Page 22 of Psychotic Obsession

I smile and shake my head. “Justin isn’t that good.”

With that, she blushes. Fuckingblushes. Because of me. I made her blush.

“So this wasn’t a date.” It wasn’t a question, though I’m not sure she’d like my answer. It wasn’tsupposedto be a date. I just wanted to get the fuck away from Justin–her taking me to the arcade then me driving her back here just…happened.

“Of course not,” I reply. “Workplace rules and all that stuff, remember?”

She playfully narrows her eyes then giggles, and the sound hits me right in the goddamn chest like a brick. I wish I recorded that sound to lull me to sleep, since I struggle to get more than two hours each night.

My mind isn’t too kind to me when it’s supposed to be quiet.

“Goodnight, Tobias.”

I lower my head, fingers gripping the steering wheel. “Doctor.”

She rolls her eyes and laughs as she turns around and pushes through the revolving door.

As soon as she vanishes, I blow out a breath and rub the back of my head.

I think I just died and went to heaven.

By the time I get home, I'm already itching to send Aria a message. I have no idea what I'll say, but anything is better than nothing.

I'm sure there's some sort of rule to this. Do I wait a few hours? A day? Act like nothing happened at work tomorrow?

But nothing did happen, at least I don't think.

I had my first date. I don't give a fuck if she tries to say it wasn’t–it was for me.

Pulling out my phone, I check my notifications.

Apart from my mom asking me to call her back and a reminder for my next session with my therapist, there's nothing new. Nothing fromher.

My jaw tightens as I grind my teeth, checking her social media and expecting one of her life quotes to pop up.

Nothing.

Her last post was a week ago, sharing a story about a fundraiser for cancer.

I exit her page and open up my emails, asking my contact if he has any new information for me. The last I heard, he found out she’s on the pill that has been prescribed to her for years.

Now, I wait.

I toss my keys on the kitchen counter and start my night time routine. My medicine cabinet is fully stocked, and each pill that keeps me grounded slides down my throat with a cold glass of water.

My phone dings, and I huff when I see who the message is from.

Justin: I know you're into Aria, so I'm telling you as a friend not to bother. She's fresh out of a relationship and doesn't sleep around. Apparently, she keeps running back to the asshole. You want a quick fuck? I can ask Gabriella if she wants an extra dick.

Justin: Or I could watch you both. Whichever you prefer.

Me: Fuck off.

She keeps running back to him. My doctor won't be running back to fucking anyone if I can help it.

I stare at my empty glass, white knuckling the countertop as a message finally comes through from Aria.

Doctor Miller: Hey. So one of the receptionists from our ward saw me getting out of your car and asked me if something was going on. It was fun tonight, but we should keep things strictly work-related so no one gets the wrong impression. I'll speak to Gabriella too.