Chapter Six
Wren
Iopenedmygroggy eyes, head spinning. With a groan, my protesting eyelids closed again, and I rubbed them with my clammy palms. My tongue felt thick and stuck to the roof of my mouth, the stale taste of beer and liquor reminding me of all the bad choices I’d made. Beginning with agreeing to come to Ty’s party at all.
Sore muscles protested as I slowly sat up. The first thing I comprehended was this wasn’t the motel room I’d been staying in.
I froze, eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room as memories flooded back.
This was the cabin of the boat. Heat flooded my cheeks. Had I actually fallen asleep during a freaking party? I listened for the sounds of music and people chatting and laughing but all was quiet. How long had I been out? I pushed back the rogue hair that had fallen over my face and let out a long breath.
Then I saw him. He was seated in the same chair as earlier when I’d picked the lock on the cabin door to get away from the party for a few moments. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, head slumped forward. He seemed to be sleeping.
Atlas Ranes might be the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on. That distant peek of him while he filled his fishing boat with gas at the marina did not do him justice. He had high, angled cheekbones with a strong square jaw covered in just the right amount of stubble. His eyes were closed, but beneath those long lashes were smoldering brown eyes that were almost caramel in color.
My eyes drifted down to his chest, watching its rhythmic rise and fall with his breaths. His biceps strained against the T-shirt he wore, the skin of his arms smooth and olive-toned. Heat pooled in my belly at the memory of those arms around me. He’d held me gently, but tightly to his chest. I’d felt…safe. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so secure in my life.
I tore my eyes from the weird fixation I had on him, looking down at my lap, where a blanket covered my legs. I bit my lower lip. Was he going to let me sleep on his boat all night? By the calm quiet surrounding us, I assumed he’d already kicked out the party. Why hadn’t he kicked me off too? Tingles prickled on my skin at the thought.
I pulled the blanket off and threw it over the back of the couch. I meant to turn toward the door, but instead stepped closer to Atlas. A lamp directly above him bathed his face and body in soft light. My stomach dropped as I thought of the events earlier in the night. I closed my eyes briefly, massaging my pounding temple. Yes, Atlas was probably the most handsome man I had ever met, but what must he think of me? He probably thought I was unhinged or something. I’d jumped off his freaking boat and probably almost broke his arms in the process.
God.Embarrassment corroded my insides like acid. I hadn’t planned to fling myself off the top of this houseboat, but Ty had been adamant about the whole kissing me thing. And even though it was supposed to be a fun, innocent game, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to let him. No one else had kissed me in a very long time, and I’d panicked. When I’d caught a glimpse of Atlas down on the dock, I’d just…jumped. I hadn’t been thinking.
And what if he hadn’t caught me?
I pushed away the spiraling thoughts and focused on Atlas again. His thick, dark hair flopped over his forehead, and I resisted the urge to push it back out of his face. My fingers twitched at my sides, itching to run through those glossy strands. It wasn’t as curly as Ty’s hair, but it had a nice wave to it, making it a little messy and chaotic.
What kind of man are you, Atlas Ranes?
My heart thudded against my ribs. Atlas wasn’t much for words, but I wanted to believe that he was one of the few good guys out there. From what I’d witnessed, he didn’t come across as threatening.
They never did, though. Not until they had you trapped.
I let out a long breath as those thoughts settled in my gut like lead. I stepped back from him. I’d been fooled before, and I would never let it happen again.
It didn’t matter what kind of guy Atlas was. I pressed a hand over my heart gingerly; the skin beneath was still raw and sore and sent a jolt of pain across my chest. It had taken me a long time to find the right tank top in the store that would cover the wound completely.
I stared at Atlas, shocked as my eyes filled with tears. A grief engulfed me, coursing through my veins to my very core, as if I had lost something precious. It didn’t make any sense, but I couldn’t make the feeling go away.
“You wouldn’t want me anyway,” I breathed softly.
Besides, I had enough scars.
Atlas stirred, his lips parting as he let out a shuddering breath. I thought he might have mumbled something in the midst of sleep, but I didn’t stay to listen. I turned quickly, the tears falling down my cheeks in an unexplainable rush of emotion. I almost ran the few steps to the door, needing to get as far away from Atlas Ranes as possible.
I had lived over a week in Cypress Falls and hadn’t seen Atlas since the night of the party. I tried not to think about him, but he often drifted through my mind before I realized it. It was probably best I hadn’t seen him again. Every time I thought of what I’d done and said to him that night, a fresh wave of embarrassment hit me.
Waitressing at the Riverfront Grill was going well. The work was good for me, and I made decent money. Although, money went extremely fast when I paid for a motel room every night. I hadn’t been able to find a place to rent yet, and I had checked all over Cypress Falls and the city across the river. I didn’t have any credit to my name, and with my cash going so fast, with virtually no savings, I couldn’t afford to pay a deposit along with the first month’s rent.
It was frustrating, and I wasn’t sure where to turn. Thankfully, the weekend had rolled around and Saturday nights like this were packed and tips were generous. I was so low on funds that I hadn’t been able to book my motel room in advance. With all my belongings packed into my backpack, I brought it to work and hoped to make enough to pay for a room that night. It wasn’t the ideal way to live, and maybe I should’ve planned this whole thing out more carefully, but it was better than where I’d come from. That fact was the only thing I clung to these days.
“You look beat.” Ellie looked at me from across the table. Her flawless red matte lipstick was perfectly intact after a long, busy night.
I unwadded a few bills haphazardly stuffed into my apron pocket. We were done for the night and counting our tips at an empty table.
I sighed. “Thanks. I’m glad I look as great as I feel.”
Ellie counted a few twenties and placed them neatly in a stack. “Is everything all right with you? Every day you come into work, you look more tired than the last.” She paused, as if considering something. “You don’t need anything, do you? I mean, I don’t have a lot, but if you need anything, I’d love to help.”