Page 137 of Quiet Obsession
I turn on my heel, pushing through the crowd on weak legs. The air is too thick to inhale as I burst out of the packed common room, rushing down the corridor. I run past the elevator and take the stairs two at a time, my vision blurring, hand sliding along the railing to keep myself upright.
His hand was on her throat.
By the time I reach the second floor, my chest burns. Ifumble with my keys, dropping them twice before I can get the door open, and burst into my room, gulping down air like there’s none in the whole building but here.
Tears prickle my eyes as I tear the cardigan off and reach for the buttons on the denim dress, but my fingers are trembling so badly I can’t undo a single one.
He kissed her. He fuckingkissedher.
My throat tightens, and I press my palm against my sternum, holding myself together. God, I don’t want to feel like I’m being shredded alive.
I don’t want to cry, but the tears spill over just as heavy, familiar footsteps thud outside my door. I know it’s my brother even before he rips the door open. He enters, eyebrows drawn, jaw squared up like his shoulders, and I barely have time to wipe my cheeks.
“What the fuck is going on between you and Creed?” he demands, coming closer.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me.” He takes a step forward, the move forcing my chin up so I can hold his gaze. “That wasn’t nothing.”
“He just—”
“I saw what he fucking did. I’m not blind. He beat that guy up for touching you, then saw you curling into Noah and he stuck his tongue straight down Flora’s throat.” His lip curls in disgust. “He fucking hates Flora.”
I shudder at the reminder of Creed’s mouth on that girl and Hyde grabs my shoulders, forcing me down onto my bed.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re playing at, Millie,” he says, his voice scraping low and tortured. “But you need tostop.”
I wrap my arms around me, feeling exposed in that stupid dress. Vulnerable without my oversized wool shield.
“I’m not playing at anything.”
“Then why the hell does Creed look ready to kill anyone who looks twice at you?” he fires back, raking a hand through his hair. “Why are my friends throwing punches at each other?”
“I don’t know, I—”
“Stoplying!” he booms in my face.
I flinch, hugging myself harder, shoulders curling inward. Hyde’s never raised his voice at me. For years, he’d barely talk to me at all, then after my overdose, he was coddling and coaxing.
This is the first time he yelled at me.
“I know about you and Noah,” he continues. “He wasn’t supposed to touch you, but he did. I saw you kissing, and I didn’t say shit, but fuck—!”
He breaks off, turning away sharply. His shoulders square, his hands flexing open and closed at his sides as if holding back the urge to punch something.
“One wasn’t enough for you, Millie? You had to fuck around with my best friend as well?”
Words die in my mouth and the tears burning my eyes dry out. I thought he came here to comfort me, to fold me into his arms and tell me everything would be okay. Thathe’s here for me and not going anywhere.
But Hyde’s protectiveness isn’t aimed at me...
He turns back around, crouching before me. His long fingers curl into my comforter on both sides of my thighs, gripping the fabric tight.
“He’s my best friend,” he says, his voice level now, but loaded with heavy emotions. “Do you understand what that means? He’s not some random guy from class, sis. He’s mybest friend. The first person who chose me.”
“What do you—?”
He jerks upright before I can finish, drags a hand through his hair again, and resumes pacing the short stretch between my desk and the wall.
