Page 9 of Obsession on Repeat
"Are you going to get married like Mommy and Daddy?"
I turned quickly to the counter, blushing so hard I knew I matched the tomatoes inside the bowl. "I think the salad is ready now."
Lainie laughed, shooting me an apologetic look before she poked Jane playfully in the stomach. "Silly girl, you know you shouldn’t ask stuff like that. Go wash your hands, it’s time to eat."
"Okay, Mommy." Jane motioned to be put down and rushed off to the bathroom.
"I’ll go find Keith." She patted Sullivan on the arm as she passed him.
He cleared his throat, pausing to scratch the back of his neck. "Sorry about that."
"It’s alright. You can’t control what a child says, I know this."
"Don’t let it bother you. Lainie and Keith are perfectly aware that…"
"Aware of what exactly?" I turned to face him. "Cause whatever it is, I’m out of the loop. I was never good at family stuff. I basically raised myself. This is exactly why I can’t get involved with you."
"You’re scared of finding something real, and I get that, but the hardest part sometimes is taking the chance no matter how scared you are."
"I don’t know what you want from me!"
He reached forward to pull me close. "I can’t explain this, but you make me feel… different. Everything can be absolutely crazy around me, yet when I see you, it all goes away. Haven’t you ever felt that way?"
"Listen, if you want a good time, I’m your girl, but when that time is up, that’s it. I’ll be moving on in about three months to some place new, and you’ll be wherever you’re filming next. You know deep down that I’m right about this."
"Guys!" His sister's voice came floating from the dining room. "We’re ready!"
I grabbed the salad off the counter. "Let’s enjoy lunch, and then you can take me back home."
"I’ll prove you wrong."
"You’re certainly welcome to try."
4
"Didyouhaveagood time?"
I looked away from the passing scenery outside the car window. "I did, thank you. Where are we going?"
"I thought we’d go to the beach." He flipped on his blinker to change lanes. "I brought some dessert we can share."
A thousand thoughts went through my head at that moment, none of them kid friendly. "I didn’t see you put any food in the car."
"I can be sneaky when my sister helps me."
"From the stories I heard at lunch, I believe you."
Chuckling, he took the exit that directed us toward the beach. The radio was the only thing that made sound during the rest of the ride, and I breathed in relief when I spotted the crashing waves. I slipped out of the car as heopened the trunk, pulling out a small cooler and a blanket. I thread my fingers through his, and he pulled me toward the sand. It wasn’t crowded, the beach was scattered with people, but none of them seemed to notice us, content to play in the surf and the sand.
Sullivan spread out the blanket, and I sat, watching him pull out a small, covered bowl and two forks from the cooler. My eyes widened at the sight of the fresh fruit inside topped with nuts and whip cream. "I certainly wasn’t expecting this."
"Good." Grabbing a fork, he stabbed a strawberry, dipping it into the cream before he lifted it to my mouth. "Wrap your lips around this."
Smiling, I opened my mouth, my eyes glued to his. I chewed on the fruit, moaning in satisfaction. "That is so good." I frowned as he stuck the fork in his mouth. "Hey."
"You missed some!"
I rolled my eyes, dipping my finger into the cream. I leaned toward him to spread a small amount of it on the corner of his mouth. "You did, too."
