Page 49 of Hot Knot Summer
I kick at a pebble near my foot, watching it skitter across the pavement.
“Have you told him about the fire?”
“God, no. And he hasn’t bothered to ask how I am.” The familiar ache throbs dully in my chest. Not for Chad himself, but for what I thought we had. For being a fool and believing he would finally mark me as his with his bite. To make me feel like I truly belong to him…
“Well, he betrayed you, then dumped you. Fuck him, but just be careful.”
I let out a laugh that’s more air than sound. “Thanks for the permission.”
“Look, all I’m saying is I’m all for not pushing awaypotential good things because one Alpha-hole hurt you. Just be careful not to rush into another relationship too quickly.”
A pickup truck turns onto the street, and my heart does an embarrassing little flip when I recognize Atlas behind the wheel.
“Speaking of which, my ride’s here. I should go.”
“Send me those details! And call me after you’ve seen their place. I want to know if it’s a palace or a murder shack.”
“Will do. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up just as my phone starts vibrating again. Chad’s name flashes on the screen, accompanied by a photo I now regret not deleting—his arm slung possessively around my shoulders at last year’s Christmas party. My thumb hovers over the decline button when a text message preview appears…
Your stuff’s packed in garbage bags. When are you coming back to get it? Also, pretty sure you took my gym duffel by mistake. Need it back.
A startled laugh escapes me. Of course, he’s worried about his precious bag while my entire life is in shambles. I type back quickly…
Nice to see you got over me so quickly, you don’t even care that I nearly died in a cabin fire the other night... asshole!
I hit send with vicious satisfaction, then immediately regret engaging at all. I should be better than this.Shouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he can still affect me.
His response comes quickly.
Are you ok?
For a split second, I feel a twinge of validation when the phone dings with his next message.
My bag ok? Call me!
Fire races through my veins, and I type back so forcefully, I’m surprised my screen doesn’t crack.
Fuck you!
I mute the conversation and shove my phone into my pocket as Atlas’s truck pulls up to the curb.
The driver’s side window rolls down, revealing Atlas’s strong profile. The morning light catches on his dark hair. His five o’clock shadow has progressed to what I’d call seven-thirty stubble, and somehow, it makes him look even more ruggedly appealing.
“Morning,” he calls, his deep voice sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine. “Ready to see your temporary home?”
I hoist my backpack and approach the truck, trying to appear more confident than I feel. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
He leans across to push open the passenger door, and I climb in, immediately enveloped by the scent of his masculine scent, which makes me sit up and take notice.
“Everything okay?” Atlas asks as I buckle my seatbelt. “You looked like you were having quite the conversation with your phone back there.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “You saw that?”
“Hard to miss someone trying to shove their fingers through the phone angrily.” His lips quirk up at the corners.
