Page 28 of Obsession on Repeat
"You’ve got a funny way of showing it."
"Why’d you get drunk? Colin came here—"
"Shit." He glanced around quickly, frowning as stared down at his boxers. "I forgot all about him. Where's my phone?"
"Iput it on the end table."
He disappeared into the bedroom, staying there for several minutes, until he returned dressed in his jeans and his tee shirt.
"Is everything okay?"
"He’s with his family right now. I’ll call him in an hour to come get me."
I studied him. "Do you want me to drive you somewhere?"
"If I say yes and get you to drive me to the hotel, that’ll only give the press more fuel for the fire, and we both know how much you hate that."
"I’m only trying to be nice."
Sullivan let out a short bark of laughter. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Better late than never I suppose."
"Why are you saying these things to me?" I whispered, flinching again at the fact I felt tears gather on my lashes.
He let out a long sigh. "Because I want you to know exactly how I feel, Rory. I’m hurt, and it’s not my head that’s killing me. I didn’t ask to come here and fall in love with you. I never imagined that would ever happen, not even after that first night, but it did. Sometimes you don’t get a choice."
"You always have a choice; people feel things all the time. It’s whether you act on them or not that separates humans from the animals."
"Are you listening to yourself? I mean, the words come out, but do you hear them?"
"I understand perfectly what I…"
Frowning, he took a step toward me. "I don’t think you do. You’re placing love on the same shelf as what to make for dinner or what movie to watch. Those are choices. Love, that’s on a shelf all on its own."
"I wouldn’t know." I trembled as he made his way around the couch, reaching out to stroke the top of my head. "Please don’t…"
"Whoever he was, he was an idiot for hurting you."
I felt a wave of embarrassment when I started to cry. He said nothing, watching me for a few seconds before he pulled me close and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. He rocked me while I cried, my fingers clutching the fabric of his tee shirt.
"It’s okay, Rory. I’ve got you." He pressed several kisses to the crown of my head, continuing to stroke my hair. "Let it out. I’m here."
I pressed my face into his chest. "Why?"
"To be honest, I don’t know. I could tell you it’s because I love you, but I don’t think that would mean anything to you right now."
I shoved away from him, a hard glare on my face. "This isn’t some movie, this isn’t… This isn’t where you come in all gallant and noble to save me!"
He immediately matched my loud tone with one of his own. "I don’t know what to save you from, Rory!" Hethrew his hands up. "Someone else? Yourself? You keep pushing me away!"
"I’m angry! That’s why I’m pushing you away!"
"You’re not angry, you’re scared. You’re scared because this is real, and you don’t know what the hell to do with that."
I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. My fists clenched at my sides.
"You feel it, Rory. Don’t lie to me, not now."
I pointed to the door, heart thudding. "Leave."
