Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Cora
That freaking asshole. As soon as I think Atlas and I are making progress, his asshole side comes out, and it makes me remember why I’m frequently mad at him. I thought we had a truce, but I guess I was wrong.
There’s nothing wrong with the way I look. I rarely get to go out and enjoy myself, but the Morgans were all too happy to have Noah for the night. Mila, Mara, and I swung by my house so I could get changed.
Heading out for girls’ night in leggings and a sweatshirt wasn’t acceptable according to Mara, so after spending thirty minutes destroying my closet and making me play Barbie, they were satisfied with my outfit.
I look good, and I’m going to enjoy being out with my friends. If Atlas doesn’t like it, he can stay with the guys. I look and feel really fucking good, and I’m tired of his hot and cold. I only agreed to the guys tagging along because it’s so hard to say no to Kash.
“What’s that guy’s problem?” Mara shouts over the music.
It’s loud in here, so even standing close to each other while waiting for drinks, it’s hard to hear.
“I don’t know. He apologized for being a dick the other day, but now he’s back to it. I don’t get it.”
“I bet he’s jealous.” Mila giggles.
Mara gives her an incredulous look, while I sigh. Atlas jealous?
I still remember the feeling of his chest pressed against mine, and the way he held my hand in his grasp. If Kash hadn’t interrupted, I don’t know what would have happened.
There’s something different there; his eyes hold so many secrets and so much sadness. He’s not very open. I could never be with someone who is shut off like that. The biggest fuck you I ever gave my parents was living happily.
“What’s a group of pretty girls like you doing over here? You ladies should be dancing.”
Turning to the voice, I expect Kash or Rhett, but instead, there’s a guy a bit taller than me with blond hair smiling at us.
Mara rolls her eyes and turns around, leaving Mila and me to deal with him. I’m about to answer when another man steps up beside him.
“Is my friend bothering you?”
He has dark shaggy hair and a large grin on his face. He seems harmless enough, but his dark hair doesn’t make my pulse quicken.
“Of course not.” Mila smiles playfully. “We were just getting ready to go dance. My friend Cora here loves dancing,” she tells them, shoving me forward.
“It’s my lucky night. I happen to love dancing too,” the dark-haired guy says as he grabs my hand. “What do you say, gorgeous, wanna have some fun?”
I am here to have some fun, and even though Mara is talking to the bartender, Mila gives me an encouraging smile.
“Yeah,” I relent. “Let’s go.”
It’s just dancing. What’s the worst that can happen?
Following behind him, we move toward the dance floor. The bass is thumping so hard that I feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet. The song is a mix of R Atlas slams him back against the wall. I have no idea where Kash went with his friend, but I need to get Atlas off this guy before he does some serious damage.
Atlas’ arm is pressed against his windpipe as he leans in. Coming closer, I overhear pieces of what he’s saying.
“If you ever fucking touch her again, or I find out you even breathe near her, I’ll be back, and you won’t fucking walk ever again. I’ll use your spine as Halloween decorations at my fucking house.” He punches him in the stomach once more before letting go of him. I watch as he drops to the floor.
“What the hell, Atlas?” I smack his shoulder as Rhett pops up at my side, looking panicked.
“Guys, we’ve gotta go,” he tells Atlas. “Kash has the girls outside with Seth.”
Atlas grabs my hand, and I yank free of his grasp. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
“Like fuck you aren’t.” He lifts me off my feet and tosses me over his shoulder.
Walking through the dance area, Atlas pushes past people who were crowded around us with me over his shoulder, slapping at him.
“I mean it, Atlas! Where do you get off on acting like this? It was girls’ night, and you ruined it!”
I keep slamming my hands on his back and yelling at him until he stops abruptly in a dark hallway. After setting me on my feet, he spins me toward him. His expression is livid. Good. I’m mad too, dumbass.
“That guy had his hands all over you.”
“We were dancing, Atlas! What is your deal?”
“You’re my deal!” he yells back.
What the hell is he talking about?
“I don’t know what you think is happening here, but you’re wrong.”
“Am I?” he questions, and his jaw tics as he steps into my space, crowding me against the wall.
He places his arms on either side of my head, blocking me in.
There’s an intense look on his face, and it makes me freeze.
I know he wouldn’t hurt me, but I’m suddenly a little afraid. I hate feeling this way.
“Let me make something clear, Cora; you are my business. Everything about you is my business. I’ll be damned if I let some asshole paw you and then call you names. No fucking way.”
Staring up into his dark eyes, I see he’s dead serious. I don’t understand him. One minute, he’s cold and angry, the next, he’s beating up some guy over me.
“Atlas…” I sigh, shaking my head. “You can’t do this to me.”
“What am I doing to you?” His fingers caress my cheek. “Tell me what I do to you. If you tell me what I do to you, I’ll tell you what you do to me.”
“What do I do to you?” I ask without thinking.
His eyes soften before he shakes his head. “I don’t think you’re ready for that yet, Cora. Let’s go.” He grabs my hand and tugs me out of the hallway and toward the exit, where everyone is waiting.
The cool air is a welcome change from the heat I feel on my face. If he had held me there any longer, I don’t know what I would have done, or admitted to, and that scares me.
“Dude. What the hell was all that?” Rhett shoves Atlas.
“Hey. Stop. There’s been enough fighting,” I scold him. “Are you okay, Kash?”
“Don’t you worry about me. I’m better than okay.” He smirks. “Been a while since I’ve been in a bar fight.” I notice a bruise already forming on his face and shake my head.
What is it with these guys and fighting?
Huffing out an annoyed sound, Mara grabs my hand, shoving my coat into it. “Here. Put this on. We’re leaving. This has been some girls’ night. You guys aren’t invited anymore. Ever.”
Following behind her, I look back at Atlas standing with the guys. His dark eyes haven’t left me, and I’m curious about what he meant, and whether or not I really want to know.
This was not how the night was supposed to go. We were going to dance, have fun, and I wasn’t going to worry about laundry, the store, or soccer practice. I could have stayed home and put together my new bookshelf or done something worthwhile.
God, he makes me so mad.
I don’t spare the guys another backward glance as I get into the car with the girls. I’m more confused than ever, and I don’t know if I want the answers to my questions or if Atlas is right. Maybe I’m not ready to hear them.