Page 10 of Forbidden Obsessions

“We’re not together. Fake or otherwise,” she clarifies. Well, fuck. This was not on my bingo card.

“Whose idea?” I ask.

Mia grits her teeth. “His.” Another admission far from the last thing I expected her to say.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her honestly. The pair of them are made for each other. I wonder how long they’ll last apart.

She sighs, gripping the steering wheel harder. “He gave me an ultimatum. Commit to him, for real, or everything was over. He said he’d rather face the wrath of his parents than have to pretend that I loved him if I didn’t.”

I feel for him. Anyone with two eyes can see that he’s madly in love with Mia. Although she’s never outright said it to me, I know she loves him, too.

“And do you?”

She hesitates. “Yes, of course I love him.” Mia likes to be chased. She lives for the limelight. Once she’s too comfortable or vulnerable, it’s over. “I just don’t want to be tied down or limited to one person,” she admits with another dramatic sigh.

“I find it hard to believe he’s against sharing.”

“Unfortunately, he is. He said he loves me too much. No offense to you and Tomas, Liv, but I’m not ready to become a grandma.”

“That’s valid,” I say, staring out the window. I’m not sure that I am, either, but it seems like Tomas is. They said you know you have the one when you do, but I’m still uncertain. I love Tomas, and I’m happy we’re together, but what happened to being young and having time?

We reach the little town just outside of the cabin. I had a gut feeling since the pair showed up in hiking boots, we were heading here. I have to admit, it’s a hell of a lot easier to breathe outside of the city. No matter how often I see them, I can’t help my excitement when the towering mountains come into focus.

Once we make it to the sleepy town, I roll my window down, sticking my arm into the whipping wind. Mia traverses the main strip, then eases us up the steep, winding driveway to my home away from home.

I’ve been in love with this cabin as long as I have with Tomas. It’s brought me so much comfort and peace throughout the stalker Nathan drama and navigating what more looks like with Tomas. I don’t know what I’ll do if the owners ever stop renting it out.

Mia parks, and I step out, starting my brisk walk to the edge of the property so I can stare at the valley below. It’s been a tradition of mine since the first time Tomas brought me here.

Everything feels so insignificant up here, the town and landmarks appearing as little dots, sitting far below. I try to imagine my perceived and actual problems along with them. This is just what I needed. No stress. No paralyzing choices. Just relaxing with Tomas and my besties.

Lex and Mia unload the car wordlessly, letting me have my moment alone with nature and my chaotic mind. Bright blooms catch my eye as the wind blows softly. There’s a bouquet of wildflowers, elegantly wrapped with twine, sitting on the nearby stump. My heart squeezes as I jog over to them.

A note in Tomas’ messy scrawl falls to the ground.

Where purples, yellows, and orange blend into one

lies a blanket made for fun.

Take a moment and catch your breath.

I promise you, you’ll need your rest.

-Tomas

PS. I teach science, dammit. Don’t judge me.

One of the more recent times that we were here, the wildflowers had just begun blooming. It snowed, and neither of us had packed for snow. Apparently, Tomas has something up his sleeve this time around, and the butterflies that fact gives me are undeniable.

I race to the top of the hill with ragged breath, both from exertion and excitement. There, in a heap of blankets among the sunshine, sea of flowers, and jagged peaks, is Tomas.

His back is to me as he stares off into the horizon. The rich brown curls at the nape of his neck dance in the breeze. I want to run my fingers through them, to grab them in a continuation from last night. A straw picnic basket sits to his left, with an ice bucket and a bottle of champagne to his right.

“When the hell did you have time to do this?” I call. He turns toward me with his signature half smile and shrugs nonchalantly, like driving an hour, picking flowers, leaving clues, and setting up a picnic was the easiest thing in the world.

Before I can protest, he has me in his arms, twirling me around as if I’m as light as a feather. “You are unbelievable,” I mutter, planting a kiss on his forehead. I nearly cry from the way he’s looking at me. After Julian, I never thought someone would look at me with such adoration again.

“You deserve it, Olivia. You’ve been working hard, and I just want you to know that I’m proud of you. I want you to know we’re here for you. All of us, especially Mia and Lex,” he says.

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