Page 106 of Total Obsession

I mostly ignored his table other than to refill his coffee. The entire day he didn’t order a thing and when I left for the evening to walk back to the hotel, a handful of cash in my pocket from the day’s tips, he followed shortly afterwards.

It seemed like no matter what I did, Axe was always going to be my shadow.

In a really fucked up way, it was nice to know that there was someone who still wanted me, even after all the bad things I’d done.

* * *

Each day he followed me to the diner, and each day he followed me home. He didn’t bother me while I worked, and he never ordered more than a cup of coffee. He tried to leave a big tip the first day, but I’d refused it and he stopped trying after that, paying me just like he was any other customer.

Annie, who today was Milly, approached me after a while to ask about him.

“That man,” she said, nodding her head towards Axe. “I’d never seen him before you got here. He with you?”

I sighed, worried about causing problems. “Sort of,” I said to her.

“He’s not stalking you, is he?”

I almost laughed at the statement.

“No,” I replied, not sure if it was a lie or not. “He’s fine. He doesn’t bother me.”

“Well, if that changes, you just let me know,” Milly said.

“Thanks,” I replied.

That was the most anyone had ever mentioned Axe to me at the diner. Most people who came in were weary travelers who kept their heads down. People just wanted a hot cup of coffee and something to eat and then were on their way.

The weeks seemed to blur together, until I wasn’t sure how long I’d been living this new life.

On a random Friday, I walked over to Axe’s table to ask if he wanted a refill on his coffee. As I approached, I heard his stomach growl.

“Can I get you something to eat?” I asked, speaking to him for the first time in weeks.

He looked up at me and our eyes met. I hadn’t really looked into those green eyes in quite some time. I found myself lost in their color and in the feeling of comfort that they used to bring me.

It was as if time had stopped and the two of us just stared at one another. Finally, he blinked his eyes clear. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “Can you repeat your question?”

“Food,” I said. “Do you want anything to eat?”

“Oh,” he said, clearly surprised at my question. “No, thank you. I’m fine with just coffee.”

I refilled his mug and walked back to the kitchen and put in an order for two eggs and an English muffin. I put some of my own cash in the register and in about five minutes, I was bringing the plate over to him and setting it down.

“Please eat this,” I said to him.

He looked up at me one more time and our eyes met again. He nodded and whispered, “Thank you,” before I forced myself to go back to work, but I couldn’t concentrate. I walked out back to feel the cold air, hoping it might help refocus me.

Milly was sitting on a few stacked crates, smoking a cigarette.

“He’s obsessed with you,” she said to me.

“Yeah,” was all I replied.

“And, you’re in love with him.”

“Yeah,” I replied again before realizing what she had said and how I had responded. “No, I mean,” I started to say, tripping over my words.

Milly just chuckled and snuffed out her cigarette. She stood and faced me, grasping my shoulders.

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