Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
“So?” Chrissy prodded when too much time passed without a peep from me. “Are you her?”
I swallowed. “Yes…and no.”
“Well, what does that mean?” Zoey asked with a frown. “You’re either the Atlas or you’re not.”
“As I’ve already told you, I am she, but it sounds like a few details were embellished, so I cannot and will not confirm anything other than my truth.” I rolled my eyes.
“Such as?” Kingsley interrogated.
The other three had backed off, understanding that I wasn’t open to discussing my relationship with Rowdy. Kingsley, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to catch the hint.
“We’re not dating.” I made sure to meet each and every one of their gazes so they could see my sincerity and drop it. “I only work for him.”
Chrissy and Zoey exchanged confused looks while Kingsley held my gaze. “What kind of work do you do for him?” she inquired. “I heard you stayed over by the Cove.”
“What does where she stays have to do with her job, Kingsley?”
She waved Mylah off before saying, “I just want to know if she works for him as she says or if she’s just another ho that takes credit cards.”
I’d already guessed the root of Kingsley’s problem, but I knew for certain she had me fucked up.
“Chill, Kiki,” Demi snapped, finally speaking up and checking her friend before I could. “You asked a question, and she answered. Now let it go! All this shade you throwing is unnecessary. You’re doing way too much for a man you only fucked once,” she added, letting me know on the sly what Kingsley’s problem was.
“There’s no shade,” Kingsley said with a false smile. “You guys know I like to joke around.” She waved Demi off before grabbing her drink and watching the crowd on the dance floor below as she rocked her hips to the beat.
“Anyway.” Demi rolled her eyes at her friend before turning to me. “I’m so sorry,” she mouthed to me. “You okay?”
I nodded as I searched for the words to assure Demi that I appreciated her help but could handle my own. I knew girls like Kingsley would only keep coming, hitting harder and cutting deeper unless you nipped it in the bud from the start.
Ruen appeared a moment later, and I exhaled my relief.
“Oh, shit. There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought you ditched me again.”
I shot to my feet and met her at the bottom of the stairs that led up to Demi’s section. “I’m here,” I reassured her. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be working?”
Ruen waved me off. “Someone told me about the fight, so I came to see if you were okay.”
“I’m fine. I ran into a friend,” I said, pointing to Demi, who noticed and waved hello at Ruen before focusing on Zoey, who had asked her a question.
“Oh, cool. I was going to invite you up with me, but I’m sure you’ll have much more fun here with your friends.”
It seemed petty to correct her and tell her that they were Demi’s friends and not mine, so I let it go. “Speaking of friends, yours were… interesting.”
“Who? The girls from the section?” Ruen wrinkled her cute freckled nose. “I don’t know those bitches. Breana did me a solid, so I owed her one. That’s all.”
“Oh.” That made a lot more sense than Ruen associating herself with those gutter rats.
“Anyway, I have to get back. This set is almost done.”
“Okay.”
Ruen kissed my cheek, and I blushed a little. Thankfully she didn’t notice as she quickly disappeared into the crowd, heading toward the deejay booth.
I realized I had to pee, so I told Demi where I was going before fighting my way through the crowd to the long line waiting outside the bathroom.
It took ten minutes before my turn came.
The bathroom only had three stalls, so I took the only free one in the middle. I must have drunk more than I thought because it seemed like I was peeing forever.
I was alone in the bathroom by the time I was done, so I pulled out my phone and sat on the toilet lid to enjoy the peace and quiet for a few moments.
There were a few texts from Rowdy, but I chose to ignore those. Instead, I checked my email and saw that I had one from Professor Saunders asking how things were going.
She was so sweet.
I smiled as I typed back a reply. I was still typing when the music outside became louder and then muffled again as the bathroom door swung open and then closed. I paid no mind to the footsteps traveling across the tile until the shadow they belonged to darkened my stall.
A moment later, the door rattled when the person pulled on the handle.
“Someone’s in here,” I called out.
Instead of trying the next one, the person yanked on the handle even harder as if they were trying to tear the entire door off.