Page 63 of Total Obsession

She shrugged. "It's funny how people twist narratives to suit their own realities. My parents were furious when I moved out. They claimed that they had stayed together for my benefit. They blamed me for everything, forgetting why all of this had really started in the first place.

"Suddenly, I was the reason that my mother had started drinking. Because I was such a bad kid. And therefore I was the reason that my father started becoming violent. I didn't need that in my life."

"I can understand that," I replied. I pulled her close. "I think that you did the right thing."

"I still have guilt over it sometimes," she said.

"That also makes sense," I replied. "It's not easy to separate yourself from your family. But remember, just because they're blood relatives doesn't mean they automatically deserve your time and respect."

"Thanks for listening," she said to me, finishing the last of her wine.

"Always," I said to her. "You don't have to worry. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," I said, repeating back the lines she had said to me once upon a time.

twenty

AXE

It was becoming an increasing challenge to keep my mask in place with Zoey's little friend around. The bombastic redhead flitted about the kitchen peppering me with questions hotter than her hair for the entire afternoon. When it was finally time to eat dinner, I was fairly worn out.

Normally someone like her wouldn't have fazed me. However, with everything else going on, I was already maxed out.

"So, why," she started to say, and I cut her off.

"All this talk about myself is rather exhausting, Miranda," I replied. "Why don't we change the subject? I'd love to learn about you and how you got involved in the film industry."

She wrinkled her face at me, but I could see Zoey make a pleading sign with her friend from the corner of my eyes. So, Zoey knew Miranda wasn't necessarily going to be on her best behavior but still allowed her to come over anyways.

Interesting.

"What's there to tell?" the redhead quipped back, grabbing her plate and sitting down at the elaborately decorated table. I had hoped that she would sit in the seat opposite the centerpiece so that I could block her out as I ate, but no luck. Of course, she sat at the head of the table.

"Everything," I replied. "I don't know anything about you."

"Come to think of it, Miranda," Zoey chimed in, "neither do I. How did you get to New York?"

"Easy," Miranda said with a wave of her fork. "I studied at Marymount and then just stayed here until I was able to weasel my way into something."

I bit back a laugh at her choice of word. It was a rather fitting description for her.

"How many years have you been out of school?" I asked her, taking a bite of turkey.

"Are you trying to ask my age?" she said with a bit of a glint in her eye.

"Never," I replied. "Besides, you don't look a day past 24."

Miranda narrowed her eyes at me, and Zoey chimed in to try and change the subject. "So, what was it that you had to talk to Matt about yesterday?" she asked.

For the first time all night, Miranda suddenly looked uncomfortable. She tried to mask it, and I had to give her credit because it was quick, but I caught it. There was a definite combination of embarrassment and shame written across her face for a split second.

"Oh?" I chimed in, jumping on the opportunity. "I hope everything's okay. I know that neither of you is particularly fond of Matt. I can't say I blame you."

Miranda tried to shrug it off. "Oh, it was nothing," she said. The girl was a terrible liar.

"If there's an issue," I said, pressing the subject, "please let me know. I can talk to Allen about it. I know Matt doesn't always listen to him, but I can certainly see what I can do."

"No, no, it's fine," she said, waving her hands in front of her face, which was currently turning the color of her hair.

"Miranda," Zoey said, looking suddenly concerned. "Seriously, what is the matter?"

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