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)
Ellis grabs it before I can, passing it directly to her with a small frown.
“Got something against strawberry jelly?” she asks.
He shrugs. “Prefer blackberry, but I’ll survive.”
Nora laughs, and I swear to God, the sound lights me up from the inside out. “How brave of you.”
“Not to change the subject or anything,” I say around a bite of eggs, cutting my eyes from Ellis to Nora, “but have you had a chance to look into that thing we talked about?”
Ellis sighs and then shakes his head. “Been meaning to, but work has me going nonstop. I’ll make some time this weekend.”
“I’d appreciate it. The more I think about it, the more off shit feels and I… I don’t like it.”
“Wanna know what I don’t like?” Nora says, her tone frosty as she pushes her mostly empty plate away.
“What’s that?” I tug at my collar, feeling like I’m about to be scolded.
“I don’t like when people have conversations in front of me, that are most likely about me, but don’t include me.”
“Pip,” I start, trying to figure this out. Because technically, she’s right. We are talking about something that concerns her. And she does deserve to be in the loop. It’s just… the thought of potentially upsetting her damn near kills me.
“Y’all either need to speak privately or speak freely.” She shrugs and then wraps her arms around herself, making me feel lower than low.
I look to Ellis for assistance, but he’s firmly on Team-Keep-Nora-In-The-Loop and has been from the start.
“Atlas.” Something about the way she whispers my name tugs on my heart. They’re both right—she’s been in the dark for so long, she sure as shit doesn’t deserve for me to try to keep her there, even if it is out of some misplaced sense of protection.
“Ellis is looking into our mothers’ death certificates.”
She props her elbow on the bar, resting her cheek against her palm as she looks at me. “You said they were similar, right?”
“Identical is more like it,” Ellis says, his voice gruff. “I’m honestly not sure how it didn’t raise any red flags with the ME.”
Nora lifts her head, her gaze snapping toward Ellis. “How are you looking into it? Like, what does that mean?”
Ellis and I exchange looks, each of us wanting the other to explain. But he’s out of luck—this part falls on him.
“I’m… looking into it…” He trails off, carefully choosing his words. I know he doesn’t want to lie to her, but seeing as what he’s doing isn’t fully legal, he doesn’t want to implicate her either. “In an unofficial capacity.”
Nora draws her bottom lip between her teeth as she contemplates Ellis’s confession.
There’s a pit in my stomach as I wait for her reply. The thought of upsetting her—especially after our night together—has me waiting on pins and needles.
I’m sure that makes me sound weak, but I don’t really give a fuck either, because I am weak when it comes to the little spitfire sitting on the stool next to me.
She is hands down the best thing to ever happen to me. She stumbled into my life in the strangest fucking way and now I can’t bear to imagine a single day without her by my side.
So yeah, she’s my weak spot, but only because she’s carved a permanent place for herself right in the middle of my still-beating heart.
“Okay,” she finally says, nodding once. “Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything,” Ellis says without a lick of hesitation. “Just name it.”
“Be safe.”
Ellis exhales slowly as a smile unfurls until it takes up his entire face. “I didn’t realize you cared so much.”
“Of course, I do, you big idiot,” Nora huffs and rolls her eyes at him. “Just because you’re built like a bear masquerading as a linebacker doesn’t mean you’re invincible.”
Ellis puffs up his chest. “You hear that, man? Your girl thinks I’m stacked.” He flexes, causing his bicep to swell.
Nora’s cheeks bloom the prettiest shade of pink as she turns toward me. “I, you’re—”
I lean in and silence her with a kiss. “I don’t need you to pander to my ego, Pip. I’m completely secure in how you feel about me.”
She breathes out a sigh of relief. “Good, because I love you more than I could possibly ever put into words.”
I peck her lips again. “Love you, too, pretty girl. So damn much.”
“What are you two lovebirds doing today?” Ellis asks, his eyes volleying back and forth between Nora and me.
She licks her lips and looks at me.
“I was thinking we could work on the nursery.” I clear my throat. “You know, if you want to.”
“Really?” She bounces on her barstool and then launches herself at me. “Thank you, Atlas.”
“Don’t thank me for providing for our son, Pip. It’s my honor and one day, if I’m lucky, we’ll have a whole house of ‘em.”