Page 63 of The Atonement

“Okay, cool.”

Cool? Calm the fuck down, tough guy.

“Um…do you want to come inside?”

What the… No. No, he doesn’t want to come inside. No, he doesn’t want to—

“Uh, I’d better not.”

“Oh, right, I—”

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” he said quickly. Too quickly. “Believe me, I want to.”

We believe you, all right. Don’t even think about it.

“I just want to be respectful.”

Respectful?Who was this guy? The fucking Pope?

“I know you’re in a weird place, and I don’t want to rush things. But I’d like to see you again. I have an early shift tomorrow. Maybe I could come by after.”

She rebounded quickly, unfazed. “Sure.”

“Awesome. I, uh… Well, all that waiting for the first date talk, I’m not sure I have the willpower for that.”

She giggled, the sound interrupted by a worse noise. I slapped a hand to my mouth as I heard the sloppy, disgusting soundtrack of their kiss.

He was kissing her. The fucker was actually kissing her.

“I would’ve kicked myself if I didn’t at least do that.”

I’ll be happy to do the kicking for you.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Matt.”

“I’ll see you then. Good night, Ainsley.”

The hell you will.

After another brief pause, the door shut and I heard her back slide against it, releasing a lovesick sigh that sent ice to my core. What did she have to be so happy about? Peering through the crack, I watched her slide her shoes off and run a hand through her ridiculous hair. With a smile like a schoolgirl who’d just been asked out by the prom king, she shook her head and moved forward, past my hiding place.

I pulled the syringe out of my pocket, holding it at the ready, and shoved the door open before she’d had time to process the sound.

“Peter?” she cried as I lunged forward, blinded by my rage. I jabbed the needle into her neck just as she’d done to me so many times in the past.

I jerked my arm back. “Sorry to ruin your evening.”

Her hand went to her neck, then she pulled it awayas if looking for blood. She stepped back, searching for the phone in her hand, already dazed and disoriented.

“What did you do?” she cried, slurring her words. I plucked the phone from her grasp, but she didn’t seem to notice, still searching.

“It works fast, doesn’t it?” I asked, clicking my tongue. “It’ll be lights out soon, don’t worry.”

She jerked forward with determination, grabbing the landline phone from the nightstand, but I tore it from her grasp with ease, my pulse pounding in my ears. “Just give in to it, Ains. It’s easier that way.”

“Fuck…you…” she whispered, trying to push herself up from the floor, though she was sinking faster than she seemed to realize.

I cracked my knuckles, the corners of my mouth playing into a grimace. “Maybe another time. I’m pretty tired. Although, lover boy seemed pretty happy to try. Too bad you’re going to have to cancel your plans tomorrow night.”