Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I meet Dante’s stare with a firm one of my own. “I’m going to find out who’s behind this. Callan is as safe as he can be with me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.”
Dante gives me a nod. “I sure as hell hope so.”
Callan
He’s being weird.
Ever since we ran into his mom at Granger’s.
I was chatting it up with Jarrett when Atlas showed up twenty minutes after the call he took and seemed visibly shaken.
Now, on our way home, he’s quiet. Too quiet. His thoughts, though, may as well be screams. He’s upset. I wish he’d speak to me. It’s obvious his mom shook him to his core.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my coat pocket.
Zak: Tonight we’re going to Blur. I need to get laid, and Cameron just broke up with his girl, so he’s promised to be my wingman.
Me: What about Cormac?
Zak: He’s at work with Hans. Shelly said she’d have him meet us there later.
Me: I can meet up after seven.
Zak: You really like him, huh?
We haven’t come out and spoken about my relationship with Atlas, but Zak’s not stupid. He knows me well. I glance over at Atlas, whose expression is fierce. So beautiful.
Me: Yeah, I do. A lot.
A lot is an understatement.
And it’s beyond like.
So beyond.
I’m not about to admit to Zak that I’ve fallen in deep with this man. Zak may be my best friend, but he’s still nursing the pain I inadvertently caused by being unable to love him back. If he knows I’m falling for a guy who I’ve been with only a month, it’ll be a slap in his face. I’m not looking to hurt his feelings anymore than I already have.
Zak: I just want you to be happy. Now put on your hottest outfit and we’ll see you at Blur at eight.
Atlas pulls into his driveway and shuts off the truck. I grab all my purchases from our shopping trip before exiting the vehicle. He’s still broody and quiet behind me. It’s starting to unnerve me. Once he unlocks the front door and lets us inside, I take the bags to my office, sidestepping Sparkles, who makes a beeline for his papa.
I listen for his usual baby talk for the cat, and when I don’t hear anything, I start to get nervous. What the hell is wrong with him? Is he deciding I’m not worth it? Did seeing his mother embarrass him? Did her comment bother him?
He is older than me.
But it’s never been an issue for us.
I sense his intense presence in the doorway. After shedding my coat and draping it over my desk chair, I turn to face him.
“What’s going on, Atlas? You’re freaking me out.”
He winces at my words. “I didn’t think I was that obvious.”
“You are. Is it me? Are you embarrassed of me?”
“What? Fuck no.” He stalks over to me, cupping my cheeks in his massive hands. “I’m proud you’re mine. So fucking proud.”
“Why are you acting like this?”
“No reason.” His eyes shift away. “What are your plans while I work tonight?”
I grasp his hands, pulling them from my face and squeezing them. “Blur with the guys.”
He scowls. “I see.”
“Don’t get jealous,” I grumble, moving past him to go to our bedroom where my things are taking up most of his closet. “It’s just dancing. Zak wants to get laid, so he wants company.”
“I bet he does.”
I shoot him a glare over my shoulder. “Don’t be a dick.”
“When are they picking you up?” he asks, defeat in his tone.
“They’re not. I’m meeting them up there.”
He scoffs. “No.”
My entire body stiffens. I abandon flicking through the hangers to face him. His jaw is clenched and his gaze hard with stubbornness.
“Excuse me?” I cross my arms over my chest. “I misheard.”
“No, you heard me fine. You’re not walking.”
“Not this again,” I snap. “I said I’d get my license soon. You don’t have to rush me. Seriously, this conversation is getting boring.”
“Don’t be a child.”
I flinch at his words. “Don’t be a prick.”
His features fall, and a frown tugs at his lips. Good. He needs to know that calling me a child is a hard limit for me. Really fucking hard.
“I worry,” he starts, but I cut him off with a sharp shake of my head.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, Atlas. I’m a grown-ass man.”
His nostrils flare like he wants to argue, which only serves to piss me off even more. “Catch a ride from someone. I don’t care who. If you can’t get a ride, stay home.”
“Why?” I bellow, hating that tears prickle my eyes.
“Because I said so,” he snarls back. “It’s not fucking safe.”
Here we go. This again.
“Stop,” I snip out. “Just stop.”
“Callan—”
“I won’t be kept like some housewife while you’re away working! This is not okay!”