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Sorrow flashes in his eyes like a flashlight, and a frown tugs at the corners of his mouth.
“I was so jealous that he had his hands on you, I started an argument with Tasha so you would talk to me. The entire day, I fought to have your attention, and you never paid me any mind until you pulled me to the side to ask me if I was okay, and it lit up my whole day.” He shakes his head. “I hated how you smiled at him because you didn’t smile at me.”
His words strike a chord in my heart, and I don’t know what to say. It’s clear he had feelings for me the whole entire time, and I was too blind to see it back then, or maybe I didn’t want to see it. Maybe, I knew we couldn’t date back then, so I ignored them. I used to wonder what it would be like to be with him. What it would feel like to be his, but I never acted out on my feelings because I was with Carter, and I wasn’t a cheater.
He grabs the pot, pours me a cup, and he puts a tea packet in it. He stirs some honey into it before he hands it to me, staring at me for longer than he needs to the entire time.
My cheeks warm from the steam as I blow in the cup. “What?”
He stalks up to me, strokes my cheeks, then grips my jaw. “I don’t know why you always had a hold on me, but I like it. And it’s so hard for me to keep lying to myself about wanting something more with you.” His azure eyes drop down to my lips. “I’m going to change.”
As I watch him disappear in the back, I cross my arms and glance out the backyard at the lake. The water is black because of the inky sky, and the light is dim in the white house next to ours.
How would it be if I trusted him and let go to see where this relationship goes? There is no doubt we like each other, and we’ve been pining for each other for a while.
I’m the one who’s holding back. If only I can let my guard down and see where this goes.
The next morning, I put on a tank top and a pair of leggings, then I comb my damp hair into a bun. Last night, we talked for hours about our childhood and life in general. If I’m being honest, I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I know it won’t do me any good to mope around and be sad all day. That’s not why we’re here; we’re here for us to take a break from our realities.
I trail to the kitchen, and Atlas leans against the granite counter with a mug in his hand. When his gaze meets mine, a smile stretches across his face.
“Have you ever been fishing?” he asks.
Butterflies flop in my stomach, and my pulse thumps in my ears.
I cock my eyebrow. “What?”
He grins. “We’re going fishing, and we’re going to cook what we catch.”
I make a gagging noise. “Um, eww?”
He taps his finger on his chin. “I recall you making the same noise after you wrap your li—”
I pick up a pillow from the couch and toss it at his head, and he catches it before tossing it to the floor, laughing.
“Shut up,” I snap.
He places his hands on his hips. “Come on, fishing is relaxing.”
“You’re full of surprises,” I say in awe.
“What do you mean?”
“I never thought you were the type to go fishing. I always thought you were a city boy.”
He points his thumb to his chest. “This city boy has a little country in him.” He goes to the closet next to the front door and pulls out a purple rod. It looks expensive, like he spent a lot of money on it. “I already bought you a fishing pole.”
“I’ll try it,” I say.
I follow him to the garage and a shiny pickup truck comes into view. I was expecting Thomas to be there waiting for us to open our doors, but Atlas waltzes to the passenger side and opens it.
“Your carriage awaits you, my lady.”
I hop into the cloth seat, and he climbs into the driver’s seat, puts the truck into gear, and drives onto the rocky road.
“My grandfather used to take me to the lake.”
“I didn’t know you were close to your grandparents,” I state.
