Page 84 of Arrogant Boss

I nod and tell him thanks.

I try so hard not to think about Atlas, but everything about this place reminds me of him. He was the light that would brighten up my dark days. So how do I move on with my life? No one has ever spoken about how to move on from a relationship. I keep replaying the breakup in my head, trying to figure out where we went wrong and what I could have done differently. I told myself not to blame myself, but it’s hard. I know it wasn’t me who was the problem, it was him. I’m here in Kauai to love myself and do the things I want to do. Not dwell on the past. Not dwell on how shitty my life is. My New Year’s resolution is to not take anybody’s shit and live life one day at a time.

The next day, I wake up early in the morning to run along the beach. There is something therapeutic about the sea, especially when the sky bleeds orange and red, making it appear as if we’re on planet Mars. I stop by a coffee shop to grab myself a bagel, and jog back to my cottage. Christmas is right around the corner, and I need to buy a small Christmas tree and decorations for it. When I make it to the front steps, I damn near drop my breakfast onto the concrete. My eyes widen, and anger and shock cloud my eyes.

What is Atlas doing here? Jasper told him I was here. He paces back and forth on my porch as if he has a lot on his mind. He still looks the same. Broad shoulders and thick muscles. He’s not wearing a shirt, so his marble abs are on display, and a trail of fine hair disappears beneath his shorts. My heart hammers in my chest, and my pulse thumps in my neck. I want to kiss him, but I also want to kick him off my property.

With every step up to the porch, my heart beats loud in my ears.

“What are you doing here?”

He eyes me for several beats, his gaze roaming to my new haircut all the way down to my running shoes, then his eyes glance to where my scar is at.

A grin stretches across his face. “I love the hair,” he exhales as if he was holding his breath for a while. “I miss you, Boots.”

Butterflies assault my stomach at his words, and I swallow thickly, moving past him as if I’m not affected by his presence. I tap the code to the door and stroll inside.

He follows me into the cottage, and I turn to look at him. His footsteps match my heartbeat, and the air in my lungs seize.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m here for you.”

“I’m n—”

“I’m not saying you should come home—I’m here for you, as in I’m staying until you’re ready to leave with me. I rented a cottage right next to yours so I can be close to you.”

I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up here.

“Get out of my face,” I snap.

“I made a mistake, Lake. I shouldn’t have broken up with you in the first place. I was scared you didn’t love me back.”

“You love me?”

He nods.

Tears trickle down my cheeks. “You made me believe I was a fling and that I didn’t matter to you. You broke my heart, and you think because you love me, you can have me back whenever you want?” I inhale and exhale loudly. “You hurt me, Atlas. I opened up to you about my insecurities, and you used that very thing as a weapon to hurt me.”

“I’m sorry.”

He places his hands on my shoulders and presses his lips onto my mouth, but I push him away.

“Atlas, I need time to think and be by myself. I need you to understand that. I need my space. I don’t want to be near you or talk to you.”

He grabs my hand.

“Please don’t touch me.”

“We can work this out.”

“Your arrogance is showing,” I snap.

“Can we talk?”

“There isn’t anything to talk about. You need to leave, please.”

I rush to my room and slam the door, then I cry into the pillow. How can he show up and demand I be with him? He’s so arrogant and full of himself to think I’m going to take him back, as if I’m going to fall into his arms. I don’t want to be with him after the way he made me feel like shit. He made me feel like I didn’t matter. He made me feel like I was unloved, and you don’t do that to a person. You don’t treat them like crap.

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