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)
She glances up at him with wide eyes and nods.
“When was the last time you ate?”
Shame immediately flares to life inside of me. I’ve been with her since last night and not once did it occur to me to feed her.
Some protector I am, I think bitterly.
“Today, I um, I had some chips while you stepped outside.”
“Chips.” I parrot the word back to her, feeling lower than low. “Fuck, Pip. You’ve got to be starving, why didn’t you say anything?”
She shrugs, refusing to look my way.
“Nora.” I brush my fingers against her knee, causing her to startle, her hazel eyes flying up to mine. “I meant it when I said you were safe with me, and part of being safe means your needs are being met. The thought of you being cold or hungry or without medical care—” My words halt as I suck in a deep breath, as I try to regain control of my emotions. “I can’t stand it.”
The room is quiet enough you could hear a pin drop. Maybe later I’ll feel weird over my outburst, but for now I’m on a roll. “Anything in that kitchen is free game. I don’t care if it’s the last Oreo—you want it, eat it. You’re cold? Turn up the heat. Tired? Take a nap. Anything you want, Nora, just tell me and I’ll do my best to make it happen.”
“I can’t.” She shakes her head as she wraps her arms around herself. “This is your house, and I—”
“What’s mine is yours, Nora, for as long as you need.”
Scarlet gasps, but I’m too focused on the trembling redhead at my side to pay her any mind.
Tears gather along Nora’s lash line and her lower lip wobbles, but she doesn’t actually cry. So damn strong.
“Honestly, I’m just really tired.” She rubs her eyes. “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to truly sleep. I think…if it’s okay, I mean… I’d like to lie down for a bit.”
“What did I tell you?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “You don’t need my permission, Pip. You want something—take it.”
“Okay.” She stands from the couch. “Maybe after I rest I can fix y’all some dinner?”
“Absolutely not,” Ellis says, reading my mind. “We’ll throw something together and wake you up when it’s ready.”
“Are you sure?” Her eyes flit back to mine, like it’s my approval she’s truly after.
“Positive.” I can’t wait for the day when she’s bossing me around, all assertive and shit. It’s going to be glorious.
“Do you think I could have my diary back?” She nibbles her lower lip as she looks over at Ellis. “You know, if you’re finished with it.”
“Yep.” He hops from his chair and grabs it from the dining room, passing it to her on his way to his chair.
“Thank you.” She clutches the leather book to her chest. “All of you.”
We watch in silence as she retreats back to my room, waiting for the snick of the door closing behind her.
“Atlas.” The way Scarlet sighs my name instantly sets my teeth on edge. “What’s really going on?”
Ellis, the damn jackass, kicks back in his chair, pretending to toss popcorn into his mouth. He knows her cool and calm was all for Nora’s benefit, and now that she’s not here, all bets are off.
Still, I try for dumb, because at the very least I’d like to have this conversation privately. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Cut the shit. You’re treating her like she’s this priceless treasure.”
“She’s been through a lot,” I argue. But that’s not all it is, the asshole part of my brain adds.
“Yeah, she has.” Scarlet nods and I internally celebrate—she’s seen reason. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you have feelings for her.”
I should have known better than to think she’d let it drop. But at the same time, is she right? Do I have feelings for her?
The realization hits me like a two-by-four to the face.
Shit… Oh, shit. She’s right, I definitely have feelings for Nora.
“I can see from the dumbstruck look on your face that you’re only now realizing it.” She rolls her eyes. “Men are such idiots.”
“It’s not… I don’t—”
Scarlet holds up a hand. “Save it. You’re so gone over the girl it’s sad.”
“She’s my stepsister.” My whispered words hang between us until finally, Scarlet laughs. Hard.
I’m talking belly-clutching, tears-in-her-eyes guffaws.
Personally, I don’t see what’s so funny, because it feels like my entire life just imploded for the third time in as many days.
Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe I’m just feeling really overprotective because of everything my dad did. Like some kind of misplaced guilt.
Fuck, man. Even as I try to rationalize it, the truth might as well be a flashing neon sign in front of my face.
I’m crushing hard on my stepsister. What in the hell is wrong with me?