Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
A sweet blush spreads across Nora’s cheeks as her gaze follows mine. “I, um—I wasn’t able to bring much with me, so packing shouldn’t take too long.” She swallows roughly as she looks anywhere but at me. “I was hoping to take a quick shower, too.”
I tug at my collar and then pull myself up from the floor. “I’ll just, uh, step outside while you do that.” I look toward the door as I try to wrangle the foreign discomfort swimming through me. “Give you some privacy.”
“Are you sure?” She nibbles on her lower lip, and my discomfort intensifies.
I’m not sure what in the hell is wrong with me, but I desperately need to get out of this room.
“A hundred percent.” A hundred and ten, really, because for some reason, I feel hot all over and know the crisp fall air will do me good.
“Okay.” She rises up to her knees and then stands. “Thanks, Atlas.”
“No thanks needed,” I murmur, heading for the door.
I slide my phone from my pocket as I step out of the room, hoping like hell it still has some battery left.
Ten percent; just enough to call Ellis.
My eyes bulge at the alarming number of notifications, but I guess that’s what happens when you all but go off the grid and ignore everyone for a weekend. But they’ll all have to wait.
I dial Ellis and he answers on the first ring.
“Where the hell have you been?” I don’t miss the worry in his voice. We’re both pretty good about letting the other know if we’ll be out all night, but once I realized where Nora was, I was out of there like a bat out of hell.
“I found her, Ellis. I found her.”
“Holy shit. Where? Is she okay? What’s the plan?”
“Found her at the Lakeshore Motel. Depends on how you define okay. And… I’m bringing her back to our place.” I answer his questions as rapidly as he fired them, hoping like hell he’s on board with her coming home with me.
“I’ll meet y’all there.” He sighs, and I can just picture him pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know I’m going to have to question her though, right?”
“Delicately,” I growl. Nora’s already been through so much, and I won’t let anyone else hurt her, intentionally or not. “You will question her delicately.”
“You don’t even have to worry, man. I’ll do it at the house with you there.”
My entire body sags as I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Ellis.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll meet y’all at the house, okay?”
“Sounds good.” I end the call and then check the time on my phone before sliding it back into my pocket. It’s half past ten now—almost go time.
“Nora?” I call as I tap my knuckles against the door.
She opens it immediately, stepping back to let me in. She’s still in the same clothes as before, despite her hair being wet, but I don’t comment on it. Instead, I add it to my ever-growing list of future problems to solve.
“You just about ready?”
“Yeah, I just need to get my…” She trails off, and her cheeks fill with color.
“Your what?” My interest is definitely piqued now.
Nora mumbles something at her feet, and I step deeper into the room. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s nothing to be embarrassed of.”
“My sock. It’s, um, it’s where I keep my money.”
I nod like that makes perfect sense. “Definitely better than what I used to use mine for.”
“What does that mean?” Her eyes widen and her lips form a perfect O as she gets it. “Oh, gross!”
“I’m sorry,” I say, trying to hold in my laughter. “That wasn’t very appropriate.”
“I’m not a child, you know?”
Now I’m the one looking at the floor. “Trust me, Pip, I know.”
She pads into the bathroom and comes back seconds later with her sock clutched firmly in her grasp. “Okay, good to go.”
“Let me grab your bag,” I offer, only instead of a bag, she hands me a pillowcase that’s so light I’m not entirely convinced there’s anything in it.
My expression must give my thoughts away, because Nora drops her eyes to the floor. “It’s all I had.” Shame stains her cheeks, and I immediately feel like an ass for making her feel bad.
Nora’s been to hell and back; the last thing she needs is me making her feel like anything less than the badass she is.
“You got out, Pip. That’s all that matters.”
“Yeah.” Her lips lift in a weak smile. “I guess you’re right.”
“Let’s go home.” I cross the room and throw open the door, more than ready to get the hell out of here.
“I don’t have a home, Atlas.” She trudges past me and out into the hall. “I haven’t in a long time.”
CHAPTER 11
NORA
Iwas half expecting the drive to Atlas’s house to be uncomfortable, but the second I climbed up into his behemoth of a truck and his scent wrapped around me, it was like a shot of dopamine straight to my heart.