Page 35 of Quiet Obsession
Noah moves his bishop, lifting his eyes to mine.
There’s been this unspoken tension brewing between us since my father’s funeral. I know it’s about Millie, but neither of us is willing to broach the subject.
It’s not like I made a move... but it’s also not like I haven’t been thinking about this girl for a year. Meeting her has only made things worse. She’s gorgeous, fascinating, and I’m struggling to find reasons to stay the fuck away from her.
I know Noah met her before me. I know he’s better for her than I’ll ever be, but that doesn’t stop me imagining an alternate reality, so... we might have a fucking problem.
“Your turn,” he prompts.
I push my queen across the board, blocking his next move.
“Hello!” a thin, female voice splits my ears.
Abby enters the room, her dark ponytail draped over one shoulder, Dash and his shit-eating grin hot on her tail.
“I’m Abby String.” She points her manicured finger at me. “And you’re Elias Creed.”
“Guilty.”
She beams, pointing out my opponent. “Noah Fairmont, and... my roomie’s big bro, Hyde Ward.”
“Since that’s out of the way...” Dash Ryker points at the couch, urging her to sit. “Do you want a beer?”
“Wine would be better, but beer’s fine.”
“Beer it is.” Hyde pulls a bottle from a crate beside his armchair, handing it to Dash.
I open my water bottle, watching Abby’s molten gaze trace Dash’s every move as he sits, his hand landing on her thigh. “Is Millie not coming over?”
“Oh, no idea. She’s not back yet.”
Hyde’s ears perk up. “Where is she?”
“Said she was going to the library.”
“What time was that?”
“I don’t know, three, maybe four hours ago?”
He looks out the window, eyebrows pulling together. “It’s fucking dark outside. What’s she doing there?”
It takes effort not to roll my eyes. “And is she six? No.”
He grinds his teeth, agitation rolling off him in waves.He lasts a whole seven seconds before he’s up, adjusting his hoodie.
“I’ll go check on her.”
“No, you won’t,” Noah clips, not even looking at him, the authority in his voice ringing loud and clear. “You’ll just confront her about...” He glances briefly at Abby, mincing his words. “Hersleeppatterns. Sit your ass down.”
“But—”
“Sitdown,” he repeats, checking my king. “I’ll go.”
Fuck. My jaw works, but I don’t have the right to stop him. Hyde does. Too bad hedoesn’t, either oblivious to Noah’s cunning, or turning a blind eye.
I don’t fucking like this.
An enticing, completely wrong image pops into my head: Noah, bloodied and bruised, fists wrapped and raised, eyeing me from the other side of the makeshift cage in the abandoned theater basement.
