Page 57 of My Treasured Obsession

Also, where was Hunter? He said he would be here tonight.

Unless…he reneged.

No.

He wouldn’t do that to me. Not without good reason.

Shaun, who’d momentarily left our group, rejoined and convinced everyone to play a game of Never Have I Ever. Our side of the bar erupted with jokes and laughter, and it helped take my mind off everything else. I was halfway through my second virgin mojito when an odd prickling sensation spread down my back.

Oscar was still in his spot, far away so that he wouldn’t draw attention but still close enough to see me and any looming threat.

Reluctantly, I threw a glance over my shoulder.

And froze.

Franco entered the crowded bar with two guys I didn’t recognize.

He appeared laid-back as he trawled the room. The second he spotted me, a frown marred his forehead, followed by a rude twist of his lips that set me on edge. I hadn’t seen him since our first Horror & Cult Classic Cinema class. My guess was that he arrived right before class started and left the second it was dismissed to avoid another run-in with me.

Now he took inventory of everyone around me with newfound curiosity.

I didn’t like it.

At all.

What if Anna and Layla are right? What if he’s the one who broke into my place? What if he’s here tonight to watch me?

Though this bar was a hotspot for students and our mixer had gained a lot of notoriety amongst the university populace, I wasn’t sure why Franco would willingly show up to our event when he was far from a feminist and closer to a misogynistic pig.

My ex-boyfriend’s presence exacerbated my low spirits.

Suddenly, a lump lodged itself in my throat and everything in the background blurred until the only sound in my ears was a low buzzing similar to a hornet’s nest.

Excusing myself from my friends, I moved over to a stool and faced the bar wall lined with bottles of liquor, trying to control my surging anxiety. My eyes inexplicably stung. I was suddenly overwhelmed. Despite my need to constantly be surrounded by people, I had the urge to tear out of this place like a bullet and go somewhere where I could actually breathe.

As if manifesting him, a hard body pressed against my back, strong arms caged me on either side, and tanned hands came to rest next to my paler ones on the bar top. A soft kiss was placed on my crown. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m sorry I’m late.”

All my panic fretted away in a singular whooshing exhale.

Hunter’s familiar voice and cologne grounded me.

Without preamble, I spun around and threw my arms around his form, hugging him with all my might, my face practically mashing in his corded neck, where his pulse hammered under the graze of my red lips. “Hi, pretty boy.”

Sensing that my greeting wasn’t charged with my usual enthusiasm and feeling the light tremor running through my body, Hunter’s arms wrapped around me.

“What’s wrong, Gabby?” he murmured with so much gentleness, it nearly undid me. “I was stuck in traffic, but I tried to get here as fast as possible.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”Now that you’re here. “I just missed you. I’m glad you came.”

“Of course I did.” His chest vibrated with the sound of his deep voice and I felt the reverberations against my skin. “You asked me to.”

Hunter uttered those words in a way that stated he would go anywhere I asked him, no matter how close or how far away. Even if it were the depths of hell, the ends of the earth, the heights of heaven.

Pulling back from the embrace of this man who was built like a beast but behaved like an angel, I observed my accidental lipstick stain on his neck with satisfaction.

I should tell Hunter about the mark, but I felt possessive over him. I didn’t want it wiped off. I liked knowing that a part of me—even temporarily—was on him.

“Are you ready to hide in a corner with me?” I asked softly.