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)
I post up against the bar and watch as Ellis fusses with our plates—positioning the perfectly cut sandwiches just so, with fresh fruit, and chips.
“Maybe we should check on her?” he asks, his eyes anxiously flicking my way before going back down at Nora’s plate.
At this point, his worry is more than an echo of mine—hell, the other night, I caught him trying to poke his head into our room to check on her. If he was anyone else, I’d worry, but I know Ellis, and while he’s invested in Nora, he’s not interested.
If anything, knowing he has her back the way he does allows me to breathe a little easier.
“Roger that.” I head for the hall. “Make us drinks and I’ll see if she’s done.”
Despite my every instinct telling me to run, I force myself to walk back to our room, where I rap my knuckle against the door frame.
I hear Nora’s muffled groan followed by the sound of a book—most likely her diary—snapping shut.
“Pip?” I ask, forcing my hands down to my sides so I don’t knock again. “You okay?”
“Yup.” Her monosyllabic reply is brimming with forced positivity. My girl’s in a mood, and while I don’t know who or what upset her, I’ll damn sure do my level best to fix it.
“Lunch is ready…” I trail my fingers over the doorknob, but it swings open before I can actually turn it.
“Great.” She slips past me, and stalks off toward the kitchen. “Let’s eat.”
“I have just the thing to turn that frown upside down,” Ellis says as Nora and I both grab seats at the bar.
“I’m sure you think you do,” Nora mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Oh, someone’s feeling big spicy, huh?” Ellis mimics her pose. It’d be comical if Nora didn’t look ready to explode.
“I’m really not in the mood.”
My eyes zero in on the way her lower lip quivers, as if she’s holding back tears. Fuck.
“Are you okay, Pip?” I try to wrap my arm around her shoulders but she shrugs out of my hold. “Talk to me,” I urge, feeling helpless. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re what’s wrong!” she snaps. “Both of you!”
Ellis and I both rear back. Jesus, fuck. A bullet to the chest would’ve hurt less.
“Us?” Ellis asks with enough audacity for both of us. “Surely not.”
“Surely yes.” Nora shoves her stool away from the bar and hops to her feet.
“Gonna need you to take a breath and explain,” Ellis says, while I just gape at her in shock.
I pride myself for being in tune with Nora, down to the point of almost anticipating her every need, but it’s crystal-fucking-clear that I’m missing something. And I don’t like the way it feels. Not one bit.
“Nora?” I croak, desperate to soothe whatever’s bothering her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her hazel eyes filling with tears.
“It’s okay. You’ve been through so much,” I say, trying to comfort her.
“No.” She steps away from me. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” My head is spinning trying to figure her out. “Please talk to me, Pip. How can I protect you—”
“That’s just it!” she shouts, her face red with anger I never realized she was carrying.
“There’s nothing left to protect me from. Rand is dead. He’s gone. But I’m not.” She thumps her small fist against her chest. “I’m still here. He. Didn’t. Win.”
Nora’s trembling and crying as she lays into us, and all I want to do is take her in my arms. But I know damn well that’s the wrong move.
“I’m not some broken little doll y’all need to super glue back together. I’m here and I’m whole and I’m healing. We…” She sniffles as she swipes angrily at the tears lining her cheeks. “We have our entire lives ahead of us—but how am I supposed to live mine if you two want to keep me under lock and key?”
“Fuck, Pip,” I say, finally finding my voice. “I-I had no idea you felt like this.” I take a step closer to her and then freeze. “I’m sorry.”
Nora raises one delicate brow.
“I am.” I flex my hands at my sides to keep from balling them into fists. “I’m not sorry for worrying about you or for wanting to protect you, but I am sorry my actions made you feel smothered. You’re right, there is no imminent threat anymore with Rand gone.”
Ellis remains silent, allowing the two of us to hash it out.
“I just want to experience life—all of it, the good and the bad—”
“Let’s maybe take a long break from the bad, yeah?” Ellis says lightly.
“For a long time, I didn’t think I’d ever see anything outside of the four walls of your dad’s basement, but I’m finally, truly free and I want to live my life—with you by my side—to the absolute fullest. Even if it hurts sometimes, I know I’ll make it with you there to catch me. I love you, Atlas.”