Page 68 of His Secret Obsession

The preview of the message on my lock screen intensifies that feeling of dread tenfold.

Luke: I miss you Madds. Can we talk?

“I’ll just tell him now isn’t a good time,” I murmur to Jax.

“Talk to him whenever you want. It’s your life.” His unusually curt tone makes me pause, and I steal a quick glance towards him. There’s a palpable tension in the line of his jaw, his shoulders, and his clenched fists.

Maybe later

When I look back up from my phone, Jax’s eyes quickly dart away.

I pocket the device, taking in a deep breath. My fingers gently curl around his elbow, before remembering where we are and pulling away again. “Jax,” I mutter softly, “you have nothing to worry about.”

He grunts, rolling his shoulders before stepping away as another customer approaches me to make a purchase. After the transaction is complete, I give his back a worried expression.

“It’s not like you owe me anything.” The whispered murmur makes me tense. He turns back to face me, a grim look on his face.

“I don’t—what does that mean?”

He shrugs, his eyes not quite meeting mine. “We have an expiration date anyway, don’t we?”

“What has gotten into—” I cut myself off when yet another customer walks up to me, giving the middle-aged woman a polite smile that doesn’t feel completely genuine. My fingers curl into my palms as I continue watching Jax from the corner of my eye.

What is wrong with him today?

When my phone buzzes again from inside my pocket, I want to scream. It’s just like Luke to ruin a perfectly good day, although realistically, I know it’s not his fault. But some petty part of me wants to blame him anyway.

Hazel chooses this moment to return from the restroom, a cheery smile stretching her lips. It fades a little as she takes her place beside me, her eyes darting back and forth between Jax and me like she can sense the simmering tension.

“I’m going home. I’ll see you later.” He doesn’t look at me as he strolls away, my eyes glued to his retreating back. His shoulders are slumped a little, his head tilted towards the ground as he walks. It makes something uncomfortable burn in my chest.

“Did something happen?” Hazel asks. “Because that felt weird just now.”

“It’s nothing.”

Hazel gives me a skeptical look, but I’m grateful when she doesn’t probe me for more information. She greets a customer, pointing out something on one of the furniture pieces. I take a moment to let my eyelids flutter shut and inhale a calming breath. When my eyes open again, my fingers reach into the pocket of my jeans and pull out my cell phone.

I can’t avoid Luke forever. At some point, I think we will both need a discussion—for closure, for peace of mind, for understanding. But sometimes, I wonder how I’m going to look him in the eye knowing that I ended our four-year relationship and jumped straight into his brother’s bed.

It feels like a shitty thing to do. I’m no better than he is.

Luke: I still love you Madds

Shit, shit, shit.

An exasperated groan slips from my throat as I pinch the bridge of my nose. I had been hoping time and distance would help him move on.

But things just got even more complicated.

Jax

The malt-flavored beer washes down my throat, the cool liquid refreshing. I sit in the darkened living room, absentmindedly sucking on my bottom lip as I stare down at the text message that has gone unanswered for over twenty-four hours now.

Luke: Do you think she’ll take me back?

Between last night and today, I’ve typed out and erased more replies than I care to admit to. And none I’m proud of. I’ve thought of terse, blunt responses like,why don’t you just let hermove on?You already blew your chanceandyoucan’t make her happy like I can.

And my favorite, all-time low?You can’t have her. She’s mine.

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