Page 34 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sophia

" Q uickly, Jay. I need to close the door before Kaleb senses it's unlocked and tramples his way in here!" I hiss, watching Jaylen push the large, rectangular footstool into my room.

"Are all of the women in this family always this damn dramatic?" he retorts, sliding the last part of the footstool into my room and then shaking his head as he sits down on it to catch his breath.

I quickly shut my door, reinforcing the useless barrier between myself and the other occupants of this house.

"I'm not being dramatic, Jay. I need to keep my distance from him. He messes with my head and makes me think and do things I shouldn't."

Jaylen chuckles, getting up from the footstool and stepping over to the shelves he'd put up earlier, placing some of my picture frames on them.

"Sounds to me like you have feelings for him and when you're around him, you can't think straight because you're all flustered," he teases, putting a picture of me, Jess, and himself from college front and centre on one of the shelves.

"You're so wrong," I scoff, shaking out the purple rug we bought the other day and laying it on the floor.

A knock sounds at the door and both of us freeze, staring at each other like deer in headlights as silence fills the room.

After a few moments, I hear shuffling from outside my room and then footsteps fading. I frown at Jaylen as we listen to the person disappear.

"Who was that?" I ask, quieting my voice in case they can still hear me.

"I don't bloody know. I can't see through doors, Soph. Do you think I have x-ray vision or something?"

He snorts and walks over to the door as I roll my eyes at his sarcastic nature. He pulls the door open and peeks around the corner, shrugging when he steps back into my room.

"No one's there," he states, starting to close the door again. "Oh, wait." He steps to the side and nods his head down to the ground.

My eyes drop to see a large, velvety, purple box sitting on the carpeted floor of the hallway.

"Holy shit!" I scamper across the room, almost tripping over the rug I just put down in my haste to get to the box outside my room.

My hands grab the box and I sneak a glance down the hallway, hoping to see a glimpse of Kaleb, but unfortunately, he's already gone. I pick the box up and carry it into the room, carefully placing it on my bed.

"What is it?" Jaylen asks, stepping closer to me.

"Something from Kaleb."

"How'd you know?"

"It's the same sort of box that he put the butterfly clip in. Just bigger," I tell him as I lift the lid from the box, revealing a bundle of purple tissue paper at the top.

"Are you gonna just stand there and stare at the tissue paper, or are you going to actually dig around and see what he got you?"

I turn to glare at my impatient cousin and then lift some of the tissue paper out of the purple box. The first thing I see is a large purple throw blanket with a note resting on top.

I pick it up, carefully unfolding it until I see a familiar scrawl.

Considering you're decorating your room and avoiding me, I thought I'd make a nice gesture and get you a few things I think you might like.

Also, after the last disastrous shopping trip, there was no way I was allowing you to go out again.

If there's anything else you need, feel free to make a list for me, dolcezza. I'll make sure you get everything you want and deserve.

K x

"Well, what does it say?"

I shake my head at Jaylen's impatience and hand him the note as I lift the fluffy, thick throw blanket from the box. I keep it folded and place it on my bed before digging my hands back inside and pulling out three more boxes.

"Wow, he's actually quite sweet when it comes to you," Jaylen states, passing me back the note. "Never would've expected that."

I stare at the various sizes of the boxes, trying to figure out what it possibly is that he's got for me.

"You're really annoying, you know? I've never known someone to take so long to open gifts. The anticipation is killing me."

"Jaylen, shut up!" I hiss, pushing him away from me.

"I'll stop talking if you open the boxes and show me what's in them," he states, moving back beside me and lifting the biggest box from the bed, holding it in front of me and waiting for me to take it.

I huff and snatch the box out of his hands. It's heavier than I expected it to be and that piques my interest even more.

I walk over to my bedside cabinet and pull out the knife I have hidden in there, using it to cut the tape on the box.

Inside is a beautiful, wooden black jewellery box with my name engraved on the lid of it. I open it up and run my hands along the different sections inside.

