Page 79 of His Obsession

It wasn’t typical for her to be up while I was getting ready for work; she was always out of it in the mornings.

“I don’t have work today. It gave me the night off, which is why you should stay home with me, or we can go to a different club.” She clasped her hands and beamed a cheesy smile.

I hadn’t stepped foot in the club since. Not that I had the opportunity, seeing as I was still healing and all. It would conjure up feelings that would probably end with me in the fetal position, begging for Alek, which I was not proud to say had happened before.

“Yeah, well, that’s not happening. Sorry. Stop distracting me and go make coffee or something. I’m going to be late.” I pushed her out of my room and shut the door.

My phone beeped at me, and I picked it up.

Alek: Stay home.

Was that confirmation of cameras or the fact that Lucy had been tattling on me? Damn narc. I didn’t tell Alek I was going in today. I was hoping to corner him in his office and force answers out of him.

Me: Good Morning, Stalker.

I put my phone down, giggling, imagining him stewing over his new nickname. He told me before he didn’t like it, but I continued to use it. I grabbed my things and finished getting dressed.

Our relationship over the last four weeks had been quiet but lacked the honesty I needed. Alek had been my comfort during my nightmares. He was my knight in the dark, but something held him back. I think he was troubled. I thought back to him talking me down from killing Jimmy. The things he said about being haunted. It was what I saw in his eyes now. There was a darkness there that I hadn’t seen before, and I hoped I could bring him out of. I kept asking him to talk to me about things, but he wouldn’t. He kept telling me he wasn’t ready. What concerned me the most was, maybe he'd never tell me, or maybe it was worse than what Jimmy had told me.

Even though so much time had passed for him, I thought all of this had brought his mother's death straight to the forefront, and I was like he was going through it all over again fifteen or so years later. I pressed him on the issue one night, and he walked out the door and didn’t return—I had the worst nightmares that night. When I came out of it, I was drenched in sweat, panting... and alone. I didn’t go back to sleep that night, I couldn’t.

Alek: I’ll send a car.

His message made me smile as I imagined him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. I was somewhat used to him taking care of me, but I had to bite my tongue a couple of times. Whenever I wanted to say no, I remembered how things would have been if I’d allowed him to take care of me. It worked, but it didn’t stop me from having my sarcastic, willful moments.

“Lucy, that coffee better be ready. I’m tired.” The need for coffee was strong this morning.

“It’s ready, I’m trying to find you the perfect first day back mug.I’m allergic to stupidity,or0 days without sarcasm?” She held them both out for me to examine.

“How about thebe savage, not average,cup?”

“That sounds so angry. Aren’t you excited to go back to work? I mean, you get to look at that juicy hunk of meat and ask him to spread you over his desk like you are the sauce to his steak.”

I raised my hand and slapped it to my forehead… a little too hard. “What will I do with you, Lucy?”

She put her palms up in the air and shrugged. “Keep me around because I’m entertaining?”

“I guess I could do that.” I smiled.

I picked mysavagecup and poured my coffee.

“Bye, Lucy.” I gave a kiss on the cheek and walked outside.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she hollered as I shut the door.

Mrs. Wilson sat watching the birds from her porch. I smiled and gave her a wave.

Randall’s black truck sat by, waiting for me. I opened his door and gave him a weak smile. Randall hadn’t spoken to me much. In fact, the last thing he said to me was; he misjudged me, but if I ever went down there again, I’d stay. Alek never corrected him, so I took the threat for what it was… serious.

“Hi Randall,” I said, plopping in my seat.

“Hi, Liz. Buckle up.”

I pulled the strap over my shoulder and clicked it in place. Randall turned up the radio to stave off any conversation, and a countrywoman began singing about being “jacked up” and getting into a bar fight.

We pulled through those notorious black gates, which I hadn’t seen since… my chest pounded as my eyes landed on the pool house—was this how it was going to be now?

Alek stood on the doorstep in his black dress shirt and slacks, his hands in his pockets, and the butterflies fluttered, I couldn’t help but smile. The sight of him took away my evil thoughts, and I became that high school student staring at her crush again.