Page 69 of Secret Obsession
Willow’s drunk enough to not be able to tell the difference. Shewasdrunk enough. Now she’s coming down off it, as I intercepted her beverages. And I’ve been running interference ever since.
Now, her eyes are closed and she’s swaying on the dance floor by herself. I wrap my arms around her and put the lip of the glass to her mouth.
“Drink, and then let’s go,” I say in her ear.
Like a little bird, she parts her lips and lets me tip the drink in. I cup her throat, and she swallows against my palm. My dick’s been hard for what feels like hours, even though we haven’t been here very long at all.
With a full day of classes, studying, and then practice—none of us can really afford to stay ’til midnight. Greyson and Steele look ready to quit, and I am, too.
Maybe I’m just eager to get her back in my bedroom.
Drink gone, I take her hand and lead her away from the dance floor. My friends follow us out, herding the girls. We fetch coats and bags and make our way to the exit.
Willow’s got her arm looped around mine now, and she leans on me as we walk to the car. “You can dance.”
I smile. “I know.”
“I didn’t.” She sighs. “Maybe I would’ve danced with you more if I had known.”
I don’t reply to that. That could be true—or it’s just wishful thinking after what happened with my brother. Even thinking about him and her drives a big wedge between us. I don’t want to think aboutthem. Just us.
Just her.
I put her in the passenger seat and drive us home quietly.
Home is a weird concept all its own. Although we’ve had some fluctuations—most recently Erik, who graduated last year, then Greyson, then Steele—this house has always been filled with friends. And laughter. And in the past year and a half,women. Violet, then Aspen, and now I’m bringing Willow into it. Although I guess she had already been here.
Now, Finch and Rodrigues are filling the empty rooms. It feels a little more like how Knox and I intended it. Not quite the same without Steele and Greyson, but fine all the same.
Having a full house is nice. It reminds me of when all our relatives would come and stay with us for the holidays. Not to mention the fact that Knox and I always had friends over. My childhood home was never empty.
So naturally, I wanted to replicate it.
Jacob, another friend who graduated the year prior, is at the house. His truck is parked out front, and there are sounds of video games and laughing shit-talk coming from the basement. I move past the stairs without comment, and Willow follows on silent feet. She’s my shadow upstairs, although she passes me and goes into the bathroom.
We had decided, Knox and I, that he would get the primary bedroom with its own bathroom. At least until he graduates. Then I’m taking it over. But three years of sharing the hallway bathroom with various roommates had made me regret that decision ever since.
The door slams, the lock flicking audibly. I consider waiting for her in the hall, then shake my head and get ready for bed.
I’m dead tired.
And she’ll be grumpy in the morning, I have no doubt.
But not hungover.
I smile at that. My good deed for the year. Then I pull down my blankets. I washed everything in preparation for her coming to stay here. Changed them, then straightened up my room like a nervous teenager. It was probably due, but I like to keep things tidy even when I’m not hosting a girl in my bed.
Her bag is still on top of my dresser, the second drawer left open and empty. She didn’t unpack… and now I’m tempted to do it for her. Just to settle her in faster, right?
Or to make it harder for her to leave.
I unzip it and shove the clothes inside, leaving out the few bits of makeup that were salvaged. She’s got some bags from shopping that I found in the trunk of my car. Underwear—a six-pack of thongs, of course—and socks, some leggings and sports bras, plain t-shirts.
Nothing fancy.
“What are you doing?”
“Unpacking.” I’m unbothered, but my heart squeezes. I turn to face her and frown. “Shut the door.”
