I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Emery’s POV

Our parents were getting married.

OUR. PARENTS. WERE. GETTING. MARRIED.

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The words sank in like a slow drop in freezing water. I blinked, staring at the boy who, just minutes ago, had his tongue stuck in my mouth. Atlas’s wide eyes locked with mine across the room, both of us frozen, like the realization had hit at the exact same second.

Shit.

My throat tightened, and I quickly tore my gaze away from his, forcing it toward the center of the room.

My dad was kneeling on one knee, one hand holding a small red velvet box. His other hand was slightly trembling. He looked nervous, excited… completely lovestruck.

The whole restaurant had gone quiet.

He took a breath and gave the sweetest smile, the kind I hadn’t seen since my mom died. My heart clenched.

“I thought love had ended for me,” he began, voice soft but steady. “After losing Emery’s mom, I truly believed that chapter of my life was closed.”

I felt my chest tighten, and my fingers gripped the edge of the table. Atlas’s mom, Daisy, covered her lips with her hand, already teary-eyed.

“But then you came along,” my dad continued, staring right at Daisy. “You didn’t just accept me, you loved my daughter like she was your own. You raised the most incredible son-” his voice caught for a second, “—and you made me believe in love again. In second chances.”

Someone near our table sniffled. I blinked hard.

“Every day I get to be near you, I feel lucky. But I don’t want just days anymore, I want forever. Daisy Lawson,” he said, slowly opening the box to reveal a glittering ring, “please do me the honor and make me the happiest

man.”

Daisy gasped. Her eyes were completely glassy now, tears rolling down her cheek as she nodded, speechless. She bent down and pulled him into a hug.

The entire restaurant erupted into cheers and applause. People stood, whistled, clapped. Someone even banged a wine glass in celebration.

I smiled. I clapped. I felt proud of my dad, genuinely happy for him. After everything he’d been through, he deserved this. But as my hands moved, my eyes drifted back to Atlas. He hadn’t moved. He was still sitting there, shoulders stiff, jaw locked, eyes focused on me like he was trying to figure out what the hell we’d just gotten ourselves into.

And suddenly, my joy twisted into panic.

15:12 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 62

What happens to us?

What the hell happens now?

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Apart from the bomb drop from last night, apparently, some kid from Linchester just so happened to be in the same restaurant Atlas and I were in. And it would’ve been great if that said person had simply clapped along like everyone else. But no.

They decided a video would be nice.

And now? Now, everyone at Linchester had figured out that Atlas and I didn’t just know each other, we were soon-to-be step-siblings.

My stepbrother.

The one you’ve been fucking, the very annoying voice in my head whispered like a villain monologue.

Ugh.

My phone hadn’t stopped blowing up since this morning. The swimming team group chat, Laila, Jazz, Sam… every notification, every message-one thing in common.

Atlas.

Meg: Wait, you and Atlas are related?!

Sam: Girl, how could you keep this from us??

Jazz: We need to talk. ASAP.

Laila: Congrats, Em! I saw the video, it’s freaking trending now!

I let out a dramatic sigh, clutching my phone like it had personally betrayed me. If I got one more ping from the swimming team group chat, I was gonna yeet it into the nearest trash can and lock myself in the bathroom stall until graduation.

“Hey, Emily!” a too-cheerful voice chirped behind me.

Emily?

I turned around to find a blonde girl I had never spoken to in my life practically bouncing toward me with a grin plastered across her face like we were long-lost besties.

She tilted her head. “You’re in my department, right?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but she didn’t give me the chance.

“Yeah, I’ve seen you around,” she continued, waving her hand dismissively like my existence was a background detail in her story.

Here we go.

15:12 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 62

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“Can I see your phone?” she asked, already reaching into her sparkly purse like this was totally normal social interaction.

“Uh… okay?” I said, confused, as I handed it over.

She typed something in, fast, like she’d done this a thousand times, and handed it back with a wink.

“My number. In case you ever need anything,” she said sweetly.

“Thanks?” I replied, unsure if I’d just made a friend or accidentally joined a cult.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder, then dropped the real reason she came. “Oh-and since I’m being nice… maybe you could put in a good word with your brother?”

I blinked. “My-?”

“Atlas.” She smiled like the name itself tasted like candy in her mouth. “He’s so hot. Ugh, you’re so lucky.”

College, I realized in that moment, was really just high school in cooler outfits.

“Sure,” I muttered, forcing a polite smile and turning on my heel before I physically rolled my eyes out of my head.

I walked out of the building quickly, praying I wouldn’t bump into any more Atlas fan girls… which, of course, meant fate had to throw me right into the line of fire.

There he was. Atlas. Standing with a few of the hockey guys, Ford already waving like an excited golden retriever. Atlas, on the other hand, wore that same unreadable expression he’d been giving me since… the other night.

My heart did a weird flip, and I quickly looked away.

“Hey.”

I turned and found Howard beside me, his usual warm grin lighting up his face.

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