Page 69 of Obsession on Repeat
"She’s trying to start shit, you know that."
"So does the rest of the internet now." I climbed out of bed, pulling on my shirt as my phone buzzed again.
DJ Fetish: Homewrecker or Rebound?
I sworeunder my breath.
Asher followed me into the kitchen. "Hey. Look at me."
I stopped, turning to face him.
"She can post whatever the hell she wants. It doesn’t change where I woke up this morning."
I stared at him, fingers twitching at my sides. "You don’t care that they’re calling me a rebound?"
He gave a sharp laugh. "That’s the last thing you are, Rory. There hasn’t been anyone for me in a long time." His fingers brushed my jaw, thumb stroking the space beneath my lip. "You’re it, Rory."
His words hit deeper than anything Elle or the internet could throw at me.
Smiling, I leaned into him. The kiss we shared was slow at first, he wanted to memorize me, and I let him. His hand slid to the back of my neck, drawing me closer until there was no space left between us.
21
BythetimeIwalked into Euphoria that night, I was all eyeliner, bass lines, and purpose. Gina raised an eyebrow when she saw me in the hallway.
"I assume this means we’re pretending the internet doesn’t exist?"
"I’m here to do my job."
"And I’m here for hydration and quiet reflection."
Rolling my eyes at her, I headed straight to the booth, fingers already twitching for the controls. Asher was nearby watching me. I didn’t need to check in with him. We were fine. The lights dimmed. I let the music speak for me, ignoring anything that was trying to attack me, to invade the peace I had found and was trying so desperately to protect.
After the set, I climbed down from the booth and found him waiting at the base of the stairs.
"You’re unbelievable."
"Took you this long to figure that out?"
He didn’t smile. He stepped closer, hand hovering at my waist like he wasn’t sure if he could touch me in front of everyone. "I wanted to say something earlier, but then you walked on that stage, and I—" He paused. "You drive me insane, Rory. It’s getting harder to breathe when you’re not near me."
I laughed, soft and careful, trying to tamp down the panic rising behind the pull in my chest. "That sounds dangerously close to something you can’t unsay."
"I know."
The world spun on outside our little bubble, but something between us shifted again. I knew exactly what he meant. I was this close to falling.
If I hadn’t already.
I was two shots deep into a post-set cool down when Gina slid into the booth across from me, eyes narrowed. "Yougonna tell me what’s going on," she asked, "or do I have to drag it out of you with tequila and emotional blackmail?"
I reached for the lime wedge. "Pretty sure you answered your own question."
She snorted. "That set? You were possessed. The crowd practically wept. Asher looked ready to propose mid-bass drop."
My lips twitched. "Stop."
"Nope." She pointed her straw at me. "You're glowing like you were laid and got a raise at the same time."
