Page 42 of Obsession on Repeat
"Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. I know all about your track record. You see an opening, and you’re taking advantage of it. I see this for what it is."
"You don’t. If you did, you’d realize your issues with Rory have nothing to do with me."
"My issues with Rory," Sullivan stepped forward, voice dangerous, "are none of your business."
"They became my business when I found her alone and hurt by the mess your world caused. If you think confronting me solves anything, you’re mistaken."
"You need to back off. You’re making it worse."
"And you leaving her alone for weeks at a time makes it better?" Asher shook his head. "Look, I get why you’re angry, but your real problem isn’t with me, it’s with yourself. You know you’re failing her, and you don’t know how to fix it."
Sullivan’s fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight, eyes blazing. For a moment, I thought he might actually swing. He exhaled sharply instead, visibly pulling back. "You don’t know anything about me."
"I know enough. Like you said, I know your track record," Asher threw the words back in his face. "I know she deserves more than you giving ultimatums because you’re insecure."
"I won’t tell you again. Stay away from Rory." He turned sharply, storming past me without another word.
I tried to meet his eyes, to reach for him, but he was already gone. I spun around, my heart hammering. "What was that?" My voice shook slightly, a mix of anger and fear. "Why did you provoke him?"
"I didn’t provoke him. He came looking for a fight, and I refused to lie."
"You told him he was failing me! That wasn’t your place!"
"Maybe it wasn’t, but it wasn’t wrong either."
I stepped toward him, voice lowered but fierce. "My relationship isn’t something for you to dissect or analyze. I trusted you. I needed someone to talk to, not because I wanted this mess."
"And you think I want it?" He stared down at me, the cool confidence finally cracking slightly.
"You should’ve stayed out of it," I whispered, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. "We were finally figuring things out. You’ve made it worse."
Asher leaned against the bar with a sigh, dropping his head back, eyes closed briefly before looking at me again. "I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I meant every word I said. He’s insecure, and it’s damaging you both. He’s going to keep hurting you, Rory."
"That’s not your choice to make!"
"You’re right, I didn’t. But if it was me, Rory—"
"Don’t." My voice cracked. "Don’t finish that sentence."
He pushed away from the bar, brushing gently past me toward the exit. "I’m sorry I made things harder for you. That wasn’t what I wanted."
"Then what did you want?"
He paused at the doorway, shoulders tight. Without turning around, he answered quietly. "For you to know that you deserve more." He disappeared through the door, leaving me standing alone—confused, aching, and more torn than ever.
I found Sullivan outside, leaning against the railing at the club’s back entrance. His back was tense, his head bowed as if trying to calm himself.
"Sully?"
"Did he send you out here?"
"No," I said sharply, anger flickering again. "I came because we need to talk."
He exhaled heavily, gripping the railing. "So, let’s talk."
"Why did you come here? You flew halfway around the world to confront him. Why?"
"Because I was afraid of losing you. Because every time we talk, I can feel you slipping further away. When I found out you confided in him, it made me realize how close I was to losing everything."
