I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Emery’s POV

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“Perfecto,” Sam declared, grinning like she’d just won a styling competition. She stood back with her hands on her hips, admiring her masterpiece-me.

I glanced at my reflection again.

Black crop top. Floral skirt with a daring slit that made me feel a little too seen. My blonde hair was flat- ironed and tucked neatly behind one ear, my lips glossy pink, lashes curled, eyes lined like I actually knew what I was doing with a makeup brush.

Okay… I looked hot. Terrifyingly so.

“Oh my God, Emery, you look so beautiful,” Jazz said, clasping her hands over her heart like I’d just walked out of a Pageant beauty show.

“Howard owes us a big thank you,” Sam added smugly, tossing her hair over her shoulder like she was the one going on the date.

I gave a soft laugh, even though my stomach was doing that weird, tight, twisty thing again. “Thanks, guys… seriously. Lifesavers.”

“You’re welcome,” Jazz said, touching the ends of my hair like it was sacred.

I grabbed my black jacket from the bed, ready to slip it on when Sam practically screeched, “What are you doing?!”

I blinked. “Putting on my jacket?”

“No. Absolutely not. Have you learned nothing from me?” She marched over and snatched it from my hands like I’d just insulted her ancestors. “Sex 101, Emery. Light shirt. No jacket. How else is he supposed to give you his and be all chivalrous and flirty and, you know, horny?”

I blinked at her. “First of all, I’m not getting laid.”

Sam smirked. “Pfft. Sure, tell yourself that. But let’s be real, with how good you look right now? I give Howard fifteen before he’s trying to undress you with his teeth.”

“Okay, Sammie, maybe cool it,” Jazz said, tossing a pillow at her.

Sam dodged it with a smirk and held up both hands. “I’m just being realistic.”

I rolled my eyes, tugging my jacket back on anyway, ignoring her groan of disappointment. “Well, thank you for your TED Talk on how to get a man, but I’m just going on a nice date. You know, normal? Conversation? Food? Not… pinning?”

“Whatever you say?” Jazz smirked, wiggling her brows like she didn’t believe a word.

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Chapter 65

I narrowed my eyes at her. “I will smack that smugness off your face.”

She winked. “You love me.”

“Unfortunately,” I muttered with a grin.

Then, as if summoned by chaos itself, Sam perked up. “Wait. Is Atlas home?”

Uh-oh.

I turned, slowly. “…Yeah. Why?”

She was already unbuttoning her shirt. “Perfect.”

Jazz gagged. “You whore.”

Sam just shrugged unapologetically. “What? I’m ovulating. Ford’s out of town.”

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Oh right. Sam and Ford were in that situationship where the only consistent thing was how often they banged.

“Just because you’re ovulating doesn’t mean you have to sleep with someone, Sam. Try self-control sometimes.”

“No, thank you.”

I stared at her, and she stared right back like she wasn’t halfway to flashing the hallway. “So is he really home?” she asked again, grinning wickedly.

“Yeah…”

“Great. Should I undo one more button?” she asked while tugging at her top.

Jazz didn’t even look up. “Might as well flash your whole boobs and hand him a room key.”

“Ohhh,” Sam said with a little shiver. “Can you imagine having sex with Atlas? God. I think my ovaries just clapped.”

Jazz rolled her eyes so hard I’m surprised they didn’t roll out of her head.

I laughed… but it came out weirdly tight in my throat.

And then, just for a second, my smile faltered.

Why… why did that hurt?

Stop it, Emery.

Get a grip.

I looked away and grabbed my purse, busying myself with checking my phone. Just a casual scroll. Totally not

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Chapter 65

trying to distract myself from whatever nonsense my chest was doing.

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Jazz and Sam had somehow segued into a full-blown argument about whether Michael B. Jordan’s abs were better than Chris Evans, and the room was filled with dramatic “ARE YOU BLIND”s and “IT’S SCIENCE”s.

Meanwhile, I was trying to breathe.

I was going on a date. With a nice guy. A guy who likes me…and is kind and sweet and…and not Atlas… So what if Sam wanted to flash him?

He’s not mine. He never was and never will be.

I checked my phone again, hoping to distract my mind from whatever mind game was going on.

Ten minutes.

Howard would be here in ten minutes.

I should’ve been fixing my lip gloss or rehearsing flirty one-liners, but instead… I was thinking about him.

Atlas.

I hadn’t seen him all day. No sound of his usual morning grumble, no cereal bowls left in the sink, no stupid hockey tape rolls on the kitchen counter. Just… silence. And even though he’d said we were cool now, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off.

He seemed quieter lately. Not the usual broody, smug, sarcastic Atlas… but off. Sad, even.

I should go check on him.

Just admit you want him to see how good you look.

The very unnecessary, very rude voice in my head chimed in with full sass. I mentally flipped it off.

I wasn’t going over there for that. I just… wanted to check on my roommate. That’s it. That’s all.

“Give me a minute,” I said to Jazz and Sam, grabbing my phone and slipping out before either of them could bombard me with more Michael B. Jordan thirst commentary.

My heart thudded faster with each step across the hall. The hallway suddenly felt longer, like it had stretched itself out just to mess with me. My heels clicked against the floor, echoing louder than my sanity liked.

Go back. GO. BACK. Emery Collins, freaking do…

Too late. I was already there.

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