Page 47 of Atlas
“Doesn’t hurt any less though,” Gemma cuts in, knocking her shoulder gently against mine.
My phone buzzes, and I glance at Anthony’s name on the screen. “Is this the new guy?” asks Gemma, also looking at the screen.
I nod, cancelling the call, but when he calls straight back, I stand and step away from everyone to answer the call. “Hi?”
“Hey, I just wanted to check you’re okay?”
I smile to myself, because even though I see the warning signs in almost everything he does and says, there are sweet moments like this that still make my heart stutter. “I’m okay.”
“How’s the migraine?”
“A little better,” I reply, glancing out towards where the bikers are gathered. My eyes seek Atlas out without permission, watching as he chugs a beer. Rue isn’t beside him and I wonder if she left upset or happy.
“I could come by your place if you like. I’m just about to leave.”
“No, I’m not much company right now. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“Okay. And it was great meeting your parents, Anita. I think they loved me.”
“I’m sure they did,” I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster. “Goodnight.”
I disconnect and tuck my phone away, looking up as Atlas steps into my space with a fresh beer in his hand. “You happy with yourself?” he asks, arching a brow. “You don’t want me, but you don’t want me to be happy either?”
I shake my head. “That’s not true. I want you to be happy.”
“So, what the fuck was tonight about?”
“Tessa invited—”
“I don’t care,” he snaps, cutting me off. “I don’t give a shit who invited you, Anita. You’re not a part of this club anymore. You chose not to be.”
His words hurt way more than I want them too. “I work for the club,” I remind him.
“But being a part of the old ladies, was because you were with me.”
“We weren’t actually together.”
“Fuck you,” he yells, running his hand through his hair in irritation. “You keep playing it down, but you were in my bed most fucking nights.”
“We should go somewhere and talk,” I suggest, looking past him to where some of the brothers are watching us. “I’ll explain everything.”
“You had your chance,” he mutters, shaking his head. He turns and marches away in the direction of the club.
Chapter Ten
Atlas
I down my drink, throwing the empty bottle in the bin as I head inside the club. I take the stairs two at a time and I’m about to go into my room when I hear her call my name. I spin to see Anita rushing after me. “Just wait,” she cries. “Please.”
Seeing her upset still twists something in my heart so I wait for her to join me. “There’s nothing to say.”
“I want Leo back,” she says firmly. “I can’t do that without the help of my parents.”
“So?”
“For that, I need to be accepted back into the fold.”
“What does this have to do with me?” I snap, pushing my door open and going inside. She follows.
