Page 62 of Secret Obsession
“How was it?” Violet asks.
I sigh. “Fine. I love those brats, but they’re still—”
“Brats,” she finishes.
After she moved out, money got a little tighter than was comfortable. My parents make a decent living, but they were hesitant to fund an apartment for me, myself, and I. They seemed to think I would get in trouble if I didn’t have a responsible roommate.
They’re not wrong.
But we settled on an agreement. Everything in life can be negotiated. They pay for half of my rent and all the utilities, and I would get a job to cover the other half and my extra expenses. Food, et cetera. The only thing they didn’t want me doing was working at a bar or restaurant. The late hours don’t mix with computer science, I guess.
I acquiesced and instead got a job here, at the slightly run-down Arts building. Now my Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings are spent giving voice lessons to children. Tuesdays used to be our rest day for the dance team. But now that I’ve been unceremoniously dumped from that, I suppose I could take on more hours.
If I felt like dealing with shrieking children trying to sing for hours on end.
“Are you honing the next Kelly Clarkson?” Violet grins.
“I wish.” I roll my eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m kidnapping you for a girls’ night out.”
I brighten for a moment—then remember who I’m talking to. Violet doesn’t like to go out. If push came to shove, she’d much rather stay in and watch a movie or play games… So the suspicion that hits a second later is barely masked.
My best friend bursts out laughing. “I’m being serious. Aspen and I want to take you dancing. Thalia, too.”
Well.
“Okay,” I allow.
“Great. Follow me to my place. Aspen and Thal are already on their way.”
“You could’ve just texted,” I point out, sidestepping her to unlock Miles’ car. I’m going to need to get mine back eventually—except, I can’t help but acknowledge that his is a lot nicer. It has a backup camera, even. And the fancy radio stations. I’ve already hooked up my phone to its Bluetooth, making it the primary. Just to be a pain in the ass.
I’ve also completely adjusted everything to my liking. Mirrors, seat, steering wheel, the brightness of the display. The preset stations. Hell, his car even let me change the theme colors of the display.
It’s the little things.
He violates me, I violate his car.
Or… something.
I park behind Violet at her house. Thalia’s car is on the street, and she and Aspen climb out at our arrival. Thalia comes right to me and throws her arms around my shoulders, dragging me into her.
We got close in our semester on the dance team, but…
I pat her back awkwardly. I amthetouchy-feely person. Always have been. I love hugs, and physical touch, and being around people. I love kissing cheeks and pressing close, and arms wrapped around me. But lately, it seems like that’s been tainted. It doesn’t really make my skin crawl, nothing so dramatic as that. I just… I don’t know.
It doesn’t bring comfort.
And I can’t pinpoint when that shifted.
When Knox broke up with me in the most humiliating way possible?
When I went home for winter break and my parents barely touched me?
Or was it even more recent? When I woke up to Miles in my bed, forcing himself into me…?
“Let’s get inside,” Violet says. “It’s freaking cold out here.”
