Page 51 of Wild Obsession

“It’s just, you know, a couple of us were worried about you.”

My stomach twists, but it isn’t merely dread this time. I’ve had more than enough of this shit today. Why is everyone trying to smother me?

Levi stuffs his hands in his pockets and squirms. He’s not as good at this as Jacob. He’s more of the quiet stoner type, the sort who doesn’t tend to pry into other people’s business, but he’s also the one stuck rooming with me throughout this whole tour. Jacob must have put him up to this.

I huff a sigh. “I’m fine.”

“I know,” Levi says too quickly. “I’m only asking. Cuz, you know, if there was anything that was bothering you, or maybe a person? Um, well, I could listen or whatever.”

Yeah, Levi is nowhere near as good at this as Jacob. I need to figure out where they’re getting these ideas about me needing their help or having something — orsomeone, he just said — bothering me, but not tonight. I’m tired. I’m fed up with probing questions. I’ve been on a tour bus for two days. All I want is a crappy beer in a crappy bar.

“I’m fine,” I say with too much heat behind it. “You guys need to chill.”

“I’m chill. I was just asking, man.”

“Well, just ask someone else. I didn’t ask for your help, so I don’t need it.”

In fact, I don’t need anyone’s help. I never have. My parents gave up on me when I was fifteen. I’ve figured out life by myself ever since, and it’s more or less gone fine. I’m not going to accept Levi’s pity or Jacob’s prodding after making it this far on my own.

This time, Levi doesn’t stop me when I throw on myleather jacket and pivot toward the door. I stuff my hands in my pockets as I slip out into the night, keeping my head down and refusing to allow anyone else to get in my way with annoying, unnecessary questions. What would I tell them, anyway?I’m fine, I’m just hooking up with my ex from high school and I don’t hate him as much as I’m supposed to.

I scoff at myself even while pounding across the parking lot toward the salvation of the run-down bar. A few more steps and bad lighting and a sticky bar top will welcome me at l—

Arguing stops me in my tracks. I’m between the motel and the bar, frozen in a spot in the parking lot that neither establishment’s lighting reaches. Though the bar lies only steps away, the group of men outside it don’t seem to notice me.

They’re arguing. No, they’re fighting. Or they’re about to fight. Three guys form a semi-circle around a lone target who’s putting up his hands and clearly trying to subdue the situation to no avail. The men advance on their victim, who backs up toward the bar. The light hits his face—

And my blood goes cold.

The lights in the bar illuminate the terror on Tim’s face as three strangers crowd toward him, malice in their every motion.

Something inside me snaps, something that has no words, something that defies logic and reason and eightyears of bitterness. I react on pure instinct. I react with my heart.

I charge toward the men, hands already balling into fists.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tim

BY THE TIME WE reach South Dakota, everyone on that tour bus has asked if I’m okay. Kelsey asked if I was sick while covering her face. Fortunately for her, being way too into a guy who hates me isn’t contagious.

I don’t get it. Maybe it’s my inexperience, but I don’t understand how you do all this with someone and feel nothing. Is sex that casual for Keannen? He can hook up with anyone and it doesn’t matter the next day? He can hook up with them several times and remain immune?

Then there was that time in Chicago when he fell asleep in my bed. He even kissed me in the morning. Obviously I’m no expert, but that doesn’t feel like the behavior of someone completely detached and disinterested. That feels like the behavior of a guy who wants me.

Is it really so crazy of me to think I have a chance?

This all started going sideways because of that call with my parents. I guess Keannen never knew what they were like. In his defense, I never told him. I could and should have, but at first I was scared. Then so much time had passed I assumed it didn’t matter anymore. I assumed I’d broken this beyond repair.

By the time I get off the bus in South Dakota, determination burns in my gut. My parents ruined this when we were teenagers. They caught us in Keannen’s car and yanked me out of Baltimore, out of the entire state of Maryland. They sent me all over the country to cure me, but here I am eight years later, still pining after the same man who lured me under those bleachers and taught me who I really am.

I am not letting my parents take him away from me a second time.

I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’ll think of something. Step one is getting a shower so I don’t smell like a guy who’s been on a bus for two days wallowing in a pool of self-pity. I get clean swiftly, throwing on whatever clothing seems the freshest.

“Going out?” Cameron asks when he spots me charging toward the door to our room. He’s barely gotten himself settled yet.

“I was gonna grab a drink.”

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