Page 9 of Obsessed with my Guardian

“We have to stop,” he says, a trace of regret in his voice.

Is he upset because he’s saying that or because we kissed? A dark expression crosses his face, sobering his features.

Stop? A cold sensation spreads in my stomach. Stop is about the last thing I want to do. “What if we don’t want to?”

He runs his fingers down his face. “That’s not an option. You’re eighteen.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” I bite back. I want to say that I was also eighteen when we kissed a few seconds ago, but I hold back the snark.

“Denis trusted me. What would he say if he found out I was kissing his daughter?”

“My father always wanted me to be happy.”

My father also didn’t know about my secret crush. A twinge of guilt stabs at me, then twists its blade into my heart. My dad would probably have a heart attack if he found out I kissed Reed. But I like to think after I’m a legal adult, if I explained, he would have acquiesced once he got used to the idea. He loved Reed.

“This isn’t happy. It’s nonsense.”

“How can it be nonsense if we both want it?”If I’ve wanted it for the past three (I think) years… the words burn at the tip of my tongue, but I bite them back. I see the fear flickering in his eyes. I can’t press too hard, or he’ll dash even quicker.

He surges to his feet, recomposing himself. “Listen, Eloise… I’m sorry. I can’t.” The exasperation in his voice has an undercurrent of contempt like there’s nothing I can say to change his mind.

I draw in a breath. “Okay.”

“Okay?” he asks as if ensuring I understand what he means.

“Okay,” I repeat. “I understand,” I lie.

“Good.” He looks at me like he’s about to say something else. He parts his lips, then shakes his head like he’s talking himself out of it. “I’ll… go to my room.”

He leaves and closes the door behind him.

I’m a whirlwind of emotions. My lips are tender and warm from his kiss, my adrenaline high, and my heart a bit bruised. We kissed; a huge milestone. This is all good, right?

He said we can’t go any further. That he’s sorry.

But I can’t let him go… not until he’s given me a real chance. I have to find a way to show him we’re worth a try, even if I jeopardize our relationship forever. There is no going back.

6

Reed

Life should be backto normal—by all accounts, it should.

After Linda Trevino told Eloise about the plan, Eloise stepped up. She’s been coming to work every day, staying late, and soaking in all the information she needs to make the best decision when the time comes. I think she’ll go for it—she has the business DNA in her blood and is so smart. She needs to discover it herself.

It’s been a week since she started her CEO-intensive crash course.

It’s also been a week since I kissed her.

I swallow, then sip my coffee. Yes, life should be back to normal.

Except, it isn’t. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

“Would you like some eggs, Reed?” Mrs. Wilson asks.

We’ve told her she doesn’t need to show up so early, but she insists on arriving at seven a.m. every morning of the week as if we’ll starve otherwise. I figure Eloise enjoys her company, so I never put up a fight.

Besides, I’m moving back to my place in three more weeks. I told Eloise I would, and now I need to more than ever.

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