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)
Damn. How long did I sleep?
A quick glance at the clock shows it’s after six.
I can’t believe I wasted the day away in Atlas’s bed. He promised we’d play later, but my ass couldn’t even get up. My mind keeps replaying the way it felt to have him tonguing my ass and then, after, holding me. It wasn’t a simple cuddlefest either like Zak would have done. No, Atlas had to be a freak and cuff me.
Another smile.
God, he’s such an idiot.
Clearly, I am, too, since I’m quite pleased with how our morning went down.
I spend the next half hour scrounging up some coffee, showering, and dressing in green. It feels like a green day today. My jeans are black, but I find a green pair of Docs with neon-yellow laces and a bright green shirt with a glittery shamrock on the front. I don’t have green eyeliner, though. I get a little carried away with black, instead, and ultimately end up with cat eyes that I deem cool.
I wonder what Atlas’s errands were. Since he invited me to borrow one of his coats, I peruse his closet, looking for the most fashion-forward thing he owns. It happens to be a coat shoved in the back—Bean’s, ugh—but it’s deep green and looks too small for him. I pull it out and decide it looks pretty damn good on me.
Once I’ve grabbed my phone, programmed his number, and snagged my wallet, I head out on foot. I take the long way around to go and get my things from my old room. Thankfully, no one is home when I get there. It’s easy enough to slip in and back out with a backpack full of my schoolbooks and a box of my art stuff. After delivering it into the empty room at Atlas’s, I make my way into town.
It sure would be convenient to have a car.
I could have one if I really wanted it.
A shudder ripples down my spine. Nah, I’ll just walk. On the way, I pull out my phone and glance through all my calls and texts. There was a bit this morning where everyone was panicking. Then, this afternoon, there were ones from Zak asking if we could hang out. I reply to him that we can later this week, but not today.
I need space, dammit.
Instead, I text Atlas.
Me: What’s your favorite color?
Atlas: All of them.
Another stupid grin sneaks out.
Me: Suck up.
Atlas: I don’t have to suck up to you to get what I want. I just take it.
My flesh heats at the reminder of him forcing me against the wall and ripping my clothes off. It was so damn hot.
Me: Are people really into this?
Atlas: Nope. Just you.
I shouldn’t like that answer. I really shouldn’t.
Me: You’ve tried it with others?
Atlas: What’s “it”?
Me: Your freaky shit.
Atlas: Most guys I’ve been with just want their dick sucked. None of them have the patience or time for my…interests.
Me: Your interests are out there. Really out there.
Atlas: And to think, I haven’t even gotten started yet. Are you wearing underwear?
Me: No. Told you. Not my thing.
Atlas: We’ll take care of that later…
I’ve just made it to First and Main when I see a familiar person walking further ahead on First.
“Cormac!” I call out, waving.
He waves and ambles my way. I trot across the street, meeting him at the corner in front of Blur. His smile is brief, and his face is pale.
“You okay, man?”
He nods. “I’m fine. Just dizzy.”
Probably because he’s hungry. Cormac is always hungry and acts like he’s not. He never has money despite his part-time job with Hans. I don’t know what he does with his money, but it bothers me that he doesn’t take better care of himself and is so secretive.
“I’m craving Martha Joy’s,” I say, nodding to the restaurant next door. “I want the Boardwalk Boat, but there’s too much food for one person. Come help me put a dent in it.”
Relief shines in his eyes, and he nods. “Yeah, sure, but I don’t have my wallet with me.”
“Dude,” I say, shaking my head. “I was gonna go there and eat it all by myself. You’re just making sure I’m not wasting my money. It’s fine. Plus, I need to update you on my life. Spoiler alert, it’s fucked up.”
His brows lift in question, but he doesn’t say anything as we make our way into the most popular seafood restaurant in Brigs Ferry Bay. Whenever I have dinner with Jarrett, he makes me go to his buddy Fernando’s restaurant, Comida’s. I rarely get Martha Joy’s unless I’m with Dante. And, since I’m avoiding him as much as possible these days, it hasn’t been very often I’ve eaten here.
With a face full of freckles and bouncy red curls, the hostess waves us inside and over to an open booth. Cormac sits down opposite of me, not looking at the other people in the restaurant. He’s always like this. Shielding himself from everyone. Cormac is a hermit crab, always tucking himself away when people get too close. Zak and I are probably the two closest people he has, and neither of us fully knows him.