Obsessed(74)

I heard him sigh long and slow. His defeated sigh. Yeah, well, I sighed that same damn sigh so many times since his absence. I didn’t care for it now. That was what my anger was telling me anyway.

I shut my eyes and dozed to sleep. I felt his presence every time I stirred awake. He didn’t leave me once.

*

Adrian showed up an hour later. Aston reluctantly left the room to give us space to talk. By then my head was a lot clearer. Like usual, Adrian was supportive. He held my hand and patted my back. He did things Dad would have done, and for a moment, I pretended it was my dad.

After he took my statement about the attack, he put away his things and said, “Your mother couldn’t make it. She’s stuck at work.”

I barely missed a beat. “Of course she is.”

My resentment toward her had escalated to a boiling point, and I wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

Adrian let out a long breath. “She loves you, Elise. She’s just not what she once was, but we’ll bring her back again. It just takes time.”

I eyed him tiredly. Adrian was always so eager to defend her. It didn’t make sense to me before, but now it was sort of obvious. “You’re in love with my mother, aren’t you?” I asked him in disbelief.

He just looked at me, and his silence spoke a thousand words. Yes, he loved her. He loved my absent mother and I pitied him. She’d never look in his direction, not when she was swimming in her own despair.

“Aston said he’s taking you home after you’re discharged,” he quietly said. “Get some sleep, alright?”

I nodded and he patted me softly on the shoulder before leaving.

*

It took forever for someone to come around, and the silence between Aston and me had become unbearable. When they finally told me I could go, it was afternoon and my head was aching with the need for sleep.

I walked with Aston to the parking lot. The last time I’d been here was when Dad died. I hated the feeling that gave me. I was exhausted and wobbly on my feet, but I refused his help when he leaned close to my side to keep me steady.

In my still half-drunken mind, I hated him. I didn’t want him near me. The sooner we got home, the better. I’d close my door on his face and pray he went back to his precious school and leave me alone. And then at the same time, the thought of him leaving me again killed me.

When I saw his beat up car, I nearly tripped over my feet. So many emotions flooded me at the sight of its crappiness. I couldn’t believe it was still alive. I glanced in Aston’s direction, but he was already unlocking the doors, keeping his face fixedly solemn. The deja-vu was strong as I then opened the passenger door and climbed inside. The smell of Aston’s cologne hit me, along with panic at the thought of everything that had transpired between us.

I was shaking when he slid into his side and started the car. I kept my face turned so he couldn’t see it, and stared out the window as he peeled out of the parking lot. God, the car was loud. I’d almost forgotten its shocking sounds, choking down the road. I couldn’t help but study the worn out dashboard and at the marks I’d made with my feet kicked high over it.

I’d danced in this car, sang bad songs and smiled at the guy next to me like he was my world, and now…now it was a hollow memory; a lifetime ago even though it had really been only seven months.

I couldn’t help but glance at Aston. A tingle journeyed down my spine when I caught his eyes already on me. He looked wretched, like he knew what I was thinking. I quickly turned away, unwilling to get drawn in by those green irises.

*

Aston followed me out of the car and to the house. He followed me inside and up the stairs. And when he followed me to my bedroom, I turned to him and shook my head firmly. He looked down at me for a solid two seconds before he said, “I’m not going anywhere, El. Not after what happened to you last night.”

I frowned and stomped inside my room. I quickly made to shut the door, but he was already pushing past me. I watched him sit down on my reading chair, which was a shitty old rocking chair I’d snatched for five dollars at a garage sale some time ago. It creaked under his weight and I half-expected it to break in half.

We locked eyes and I saw the determination in him. He wasn’t going anywhere, and the scary part was I hoped he wouldn’t. I kept my shaking lips sealed tightly in fear of confessing that.

A form slithered past my legs. I looked down at Tuck as he came to inspect the intruder. He circled around Aston, assessing him and sniffing him. I hoped he attacked him. Aston watched my bodyguard approach, and he extended his hand out to him, offering him his palm. Tuck stared at the palm for a long moment, almost bored, before he approached and sniffed again. Then…he nudged his nose against it. What.The.Fuck? Traitor! He probably recognized the scent of Aston still lingering in the house. Yeah, that was all. He didn’t like him or anything.