Page 9 of Psychotic Obsession

What the fuck is going on with me? I met her days ago, and now I’m hiring people to dig into her personal life, and for what?

Because I think she’s pretty?

Yes. Because sheispretty. Probably the only girl I’ve taken an interest in. My nerves around her are my first warning sign, but the deep, intense need to claim her over her little fucking deskis my biggest red flag that I need to calm down and take this as slowly and carefully as possible so I don’t scare her off.

Blowing out a breath, I check myself in the bathroom mirror and adjust my glasses before going back out into the ward to find my doctor.

Chapter 4

Aria

Gabriella has always been a bit of a party animal. She can down drink after drink and never get drunk, stay up until early morning and still look perfect.

But when we decided to go out tonight, I truly believed it would be a relaxed, de-stressing night, considering we’re in America for work. Alas, she never fails to prove me wrong, because I’m currently watching someone effortlessly swing on a pole, music nearly blowing my eardrums out from how close Gabriella has us sitting to the speakers.

The band she came here to see canceled last minute, but she decided to make use of her night anyway.

I keep my glass of water close—I don’t know anyone here, and I refuse to get roofied. Not only because I’d likely die, but I also need to be up early tomorrow for another meeting with Dr. Blythe.

I fix my glasses onto my head, pulling some of my hair from my face and looking around the club. The strobe lights will likely give me a migraine soon–the base from the music is literally shaking the booth beneath my ass, and I’m starting to realize how much of a moody party-pooper I’m being.

“You’re frowning so hard, Aria,” Gabs says in my ear, loud enough for me to hear over the music. “At least have one drink to lighten your mood. Please.”

I roll my eyes but laugh. “I’ll end up drunk on the floor and late for work tomorrow if I have as much as a sniff of alcohol.”

“Lightweight,” she mutters.

I flinch back as she lifts her glass to my face, my nostrils filling with the smell of her pink gin. “See?” she says. “You sniffed, and you’re still sober and moody.”

“Saturday,” I tell her. “Then I’m all yours.”

“Has Ewan been blowing up your phone?” she asks, letting her eyes scan the room.

I shake my head. “I asked him for space, and he’s giving me it.”

“Well…what’s the best way to get over someone who cheated on you?”

My shoulders slouch. “You know I’m not going to sleep with someone else. We only just broke up. Besides, he cheated on me six years ago, not recently.” Despite me only just finding out about the betrayal, it still hurt enough for me to walk away. All those years of lies just slapped me across the face.

“I don’t care if he cheated on you two hundred years ago and you just found out. He’s a snake and doesn’t deserve you. When the right person shows up, or more like trip you up, and you embarrass yourself by hitting his foot with your tampon, you’ll be ready to be fucked within an inch of your life and forget all about that cheating sleeze-bag.”

“What about Jason?”

“That’s something you need to talk to Ewan about, when you’re ready. I know you’ve basically raised him, but how will it work if you're no longer dating his dad?”

All I do is shrug and chew my lip.

She narrows her eyes behind me. “Isn’t that the extremely hot and extremely off-limits assistant you hit with said tampon?”

“I didn’t hit him with my tampon,” I retort then click on to what she just said.

I turn in my seat, my eyes landing on Tobias and Gabriella’s assistant, Justin. They’re standing at the bar, the latter talking to a girl while Tobias’ eyes are cast down to his phone screen, one hand in his pocket. He looks impatient, agitated, and god dammit, he’s hot. Definitely the type I would go for if I was swiping for a date online.

Not that I know. I’d been dating Ewan since I was a teenager, and this is the second break we’ve taken. The thought of my ex has me swallowing and ignoring the urge to call him to break my own rule.

Ewan has been trying to get back together–I’d asked him to leave me alone so I can think about things.

But I can’t go back to someone who was unfaithful, regardless of me finding out years later and raising his kid.