Page 30 of My Wildest Obsession

That’s it! She was just talking about seeing them. She must have gone back to their ranch. What was that place called? Stud Ranch? Stud something.

Stud Farm.

I spin on my heel, striding back to the elevator. I head back downstairs and then into the parking garage. I like to have Lucas drive me around, but I think for this trip, I’m going to have to go by myself.

I just hope that on the return drive, I’m not alone.

THIRTEEN

Clara

Being back home was justwhat I needed. If I was still in my apartment, then I know that I would be thinking about Theo nonstop. I might have even run into him in the building. Here in Sequoia though, I have my brothers and their families to distract me anytime I start to think about Theo and my broken heart.

“We’re going to go check on the horses. Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Griz, one of my brothers, asks.

“Yeah, I should start submitting my resume to a few places.”

He nods, giving me an easy smile, one that I’ve missed.

“It’s good to have you home, Clara. I hope that you know that you’re welcome to stay for as long as you like.”

“I know. It’s good to be here too,” I say, giving him a side hug.

He heads out the back door and I head over to the couch, grabbing my diary as curl up on the couch. I open to a new page and click my pen open as I start to write.

Dear Diary,

I miss him.I’m trying to pretend like it doesn’t hurt, but it does. It’s easy to distract myself around here during the day, but at night, Theo is all that I can think or dream about.

I just don’t know what to do. How long will this pain last? How long will he be the first thing that I think about when I wake up and the last thing before I fall asleep?

I should be focusing on finding a new apartment and job, but it’s been hard. I’m going to miss working for him.

A knock soundsat the door and I frown. It’s probably one of my brothers and I wait for them to just walk in, but the door remains shut. I frown, tucking my diary away as I go to see who it could be.

My brothers live on the farm that I grew up on. It’s in the middle of nowhere and if they made it all of the way down the driveway, then they probably aren’t lost. People don’t really come to visit though.

I peek out the window and my stomach drops when I see Theo standing there, scowling at the door. His eyes lock with mine and he looks relieved to see me.

“Clara!” He calls, and I hurry to back away from the door.

“Go away!” I call back.

“No. I need to talk to you. Just hear me out.”

I stare at the door.

What should I do? Hear him out? I guess he can’t hurt me anymore than he already has. What do I have to lose?

“Clara, please,” he pleads, and I sigh, turning the knob and opening the door.

I try to school my features so that I give nothing away. His eyes scan over me and I do the same to him. He looks tired, like he’s been driving all night.

“You’ve got two minutes. What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I came to see you. I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

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