Page 41 of Obsessed

Once she finished blowing out the candles, Rain cut up a few slices and Gage wandered into the kitchen twice. The first time he tried to squeeze by Rain, who darted to the side, and the second time he leaned against the counter and stared. By the time they sat down for dessert Rain was rattled and scared, as if his inner child shook for him, and he could barely choke down a few mouthfuls.

His mother’s cell chimed and she squealed again; Rain had forgotten how grating it was.

“I’m gonna take this,” she put the phone to her ear, running to the bedroom before Rain could respond, leaving him alone with Gage, who continued to stare him down.

“So you have a boyfriend, huh?” His tone implied that Rain was lying.

“Yep.” Despite the extreme tension, Rain pretended to nonchalantly check his phone, scrolling with one hand while the other slipped into his pocket, popping the cap on his pepper spray, more than ready to use it indoors. He’d take some in the face if it meant not getting into Gage’s clutches.

“You know what Rain,” Gage shifted, moving closer, and Rain reeled back, a millisecond away from blasting him. “You should move back here. Your mom misses you.”

“You took my door,” Rain stated, pointing right at the elephant in the room.

“Mydoor. Inmyhouse. And you gave me the wrong key.” His greasy tone made Rain’s skin crawl and when he moved even closer, Rain jumped out of his seat, circling the table, keeping Gage directly across from him. His mother’s laughter rang out from the back of the house and he knew that even if he called out, even if he screamed, she wouldn’t help him.

“Oops, my mistake. But you didn’t have to go throughmythings.” He couldn’t help the anger in his tone and Gage scowled, his face flushing with rage.

“Listen you slut, she keeps whining about missing you and I don’t want to hear her shit anymore.” He took a few steps to the right and Rain countered, hoping that Gage continued because every inch put Rain closer to the front door. He didn’t care anymore; his mother could flip out all she wanted but he was never coming back here again.

“Then leave her!” Rain must’ve taken one too many glances because Gage reversed direction, positioning himself right in Rain’s path and moving him back to where he’d started.

“Leaveher?She might be crazy but she’s got a tight hole.” Gage grabbed the front of his pants, pulling on his dick. “And I bet yours is even tighter.”

Panic shot through Rain’s limbs and in a moment of clarity he remembered the back door. It might be locked, and flipping the deadbolt would take precious seconds, so he needed a distraction. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his pepper spray, extending his arm.

Gage laughed at him. “Are you serious? You won’t use that shit in here.”

Flipping the cap up, Rain placed his thumb on the button. “Try me. I’m leaving. Tell Mom I said happy birthday.”

Quickly walking backward, Rain felt for the knob and when it easily turned and the door cracked open, he wanted to cry. But his relief was short-lived as Gage circled the table, charging at him, his sweaty face now purple with rage.

Fear taking over, Rain turned and tore down the street, hearing Gage’s feet slap the pavement behind him, but Rain had walked this area again and again. He knew shortcuts and was also younger and fitter.

Pushing himself, he hopped a fence, darted across someone’s backyard, hopped another fence, and within a minute, he’d lost Gage. But he couldn’t stop now, he needed to get back to Mason’s. Heart beating out of his chest, Rain hurried through the streets, wanting to call a cab or rideshare but unable to stay in one place for too long in case Gage was out there looking for him.

He didn’t know how he got home but the familiar white house seemed to appear before him and he stumbled inside, triple-checking the locks with shaking hands.

“M-Mason?” His voice sounded small and weak. When did it become so hard to breathe? Gulping for air, he staggered into the bedroom, almost tripping over Mouse, who circled his feet with concerned cries.

First, he needed to be safer, to make sure his mother’s shitty boyfriends couldn’t get to him here, so he locked the bedroom door too, his palms so sweaty that his fingers kept sliding off the knob. But it wasn’t enough. They could still break in.

Desperately looking around, he ran to the small dresser next to the closet. Since his breaths were coming in little gasps, it took effort but he pushed it across the room until it blocked the door. Now they couldn’t get in. Just to be sure, Rain should get under the bed like he did when he was a kid, before he’d been old enough to read about and install his own locks.

A sharp pain stung his ankle and Rain hissed, looking down at Mouse, who had her claw stuck in his sock. Staring up at him, she let out a long, mournful meow.

“Don’t worry,” Rain gasped out, his chest squeezing the life out of him. “I-I’ll make sure they w-won’t get you.”

Picking her up, he moved away from the door to the other side of the bed and laid down, intending to shuffle them both under it, but he froze, tears filling his eyes as the panic overwhelmed him.

Mason’s mattress was on a platform, a solid piece of wood that had drawers in it. There was no space underneath.

Which meant there was no place to hide.

12

MASON

Masonblastedtheairconditioning, trying to wake up. It had been a long day that had started with an engagement shoot and ended with a meeting about the exhibition, and talking to the other photographers in person after lurking in the group chat for months had worn him out.

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