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)
“Yeah.” I nod. “All of that.”
“Hmm.” He leans back, drumming his fingertips against his knees. “Seems like you already do most of that.”
“None of that matters, though. Not when I’m directly related to the reason for all of her suffering. How could she ever want me, man? How could I ever hope to be more than a reminder of all she’s suffered through?”
“One.” Ellis holds up his index finger. “Self-pity doesn’t look good on you.” He adds a second finger. “Two, it’s not your place to make these kinds of choices for her. She’s had enough choices stripped away from her, Atlas.”
My entire body melts into the couch as frustration and shame battle it out inside of me. “You’re right. Fuck, man. You’re right.”
Ellis grins. “Usually am.”
“Right about what?” Nora asks, stepping into the room, making my whole body jolt. Sneaky little red-haired ninja.
But before either of us can answer her, the front door flies open, and Nora drops to the floor, curling into a fetal position.
“Shit!” I growl, cutting my eyes at the rude-as-hell blonde darkening our doorway before rushing over to Nora. “It’s okay, Pip. You’re safe. It’s just Scarlet.”
She’s shaking like a leaf but doesn’t object when I wrap my arms around her, sliding her onto my lap.
“Listen to my heartbeat,” I whisper to her, brushing her hair off her forehead. “You’re here with me, and you’re safe.”
“I’m sorry.” Scarlet sighs. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Ellis snorts. “You rarely do.”
“Why are you here, Scar?” I ask, still rubbing soothing circles over Nora’s back.
“I brought pizzas!” she says, as if that explains her presence inside of our home, uninvited.
Nora sniffles against my chest. “P-pizza?” she asks, pulling back from me and sniffing the air. “What kind?”
“Um, one pepperoni, one cheese, and one supreme.”
Nora whimpers, and I want nothing more than to march Scarlet right back out the way she came in, but I’m not willing to let go of the woman on my lap to do it.
“I haven’t had pizza in…” Nora glances up at me, her eyes wet and cheeks pink. “Years. It’s been years.” She sniffs the air again and shudders against me. “It smells so good.”
“Then let’s eat,” Scarlet chirps, knowing she’s off the hook.
Ellis tips his chin my way before following Scarlet into the kitchen, leaving me to make sure Nora’s truly okay.
“You good?” I ask once it’s just the two of us.
She tries to smile, but it comes off as more of a grimace. “Just embarrassed.”
“Don’t be.” I slide her off of my lap so I can stand and help her up. “Scarlet should know better than to bust into someone’s house without being invited. This is on her, Pip, not you.”
“If you say so.” It’s clear she doesn’t believe me, but I meant every word. Scarlet should know better than to just let herself into someone’s house. Things were different when we were together, but we aren’t now, and she damn sure needs to remember it.
“I do.” I grab her hand and tug her into my side. “Now let’s go grab some slices before those two eat them all.”
The sound of Ellis and Scarlet bickering greet us as we make our way into the kitchen.
Just like the last time we stumbled upon the two of them going at it, we pause to listen.
“You want my mother’s number?” Scarlet asks incredulously. Her back is to us, but I’d bet my entire paycheck that her eyes are narrowed into thin slits and her cheeks are every bit as red as her name implies.
“I do.” Ellis is one hundred percent the calm to her storm, as he props one elbow on the island.
“Why?” The word sounds more like a snarl.
“I’d like to have a chat with her about your upbringing. Give her some feedback on the areas she failed you.” He shrugs, looking her up and down. “I’m sure she did her best, given your natural predisposition.”
“I swear to God,” she growls. “You insufferable, pig-headed—”
“Yeah, no.” He cuts her off. “You don’t get to insult me in my own home, especially when you’re not even an invited guest.”
“Should we put a stop to this?” Nora asks, worrying the hem of her shirt between her fingers.
“Probably.” I sigh and slide my palm against hers, interlocking our fingers. “C’mon, Pip, let’s go settle the kids.”
She gives me a goofy grin as we walk into the warzone formerly known as our kitchen.
“Sit by me,” Scarlet says to Nora, suddenly calm and smiling. The girl’s moods flip faster than a fair ride.
A burst of pride rockets through me when Nora releases my hand and claims the stool next to Scarlet. She may not realize it, but each day she’s growing more confident in herself, and I’m fucking here for it.
Watching her come into herself is like watching a rare flower bloom. It sounds lame as hell, worded like that, but it’s the truth. She’s awe-inspiring.