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)
“Atlas does care. A lot.”
“I see that. It makes me wonder how come, though.” His hazel eyes bore into me like Dad’s used to. “Like why does he care so much? He’s lived here for what? A minute? And suddenly, he’s the Brigs Ferry Bay Gay Crusader. Makes you wonder if…”
If he’s gay.
Right. Not offering up that info. Especially since Atlas hasn’t announced it to the world. Plus, that might piss Dante off if he knew he did walk in on something much, much more the other day.
“I’m glad he’s putting those pricks in their place,” I mutter.
My cheeks burn furiously at the mention of pricks.
“Dean Bell deserved to get his ass thrown in jail. That guy is such a fucking dick. He’s been calling Jax every damn day, bitching about Atlas.” Dante chuckles. “I feel like it’s Karma at her finest.”
“Did Jax tell you about the other guy? Jeremy Powers?”
His lips thin out. “He was harassing you. Atlas arrested him too. Jeremy’s dad also got arrested for being a shit to you.”
“And Ned.”
“Ned? Jax didn’t tell me about Ned.”
“Ned spit on me.”
He drops his fork to his plate. “He what?”
“Don’t worry. It was handled.”
I tagged his fucking building with the queer logo.
“Maybe I should be buying Atlas dinner rather than you,” he deadpans, thankfully misreading my words. “Jax didn’t tell me Ned got arrested. So, what did Ned get for that shit? Besides a big-ass, fuck you rainbow on his bank. Seems like the Rainbow Vigilante is meting out their own justice around here. I’d say maybe Atlas was the Rainbow Vigilante, but he hasn’t been around that long.”
“Ned didn’t get arrested, but he was there with Mayor Bell, Wallace Powers, and Atlas’s dad, Terry, at Martha Joy’s the other day when I went there with Cormac. The day Wallace was arrested.”
“Yeah?”
“I was scared, so I texted Atlas.” I shrug like it’s no big deal. But it is. It meant the world how quickly he came for me. “He was there within minutes. Told Wallace to back off. Ended up arresting him right there. Then, he went on to publicly humiliate Ned, Dean, and Terry.”
“No shit?”
“Told the other patrons that hate wouldn’t be tolerated.”
“No wonder Jax has had his hands full.”
“I didn’t provoke it,” I tell him, needing for him to believe me. “Me and Cormac were just eating. That’s all, Dante.”
He nods, and his eyes flare fiercely. “I know. Those guys are dicks. Their buddy, Paul, too. They think they run this town.”
“Atlas just isn’t putting up with their bullshit anymore. I don’t need to be babysat by you and Zak all the time, but I do appreciate what Atlas has done for me. It feels different with him. Not like he’s overprotective. Just that he’s getting justice. He has that ability, you know?”
“I can see that. Him being a cop and all.” He studies me for a beat. “Guard your heart.”
“What?”
“Falling for a straight guy is…difficult.”
Not straight…
“It worked out for you,” I throw back. “Now you’re getting married.”
“Technically, Jax wasn’t straight. He just wasn’t out.”
“I might not be able to take people like Hank or Jeremy in a fight, but I can protect my heart. But isn’t that how your heart gets stronger? Let it get broken every now and again?”
Dante purses his lips. He once was engaged to a guy, Toby McAdams, who he loved so much. Toby broke it off a few days before the wedding, which caused Dante to be a bit jaded and a bit of a manwhore. Not until he met Jax was he able to allow himself to love again.
“When did you grow up?” Dante grumbles. “I swear you were just ten the other day.”
I smirk at him. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Nah, I guess not.”
The front door opens, and Zak steps inside. His eyes dart my way before he gives me a tentative smile.
“Hey, loser,” I greet, hoping to get my friend back. “Did you have work tonight?”
“Yeah,” he says, sauntering in. “I have a test I need to get done for history tonight, so Ricky let me take off for a couple of hours. What are you two up to?”
“Just having dinner with my brother,” Dante replies. “There’s plenty here if you’re hungry.”
Zak swipes my cheese biscuit out of my hand. “I’ll get a burger later when I head back in. This’ll hold me over.”
“Asshole,” I gripe, reaching for another biscuit.
Zak plops down in the seat across from me. He’s no longer apprehensive. It almost feels like old times. Before we ever embarked on a ‘best friends with benefits’ journey.
“You look happy,” Zak muses.
“Same thing I said,” Dante states with a chuckle. “I think we were driving him insane.”
“Probably Ox’s farts,” Zak grumbles. “Seriously. How can you guys eat with that stench?”
“He sleeps with your brother,” I say, smirking. “Probably used to it. Right, Dante?”