70:

JADE

I NEED YOU. I need you.

Those three words made my brain shut down and something crazy told me to jump into Atlas’s arms and just give him everything he wants. Even if it’ll bleed me dry.

There was just something about the way he looked when he spoke those words that pushed all my ‘I’m really dumb’ buttons. He looked sincere. The most sincere I’ve ever seen him.

He wasn’t much of an actor. Which was what made me think was the reason he couldn’t easily see past Annie and when she was lying through her teeth. He was always true to himself and straight forward. It was harder him to think people he trusted would lie to him or try and manipulative him by lying.

And right now, he was stripped bare in front of me. The most vulnerable he has ever been with me. And common says I shouldn’t feel flattered. I should send him on his way and spend the rest of the day with the people I was with.

But he touched my arm and it was game over.

I was the one who stood on my tippy toes. I was the one w