Page 22 of Quiet Obsession
“Get her a beer,” Hyde supplies, draping an arm over her shoulders. “I know it sounds barbaric, sis, but trust me, Jeremiahdeserved far worse than he got.”
I wonder what’s going through her head. Whether it’s difficult to swallow her curiosity instead of asking questions. I wonder if her silence feels comfortable aroundothers, or whether she’d rather be alone.
She curls her index finger around her queen but doesn’t make a move, scanning the board, a faint eleven between her brows. I’ve taken out a few of her pawns, her bishop, and both knights, but I think she’s finally noticed what I’ve been doing.
Her pretty eyes snap to mine, sharp and alive in a way they haven’t been all evening. Fuck, she’s gorgeous... and smart. She’s noticed I’ve positioned myself to lose. My king is exposed and she can take it down three different ways.
“I must be out of practice,” I say, leaning back in my chair, eyes boring into her hazel-blues.
Noah downs the last of his drink. “You’re never this bad.”
Millie bites her cheek, perfectly aware she must check my king... and thusspeak. She blushes a pretty pink that spills down her neck as Dash hands her a Corona, those plump lips of hers closing around the neck as she slowly sips.
I’ve been in a state of quiet obsession with this girl for almost a whole year, but now she’s here, it feels like I haven’t even scratched the surface of whatever had me thinking about her late into every night.
I cross my arms, waiting, watching her scramble for a different move, one that’ll turn the game around so shecan lose on purpose like she did with Noah, but I made sure she was trapped in her win.
“You’re making her uncomfortable,” Hyde grits out, fingers suffocating his glass.
“I know.”That’s the point.
I can’t fucking stand her silence. I spent days, sometimes whole weeks being punished with it by my father and it’s the worst form of torture I ever endured. I’d rather bleed.
“Then why are you doing it?” he clips as his little sister meets my gaze.
“Just paying back the favor.”
“She makesyouuncomfortable?”
Worse. She makes me feel like I’m six again, sitting on the living room floor, feeling invisible while tugging Jeremiah’s trousers and begging him to look at me, to say something.
I stare as that beautiful blush deepens and Millie’s striking eyes narrow, breath coming out faster. She’s angry.Good. I’ll take anger over indifference any day.
Or so I think, because the next thing I know, she lays her king down and her chair scrapes against tile, not far from toppling over. She’s not looking at me, making a show of standing abruptly and marching out of the house, the door clicking behind her with a soft click. I thought she’d slam them.
“Good job,” Hyde sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s not a box you can crack open with a hammer, Creed. You promised you wouldn’t fucking push.”
“And you promised you wouldn’t fucking tell her.”
“I didn’t,” he insists, raking a hand through his hair. “I don’t know why she’s mute around you, but it’s got nothing to do withthat.” He pushes away from the table,following his sister.
“Fuck,” I snap, turning my glass the right way up when Dash grabs a bottle to refill his drink. “Hit me.”
6
Millie
The door opens behind me, everythudof Hyde’s heavy steps vibrating the porch.
I sit on the top stair, watching another wave of rain patter the gravel, my heart rate on the quick side. He sits beside me, his long legs bending, knees hiking up to his shoulders.
“If you asked me to pick one person, aside from me, who’d never betray your trust, I’d pick Creed every time.” He curls his arm around my back, nuzzling me into his side.
I rest my cheek against his shoulder.
Sometimes, I hate that despite our history, I chosehimto hear me and decided I could rely on him even though, until the incident, he was never there for me.
Now, he’s the only person I let inside my walls.
