gasped against my mouth, and I used it to deepen the kiss-smirking slightly when she gave in, soft and eager. Her breath hitched, a sweet moan slipping from her lips.

That sound.

Fuck. That sound was going to haunt me.

Now who’s making her moan?

I am.

She wasn’t thinking about her phone anymore. Or whatever had been making her laugh a while ago. Her focus was on me, just like mine was entirely, maddeningly, on her. And just when I was about to kiss down her neck and make her moan again…

Growl.

A quiet growl from her stomach broke the moment.

I pulled back slightly, breath ragged, my forehead resting against hers as I grinned. “Let’s get you something to eat… The last thing I want is to get you turned on and hungry.”

She laughed, her voice low and teasing. “Now we wouldn’t want that.”

14:53 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 39

ନୂକ୍ଷ୍ମା 70 )

55 vouchers

I pushed off the couch, brushing my hand down my face, trying to cool off. She sat up too, adjusting her shirt, cheeks flushed and hair slightly messy. God, she was beautiful.

“You making an order?” she asked, grabbing her phone from where it had fallen on the couch.

I shook my head. “Nope. We’re going out.”

Her brows shot up. “No way. Someone could see us.”

I leaned against the armrest, arms crossed, voice casual. “It’s off-campus. Not close to Linchester. No one’s gonna recognize us.”

She bit her lower lip, thinking it over. And I had to look away before I lost my self-control all over again. That damn lip bite.

After a beat, she said, “Fine. But I swear, if we do bump into someone, I’ll… um… punish you.”

I smirked, leaning closer. “Em, if that’s your way of scaring me, sweetheart, you’re doing a terrible job.”

Her face turned bright red. She cleared her throat and stood quickly. “I’m gonna change into something comfy.”

I watched her turn on her heel and disappear into her room. Still grinning like some fool.

****

The glow of string lights stretched above us like a halo, casting a warm golden hue over the little food truck court tucked between rows of dark buildings. It was off-campus, quiet, tucked away from the usual Linchester chaos, and perfect for a late-night meal. Emery walked a little ahead of me, her eyes scanning the crowd like she was on a CIA mission. I watched the way her hair swayed against her back, golden and loose, and the way her lips pressed tight like she was calculating escape routes.

I couldn’t help it, I chuckled.

She turned sharply, suspicious. “What?”

“Relax, detective,” I smirked, stepping up beside her. “I told you, no one from Linchester comes out this far. And if someone does… we lie.”

She gave me a look, pushing her fingers through her hair. “Lie.”

“Yup. Say we bumped into each other here by total coincidence.”

She narrowed her eyes. “If I catch even one whisper of a rumor, I’m making you the pathetic one in the story.”

I grinned. “Deal.”

We headed toward a food truck that looked like it had seen decades of history, faded yellow paint, hand- painted lettering, and a chalkboard menu. The old man inside, dressed in a worn cap and a wide smile, lit up the second he saw me.

14:53 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 39

“Ah! Mi chico favorito!” he called out, arms wide.

:

770

55 vouchers

“Pa Tito,” I smiled, stepping up to the window. “How’s the blood pressure? You keeping up with those checkups or still pretending you’re immortal?”

Before he could lie to me, a voice behind the window snapped-

“He is. Or he hears about it all week.”

I laughed. “Hey, Marie.”

Marie stepped into view, arms crossed over her apron, gray streaks in her black hair and an expression sharp enough to make the devil apologize. Then her eyes flicked past me-landing on Emery.

“Oh,” she said, slowly. “Haven’t seen you bring a girl around before.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but…

“No!” Emery blurted, face turning the faintest shade of pink. “We’re just… friends.”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah. Just friends.”

Marie didn’t look convinced. She gave us a look that said sure, and I’m twenty-five again, but she smiled anyway. “Alright, pretty boy. What’ll it be?”

Emery cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Nachos. Extra jalapeños. And a bottle of water, please.”

I raised a brow, impressed. “Didn’t peg you for a jalapeño girl.”

She smirked. “Sometimes a little spice is just what you need.”

Tell me about it.

I turned back to Marie. “I’ll take the burrito. The big one. And water too.”

Marie winked. “You got it.”

We found a quiet table under the lights and sat down, waiting. I stretched my legs out under the stone bench and leaned back slightly, watching Emery as she pulled her sleeves down and scanned the menu board across the court like she wasn’t used to relaxing.

Then she turned to me, one brow arched. “Since when do you like burritos? I distinctly remember you trashing them in high school.”

I smirked. “Yeah, well. People change. Tastes change. So does appetite.”

She opened her mouth like she was gonna say something else, but just then Marie came over, carrying our food on a red tray.

“Here you go, sweethearts,” she said with a wink.

14:53 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 39

“Thank you,” We both said.

“Enjoy your meal!” Marie added, walking off.

:

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify