Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
NORA
G etting ready for a first date is hard enough as it is—at least, according to the shows and movies I’ve seen—but it’s even harder without anyone around to guide you.
I don’t have my mom to help with my hair and she never taught me to put makeup on—not that I own any anyway.
I don’t have a best friend to help me pick out an outfit.
Here’s to hoping leggings and a sweater are appropriate for whatever Atlas has planned, because even with him spoiling me, I don’t have any date-worthy outfits.
I’m half-tempted to call Scarlet and beg for her help.
But even I know asking your boyfriend’s ex to help you get ready for a date is weird.
Is he even my boyfriend?
We’ve done everything so out of order, I’m not sure I know up from down when it comes to explaining our relationship.
I’m pregnant, we live together, and share a bed, but haven’t had sex.
He told me he loves me, and his actions more than back up his words, but his dad abused me for years on end.
It’s safe to say we’re complicated.
But if I’m being completely honest, Atlas Wallace is by far the best complication to ever come into my life.
He’s caring, observant, intuitive, and kind…
he’s just… every good thing .
So much so that the word boyfriend doesn’t feel big enough to encompass all he is to me.
I flop down onto the bed, throwing one arm over my head and the other over my eyes.
This is hopeless. Atlas is going to all of this trouble to do something nice for me and I?—
A knock on the door derails my pity party.
“Nora…”
Why is Ellis outside of my door?
“Yeah?”
“Can I come in?”
I roll my eyes from the ceiling to the door.
“I guess.”
“You all ready for your big da—” He eyes me sprawled on the bed, dressed in a pair of my old leggings and one of Atlas’s hoodies.
“Clearly not, what gives?”
“Ellis.” I sigh his name.
“Are you here for girl talk?” It’s not fair for me to take my frustrations out on him, especially when he’s always so kind to me.
“That was rude, I’m sorry. What’s up?”
“Just wanted to check on you.” He shrugs and crosses the room, claiming Atlas’s desk chair.
“Figured you might need some assistance getting ready, and while I know I’m not a chick, I am your best friend—right?” He shakes his head.
“Of course, I am, so voilà, here I am.”
“Riiiight.” I force myself into a seated position.
“And how do you plan to help?”
“Listen, I am a man of many talents.” He springs up from the chair and stalks over to my closet—well, Atlas’s closet.
I watch as he flips through the hangers, trying to figure out what exactly he’s up to.
“Perfect!” He grabs a hanger and tosses it my way.
“Put this on with your green leggings and boots.”
“That’s… Atlas’s sweater…”
He rolls his eyes and grabs my green leggings.
“Clearly.” He drops them onto my lap.
“It’s—are you sure?” I love wearing Atlas’s clothes, so I’m all for it, I just can’t imagine it being date appropriate.
“You don’t watch as much Gossip Girl as I do without picking up a thing or two. Now, go into the bathroom and get dressed.”
Reluctantly, I get to my feet and head into the bathroom.
Shucking off my current pair of leggings is harder than I’d like to admit, but with this little bump disrupting my center of gravity, simple tasks like taking off and putting on pants have become a freaking chore.
I tug off my hoodie next, and then appraise myself in the mirror.
My boobs have definitely grown and my belly is perfectly curved.
I can’t help but wonder what Atlas sees when he looks at me.
He’s forever telling me I’m beautiful and perfect just as I am, but with an ex like Scarlet, it’s hard to believe.
She’s the kind of woman who probably wears matching lingerie, whereas my underwear is made of cotton and comes in a multipack.
Will Atlas think I’m desirable when he sees me stripped bare?
“Stop it.” I clench my fists at my sides, willing myself to calm down; I refuse to let my own self-doubts ruin such a special night.
Grabbing my green leggings, I sit on the closed toilet seat and tug them on, followed by his sweater, and then assess myself in the mirror once again.
Even with my growing baby bump, the thick cable knit material is still oversized.
And the creamy-white color pairs really well with my leggings.
Apparently, Ellis knows his stuff— never would have guessed it.
I may not be a supermodel, but I look nice…
and that’s good enough.
“Well?” he asks expectantly.
I swing the door open.
“You were right.”
He swivels the desk chair around to face me.
“Of course, I was.” He pretends to dust his shoulder off.
“I always am.”
“Oh, God,” I groan.
“You sound like Atlas.”
“I think you mean Atlas sounds like me.” He lifts his brows and smirks as he heads for the bedroom door.
“Now, I won’t be home until tomorrow afternoon, so you kids be good and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Ellis!” Embarrassment stains my cheeks, but he just grins.
“I’d say don’t get pregnant…” He lowers his eyes to my belly.
“But, you know…”
“You’re… you’re…” My words fail me.
Ellis sort of reminds me of Maria from The Sound of Music , when all of the nuns are singing about her.
How do you solve a problem like Ellis?
“The best? I know.”
“Yeah.” I smile, because he really is a good guy…
one of the absolute best. “You are.”
He closes the door behind him, leaving me to finish getting ready on my own.
I keep my hair simple, letting it hang around my shoulders before slipping on my boots.
It’s nothing fancy, but it’s the best I can do; I just hope it’s enough…
That I’m enough…
Twenty minutes later, another knock sounds on the bedroom door.
“You ready, Pip?”
I force myself out of the bed, take one last glance in the mirror, and then open the door.
“As ready as I’m going to be.”
I’m not sure what kind of reaction I was expecting from him, but the look of pure desire wasn’t it.
“Nora, you look…” His words taper off as he drags his teeth over his lower lip.
I’ve never felt more alive, or more desirable than I do now as he eats me up with a hungry gaze.
“I look what?” I rasp, fighting tooth and nail against the negative thoughts trying to weasel their way in.
“Perfect.” He steps into me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “You look fucking perfect.”
“Thank you.” I rest my head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beating strong and true beneath his ribs.
“Got something for you,” he murmurs.
“You do?”
“Of course.” As he steps back from me, I notice the small bouquet of sunflowers in his other hand.
“For you.”
I take the bouquet from his outstretched hand and clutch it to my chest. No one’s ever given me flowers before and I…
I think I love it. “Thank you.” I bury my nose in the blooms and inhale deeply.
“They’re beautiful. I… do you have a vase?”
He ducks his head.
“I’ve got a cup. Will that work?”
“It’ll work just fine,” I murmur as I practically float into the kitchen to grab a cup from the cabinet.
Atlas swoops in and steals the cup from me, filling it with water before arranging the flowers inside of it.
“There you go.”
He sets it on the island and I beam.
“Thank you, Atlas. I love them.”
His thoughtfulness is unparalleled.
When I was a kid, my dad would always find something for Mom any time he and I did something just the two of us.
Whether it was a flower, a trinket, a candy, or a card—she was always at the forefront of his mind.
I remember one time I asked him why, and he said “ it’s the little things that matter the most,” and Atlas is proving to me day in and day out just how right my dad was.
“Hopefully you love the rest of what I have planned just as much.”
“I know I will.” I rise up onto my tippy-toes to kiss his lips.
“But I wouldn’t be mad if you wanted to give me a hint.”
“No can do, pretty girl. But grab your jacket and we can head out.”
Anticipation flares to life inside of me as I follow his instructions.
I may not be sure what he has planned, but Atlas is easily the most attentive and thoughtful person I know—which means no matter what, tonight will be perfect.