I Swear I Still Hate Him (Atlas Lawson) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Chapter 75

Emery’s POV

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Ford let out a long whistle the moment we stepped out. “Damn,” he grinned. “Definitely worth the wait.”

My eyes didn’t even bother acknowledging the compliment. They shot straight to him.

Atlas.

He stood a few feet away, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, his body leaning casually against the car. But his eyes…..god, his eyes were anything but casual.

They were on me.

Not a glance. Not a quick once-over. No, it was a full, long stare. Heavy and unreadable. His jaw tightened, the muscles ticking like he was holding something back.

And maybe I was insane… maybe I was overanalyzing everything like usual, but I saw it. The tension. The heat. The same kind of heat that makes your knees knock together, and your brain short-circuit.

“Okay, okay,” Ford said, stepping forward dramatically like he was presenting royalty. “Ladies and gentlemen… the goddess has arrived.”

“I know, baby,” Sam replied, flipping her hair and striking a pose. Classic Sam.

Then I heard it…soft, almost nervous.

“You look good,” Howard said, scratching the back of his neck, eyes landing on my bare legs for a split second before darting away.

I smiled, awkwardly tucking a braid behind my ear. “T-thanks.”

We started walking toward the cars. There were two parked in the driveway, both sleek and expensive like they were born with a trust fund.

Ford clapped his hands. “Alright! Me and Sammy are in this one.” He nodded toward the black Jeep. “Atlas, you take the other.”

Howard was about to speak up, probably to call shotgun with Atlas, when Ford swooped in like a plotting gremlin.

“Howard, buddy, you’re with me.”

Howard paused, lips parting. He glanced at me, then at Atlas, then back at me, like he was trying to decide if this was a setup.

He sighed and nodded, slipping into Ford’s car.

I turned to find Atlas already walking toward the second car. Jazz beat me to the front seat, and I didn’t even

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Chapter 75

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argue. My body was moving on autopilot as I slipped into the back, the soft leather cool against my legs.

Once we were all in, Atlas turned the key and the engine purred to life. The soft glow of the dashboard lit up. his face, highlighting that infuriatingly sharp jawline and those lashes no man deserved.

“You ready?” he asked, eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror.

My stomach did a somersault. He was asking all of us, but his gaze was locked only on me. My heart picked up like a damn drumline. Thump thump thump. I nodded mutely, lips parting uselessly.

“Yeah,” Jazz answered cheerfully.

Atlas smiled and shifted into drive.

The car rolled out of the driveway and onto the road, the soft beat of indie music filling the space between us. Jazz and Atlas fell into an easy conversation about some surf shop near the beach and a local band that Ford wanted to check out.

They laughed.

Joked.

Talked like they’d known each other for years.

It wasn’t flirty. Not even close. But the casual vibe between them still made something sour bubble in my chest. I looked out the window, willing the wind to slap some sense into me. You’re not jealous. You’re just…

My thoughts cut off when I caught his eyes again.

The mirror. He was looking at me. Even with Jazz talking beside him, even with the music playing, he kept glancing back. Like I was the background noise he couldn’t ignore. My chest tightened.

And maybe… just maybe, I wasn’t background noise to him at all.

****

We stepped out of the car, and the scene in front of us was wild, flames from the bonfire, music blasted from a speaker someone probably shouldn’t have trusted around sand, and half-dressed, drunk rich kids were laughing like the world was ending tomorrow.

We all stepped out of the car and just stood there for a second, staring at the wild scene like tourists in another world.

“See you later, guys,” Jazz said with a wink, then spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.

And just like that, I was alone. With him.

I inhaled, trying to gather any ounce of chill I had left. “I should probably…” I started, fingers fumbling for the

handle…

“You look beautiful.”

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Chapter 75

His voice cut through the air like a soft guitar riff in a quiet room.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Dammit, heart. Can we not right now?

And then it happened. The worst betrayal my body could serve at a moment like this.

“Hic!”

I hiccupped… REALLY!!!

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I blinked. Mortified. “Oh my God…” I slapped a hand over my mouth, wanting to drop dead and bury myself under the bonfire. “Seriously?”

Atlas grinned. “Cute.”

No. No, it was not cute. It was mortifying.

He turned and opened the car door, leaning inside like he had all the time in the world. A few seconds later, he handed me a bottle of water.

“Here. Might help.”

I took it, still pink in the face. “Thanks,” I muttered before gulping like my life depended on it.

When I looked up, he was still standing there, watching me with a quiet smile… and then his eyes dropped.

To my boobs.

I stilled.

He didn’t even flinch, didn’t look away immediately like most guys would when caught. No, he just slowly brought his eyes back up to mine.

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