"There's another note," Jaylen whispers, pointing to one of the partially open drawers inside.

I gently pull the drawer open and take out the note.

A safe space for you to keep the precious items I've already bought you and all of the future ones that I'll undoubtedly purchase.

A smile graces my face as I carry the jewellery box over to my dressing table, setting it to the side. I collect both notes and take them to my bedside cabinet, putting them with the other one I received with the butterfly clip.

I walk back over to the bed, nudging Jaylen out of the way and I pick up the small square box.

I lift the lid and inside is a small velvet pouch. I shake my head as I put two and two together.

I pull the pouch open and gently tip the contents into my hand.

"Damn. Maybe I should make more of an effort with Kaleb. I want nice presents too," Jaylen says as we both stare in awe at the bracelet in my hand.

"It's beautiful," I whisper, swiping my thumb across the diamonds that litter the silver base.

"It says something."

I look to where Jaylen's pointing at the inside of the bracelet and I unclip it so that we can get a better view.

A laugh escapes me as I read the inscribed words.

Dolcezza Mia.

"He just had to add something delusional to such a nice gift, didn't he?"

"I think it's sweet," I state, putting the bracelet around my wrist and clasping it back together.

Jaylen raises a curious brow, seemingly confused by my reaction. I shrug and move the empty boxes from my bed, reaching for the last sealed one, eager to know what's inside.

"Hold on. You think it's sweet?" he asks as I break the seal on the last box and begin to open it.

"Yeah, I do," I admit. "He has his own way of showing that he cares about someone. It may seem peculiar to you, but I think I understand it. He has an obsessive nature, and as Jericho said, he thinks differently to most people. He may seem scary and impulsive, but he's not out of control like everyone seems to think. He's caring and kind. He's sweet and fiercely protective of the people he loves, which I actually really respect about him. I think he's just misunderstood, but I think I understand him."

"You seriously like him, don't you?" he asks, removing the box from my hands and nudging my arm so that I look at him.

I nod, rolling my lips inward as I watch him, worried about his reaction.

"Well, shit," he says, pulling me in for a hug. "You really know how to stir up some trouble, Soph."

I sigh and wrap my arms around him, glad he's not judging me or angry with me for finally admitting how I feel.

"You know I've got your back, no matter what you do and what happens, but just be careful. Not only are you married to his brother, but after what we found in Jericho's office, there's a lot of unanswered questions and we have no idea what's going on or what their intentions are."

"I'm going to find out what's going on with all of that," I tell him, pulling away from him. "I'll find a way to ask him about it or I'll even go to Jericho. I don't care if they know I was snooping."

"Well, don't do anything about it just yet. I've spoken to your dad and Dominic about it and they're looking into things to see if they can find any reasoning behind it. Just wait to see if they can find any answers before you go exposing yourself for snooping around. We don't know what sort of trouble that might bring."

"Yeah, okay. I'll wait." I turn around to look at the mess in my room and I let out a tired sigh. Jaylen chuckles and walks over to the bin in the corner, picking it up.

"Come on, let's tidy this up."

I take the box from my bed and put it on my dresser with the intention of opening it later and then begin helping Jaylen tidy my room, picking up loose screws and packaging paper and throwing it all in the bin.

"Dominic wants me to meet him tomorrow. He said he feels abandoned ever since I moved here with you," Jaylen says, throwing the last bit of rubbish away as I fold some of my clothes and put them in the wardrobe. "You want me to drop you off at home so that you can see Jess and your parents whilst I'm out?"

I smile and nod.

"That was kind of a stupid question, wasn't it?" he asks, chuckling.

"Yeah."

I look around my room, happy with the new bursts of colour and the personal touches I've added to it.

"Thank you for helping me today," I say.

"Anytime, Soph. You know I got you," he replies, walking over to kiss the top of my head. "Now take a shower and get some sleep. I'll be waking you up at seven."