Page 50 of Obsessive Love

"How the fuck do you get onto that topic?"

He rolls his lips inward and scratches at his scar as he looks away from me, avoiding eye contact.

"Well, we were discussing Aria, and Jericho said something about being proud of you because you were being smart and playing things safe by keeping your distance so that you didn't have to experience what he did," he tells me, picking up the chain connected to Frank's ankles and tugging on them, slowly pulling the capo along the paved floor.

"Anyways, when I asked him what he was on about, he swore me to secrecy and then spilled the beans about how you've been secretly in love with Sophia for years. He told me about the tattoos and the fact that you've named your favourite tools after butterflies, which I must admit is very creative," he pauses and holds his fist out, waiting for me to bump it. When I don't, he chuckles.

"Sounds like my brother has a little too much to say once he's had a drink," I grunt, grinding my teeth together as my eyes fixate on the small butterfly wing peaking out from the cuff of my shirt. "So, hold on. When I told you about Sophia and me after the wedding, your nonchalant reaction was because you already knew?"

"Well, yeah, but I also didn't really care. Doesn't affect me if you're fucking your brother's wife."

He stops dragging Frank across the floor once he's laid out in front of his feet and he leans back against the wall, taking a few deep breaths before his eyes search for mine.

"You know she's locked herself away upstairs and is decorating her room right now?"

"Of course I fucking know that, Leo. I know what she's doing almost every second of the day," I snap, annoyed with his unusual incessant need to gossip and conversate today. "Why the fuck do you know that?"

"Like I just said, I know everything that goes on around here. Anyway, she's up there because she's avoiding you, right?" he asks, watching me.

I nod in response.

"So she's pissed at you?"

I shrug because, in all honesty, I have no idea.

"Okay, well, I'm going to assume you've done something to annoy her, so, I think you should stop beating the shit out of this bastard with me and maybe go and buy her something. Get her a gift. Women like that sort of thing."

I stare at him in disbelief.

"Why the fuck do you seem so bothered about this?"

"Honestly, there's something about that woman. I think she's good for you, so I thought I'd offer some advice and give you a possible solution to the problem," he says.

"I appreciate it, and I will take the advice, but please go back to being a grumpy, quiet arsehole. This whole thing you're doing now is even scarier than your usual persona," I tell him, stepping out of the holding cell and walking down the hallway with a new plan in mind.

After being to the jewellers and browsing through another four stores, looking for anything Sophia might want or need, I head towards the last shop in mind and pull my phone out of my pocket, clicking on Miles' contact and opening our messaging thread.

Kaleb:

Hey brainiac, I need another camera.

Please.

Miles:

Jesus Christ. Why do you need it?

I glare at my phone and huff in frustration, knowing that this conversation is going to be more complicated than I would've hoped.

Kaleb:

Does it matter?

Miles:

Yes.

The last time you needed a camera, you wanted it installed in her bedroom. I allowed it because it was so that you could see her before the wedding.

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