Page 8 of Quiet Obsession
We trade another move, Noah’s eyes focused and narrowed on his pieces. I bet he was ten steps ahead with Dash, but he looks like he’s planning from scratch each time I move.
We keep going for a while until my brother’s phone breaks the silence. He taps the screen, moving into the kitchenette.
“Fucking finally. Where the hell have you been?”
“Ah, only one dead Creed after all,” Dash says, grabbing another beer. “And zero in prison.”
Hyde props his back against the cabinets, his fingers curling around the edge into the hardwood. I can’t hear what Creed’s saying, but it makes Hyde’s jaw flex.
“Don’t ghost me again—” He pauses, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know. Is everything arranged?”
Noah makes a move, cornering my queen, but watchingthe concern lining my brother’s forehead, I’m not in the game anymore. I remember that look from my hospital bed.
“Did you at least eat something?” Another pause, accompanied by a jaw tic. “You’re unbelievable. Drink all you want, but fuckingeat, too.” He drags a hand down his face, then tenses, his spine going rigid. “Sit your ass back down, Creed.”
“Oh-oh,” Dash singsongs beside me, clearly amused.
“What?” I whisper, my head snapping his way.
“Drunk Creed is a handful,” Noah explains.
“Yeah, and Hyde saideat, so Creed’s probably up, keys in hand, ready to head out for a steak.”
“Eat the fucking casserole and grab a cold shower,” Hyde continues, using his signature stern big brother tone.
It works better than yelling, if I’m honest.
“I don’t care if it tastes like cardboard. Eatit. Anddon’tdrive. One dead Creed is—fuck!” He slams the phone on the counter, peering up at Noah. “He hung up.”
“That’s nothing new,” Dash says. “You were nagging.”
“Because he’s acting out.” Hyde stalks over. “He hasn’t done shit. Got a burial date and nothing else. No casket or flowers. He didn’t even inform his aunt.” He slumps back into his armchair.
I’ve never seen my brother this worried about anyone other than me, and that only happened once. A tremor passes through his fingers as he reaches for his beer, closing his fist around the neck. The vein on his forehead twitches, teeth gnashing behind his lips.
“Hyde,” I say before he takes a sip. “Go.”
Two vertical wrinkles crawl between his brows. “What?”
“Go.”
“Where?”
Noah sits back, eyes on me as he speaks to my brother. “I think she wants you to go babysit Creed.”
“No. No way. I’m not leaving you alone, sis.”
I get up, snatch the bottle from his hand, and jut my chin at the door, marching out of the room without checking if he’s following. Noah and Dash are okay, but Ijustmet them. I’m not letting them overhear any meaningful words.
Hyde follows me out, closing the door with a thud. “I’m not leaving, Millie. Forget it.”
“Why? You’reworriedabout him.”
“He’s a big boy. Fucking unstable, that’s for sure, but once he sobers up and—”
“You’re not making any sense!” I hiss, crossing my arms over my chest. “You left after Christmas break, didn’t you?”
His face falls and arms drop loose to his sides. “I couldn’t stay home any longer, you know that... I had classes.”
