Page 2 of His Secret Obsession

I’m beginning to feel like I’m in a relationship with myself.

Not with the boy who used to be my best friend.

“But I’m with you,” I remind him softly, gently rubbing a palm over his chest. “Everything will get better. Maybe this is your sign to go back to school.”

“I have to figure out how I’m going to pay for another apartment before I can think about that.”

My shoulders slump. “Maybe I should get a job, too,” I offer. My internship is unpaid, although it has the potential to turn into a permanent, salaried position if all goes well. But when I first took it, we didn’t anticipate this. It’s only supposed to last six months, but my savings won’t cover moving expenses and it’s not fair to expect him to foot all the bills when he’s clearly struggling.

He winces. “I didn’t want to ask you to quit, but I think I might have a solution.” Why does he sound hesitant?

“What is it?”

“My brother has a spare bedroom.”

I suck in a sharp breath, the suggestion making my heart squeeze. I’m opening my mouth before I even know what I’m going to say.

“No. There has to be another way. I can’t live with—” Shaking my head as I push away from his embrace, I cross my arms.

He groans, a frustrated sound, as his hand slides through his hair again.

“Madds, I know he isn’t your favorite person. But if we ask him, I’m sure he would let us stay in his spare room for a while. We could both use the time to save up some money.” He says it softly, despite the tension in his jaw. His hand cups my cheek,tilting my face up and pressing his forehead to mine. I’m hit with the smell of citrus and jasmine, and I smile when I realize he’s wearing the cologne I bought him.

“I’m out of ideas,” he admits.

There’s a pang in my chest. “I don’t want to go back to Cedarwood.”

“I know it’s asking a lot, but I don’t want to do this without you,” he whispers, my eyes fluttering shut as his thumb brushes along the underside of my lip.

The idea of having to quit my internship isn’t what’s making me hesitate.

It’shim.

Jax Parker.

I swallow hard, guilt sitting heavy like an anvil on my chest. I’m not sure I can handle living under the same roof as those intense, knows-too-much, emerald eyes. Sometimes when I’m in the same room as him, I feel like I’m suffocating.

Although I haven’t done anything wrong—I have four years of history with Luke and I would never betray that—I did choose to omit something very important in the early days of our relationship. And now I have no idea how to broach the subject, how to fess up.

And I don’t like sharing this secret with Jax Parker.

Luke may occasionally berate himself for his own failures and shortcomings, but so do I. And unfortunately for us, communication isn’t one of our strengths.

I could stay in Crestwood Heights. Keep my internship and move back in with my aunt. Although we barely tolerate each other, she would never shut her door on me. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Luke. And I fear the added distance would be the final nail in the coffin of our already weakened relationship.

In the end, I decide I’m not going to cower to Jax Parker.

“I’ll come with you,” I tell him.

Luke smiles down at me, his dimples appearing with that boyish grin. He blows out a long exhale before placing a soft, chaste kiss to my lips. “You won’t regret it. I promise.” His words are a whispered breath against my mouth. “Everything is going to get better. We’ll have plenty of time to save up for a new apartment, and we can spend more time together, too.”

My heart skips a beat. Maybe getting away from Crestwood Heights will be good for us.

A fresh start.

I give him a tentative smile before telling him to call Jax. He nods, rolling his shoulders before pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. I wipe sweaty palms over my black leggings as I watch him amble towards the bedroom. Seconds later, the sound of his whispered voice carries down the hallway. I pace around the kitchen, blowing a strand of brown hair away when it falls across my vision.

What if Jax decides I’m not welcome at his house? Maybe he’ll see this as an opportunity to get me away from his little brother. He probably doesn’t think I’m good enough.

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