I watched as he knelt in front of me, carefully cleaning and dressing the wound on my knee. His touch was tender, and his focus unwavering. "This might sting a bit," he warned before applying the antiseptic. As soon as the cotton ball touched the small cut, I hissed and jerked my knee. Atlas’s hand came to my thigh, holding it firmly in place. His cold, wet palm gently squeezed my thigh. "Hold still," he softly instructed.I gulped, watching him kneeling in front of me, completely soaked. His white shirt clung to his body, revealing the contours of his chest and arms. His attention was so keen on my injury, his face so close to my knee that I could feel his warm breath on my skin, sending shivers up and down my legs. When he pressed the cotton ball on the wound again, I hissed once more but didn't jerk my leg this time as he was holding it steady.“It’s okay,” he muttered gently, cleaning the wound with care. It wasn’t a big injury, just a small cut. One swipe and it was clean. After
“This is exactly what I didn’t want,” Jess muttered, her face twisted in annoyance as she and I watched a couple of guys from our class cannonball into the pool. Water splashed everywhere, drenching the people sitting around the edge. Some laughed, some shrieked, and others protested loudly. Jess and I stood in the corner, watching the chaos unfold in her meticulously maintained backyard. Jess, being a bit of a neat freak, was visibly distressed by the mess they were making. I couldn't help but laugh, taking a sip of my lemonade.We stood under the patio umbrella, trying to escape the relentless sun. Jess was wearing a dark blue spaghetti-strap crop top and shorts, with a net shrug draped over her shoulders. I had shed my white sundress and now stood in a yellow bikini top and denim shorts, feeling the heat on my bare skin. Both of us were barefoot, our hair tied up in messy high buns, and we wore sunglasses to shield our eyes from the bright light. Jess took another sip of her lemona
I was still very wasted when Atlas came to get me. Despite my drunken haze, seeing him there surprised me, but at that moment, I was too intoxicated to care much. “Bye, Jess,” I laughingly waved my hand as she snored on the grass. Patrick exhaled heavily, his eyes lingering on his sister. He knew he had a night of cleanup ahead of him.Chuckling to myself, I walked over to Patrick and embraced him in a tight hug. “Bye, Patrick,” I muttered into his ear, feeling a surge of gratitude. “Thank you for today. You’re amazing,” I told him, reluctantly pulling away but keeping my arms around his neck. As he held me by my waist, smiling warmly, I looked up at him. He was perfect—handsome, considerate, and kind. Everything a girl could want in a guy. Yet, why couldn’t we just fall in love with each other? Why did I have to complicate things with feelings for Atlas, the forbidden fruit?Patrick smiled back at me. “No worries, I’m always here for you,” he replied, glancing over my shoulder at Atl
Atlas didn’t come back for several minutes. He stayed outside, lighting a cigarette and smoking without once turning to look at me or speaking. I sat frozen in place, the weight of my embarrassment crushing me. When he finally returned, he got in the car and slammed the door shut, starting the engine with a tense determination. We both pretended nothing had happened, but the silence between us was heavy and suffocating.The tension was palpable, and neither of us dared to break it. Atlas drove fast, and I clutched my seat in the passenger's side, hoping we'd make it home in one piece. When the car screeched to a halt in front of the house, I finally dared to look at him. His face was a mask of anger, his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. He looked like a ticking bomb, ready to explode. At that moment, I was genuinely afraid of him.I wanted to apologize, but I feared that even opening my mouth would set him off. So, I kept quiet. Without waiting for me, Atlas threw open his door, slamme
I was utterly drained. Monday had arrived, and after spending the entire Sunday with Jess, I was certain I would confide everything in her. But when she asked what had happened, embarrassment held me back, so I lied. I told her Eva had returned, and I simply didn't want to be around the lovebirds. She accepted my explanation without question. After all, she knew how Eva's presence affected me.We spent most of Sunday lounging around, napping, and eating, both of us nursing our hangovers. The only productive thing we managed was making some progress on my capstone research. I checked my phone a few times, hoping for a message from Atlas, but of course, there was nothing. Why did I even expect him to reach out after what had transpired?That night, I stayed at Jess's apartment. Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned, desperately trying to push away thoughts of Saturday night. But no matter how hard I tried, memories of what had happened between Atlas and me haunted my thoughts relentlessl
“Wait, you’re meeting Dr. Lawson? The Dr. Seth Lawson?!” Jess gushed as we walked onto campus, her eyes wide with excitement.My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly scanned the area, praying no one had overheard her. Thankfully, the students around us were too engrossed in their own conversations to notice. I shot Jess a sharp glare, but she just laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort.“Are you crazy, Jess? No, I am not going out with my professor, you idiot,” I whispered urgently, trying to keep my voice low. “He’s just helping me with my proposal, which is due tomorrow. We’re meeting off-campus for convenience.” I playfully slapped her arm, but my anxiety was real. “Stop saying things that aren’t true. Someone might hear you and get the wrong idea,” I continued, rolling my eyes at her. “That’s how rumors start, and the last thing I need is that kind of attention.”Jess just grinned, unbothered by my scolding. “Relax, Harper. No one heard me. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend time
Harper Miller I was just ten years old when I watched as my parents' coffins were solemnly lifted, their faces hidden from view forever. Their lives ended abruptly in a plane crash while en route to a meeting. Meanwhile, I found myself in the care of Mr. Benjamin Cooper, a close friend of my father's from childhood. Initially intended as a short stay, my time with Mr. Cooper stretched into several years as he became my legal guardian following my parents' tragic passing. In my youthful naivety, I clung to the hope that my parents might one day return, but as the years passed, reality sank in. I slowly came to terms with being the lone survivor of the Miller family. I was never formally adopted by Mr. Cooper, though the reasons remain a mystery to me. Nevertheless, his love for me was unwavering. He was a kind-hearted man, much like my own parents. A successful businessman, his days were often consumed by work, but he always made time for us – for me, Amanda, and Atlas. Atlas, the e
“He has a girlfriend,” I whispered to Jess, my dearest companion, as I absentmindedly twirled a strand of hair around my finger, my gaze fixed on the ceiling above. She's the only friend I've truly connected with. Making friends has never been easy for me, but with Jess, it was instantaneous. Our bond, forged over four years, has made us inseparable. Usually, she's the one who visits me at Atlas's place, but today I find myself at her house, unable to bear the idea of staying home while Atlas's girlfriend moves in today.Jess let out a weary sigh, her eyes briefly leaving the pages of her book to meet mine. "You've been repeating that for a fortnight now, Harper," she remarked, her tone tinged with gentle exasperation, before diving back into her literary world.She's correct. I've been avoiding the truth for the past two weeks. I've attempted to steel myself for the moment I catch sight of Atlas with her, yet I've been unable to confront it. Today marks the culmination of my dread –