Page 55 of Shadows of Obsession

Jared groaned, rolling over slowly. "What time is it?"

"Time to go. Move it."

He sat up eventually, rubbing his face, and stumbled toward the bathroom. I waited, fighting the urge to check every corner of my house to make sure nothing was out of place, nothing was missing. Theparanoia was probably unwarranted, but with Jared, I'd learned never to assume anything.

Once he was ready, or as ready as he was going to get, we headed out to the Jeep. The drive toward town took us through Connor's property, and I found myself slowing as we approached the riding ring.

Anna was there, riding one of the horses. A bay, moving him through ground poles with practiced ease. Even from here, I could see the focus on her face, the way she moved in perfect sync with the animal beneath her. I slowed to check in and make sure she was okay after this morning.

I rolled down the window as I pulled to a stop beside the fence. "We're heading to town. Need anything?"

The words sounded off, too casual, too forced. I was trying to sound normal but failing spectacularly. Typical.

Anna looked up, and something in her expression shifted when she spotted Jared in the passenger seat. She sat straighter in the saddle, her shoulders tensing the way I'd come to recognize, the same way she'd stiffened that first day when I'd crowded her space at the cabin.

"No, I'm good," she replied curtly, turning the horse around, deliberately dismissing us.

The rejection stung more than it should have. My expression darkened, brows furrowing as I glanced from Anna back to Jared. He seemed uninterested, eyes locked on the phone in his lap, seemingly oblivious to the tension radiating off her. I realized she was uncomfortable because of him.

With one last uncertain look toward Anna, I turned the Jeep back onto the gravel road and headed toward town. That sinking feeling settled in my gut like a stone. Did she think I was taking advantage of her? Did she believe Connor's overreaction this morning was justified?

Shit.I shouldn't have fallen asleep. The weight of that hit pressed down on me as I drove. The last thing I wanted was for Anna to feel uncomfortable or pressured in any way. Now, not only did Connor question my intentions, but Anna might too, despite what she'd said earlier.

The drive into town was tense, filled with that familiar kind of silence that exists between two people who have nothing to say but are stuck together anyway. I cranked up the radio to drown out my thoughts, but they kept circling back to Anna.

To the way she'd felt against my shoulder. The trust it took for her to fall asleep like that, knowing what she'd been through. The look on her face this morning when Connor interrupted us. The way she'd just dismissed me at the fence.

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to push the thoughts aside. I had enough to deal with without adding Anna to the list of things keeping me up at night.

But she was already on that list. Had been for a while now, if I was honest with myself.

We finished at the bank. Jared checked his pathetic account balance, then headed to meet with his parole officer. My phone stayed silent the entire time. No text from Anna. No message from Connor. Just the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on me like a physical force.

Jared's phone, on the other hand, was a disco light of activity, vibration after vibration from his side of the Jeep. Probably him linking back up with old buddies he had no business seeing. Not while he was staying in my house, anyway.

Eventually, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, expecting Connor.

It was Anna.

[Anna]:I rode out toward your house and saw your front door wasn't shut. I closed and locked it, just so you know.

My jaw tightened immediately. The door wasn't shut all the way?

[Me]:It wasn't shut all the way?

[Anna]:No. It was cracked, just touching the frame. It looked like you didn't pull it tight.

I glanced at Jared, slouched beside me in the parole office waiting area. I leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low and firm. "You didn't shut the door all the way at home."

Jared barely reacted, lifting his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Oh? My bad. Must've been an accident." He waved a dismissive hand and turned back toward one of the office doors.

"Don't dismiss me," I said sharply. "I live in the woods. You can't just leave the door open like that. Be more responsible, will you?"

He lazily met my gaze, indifferent and bored. "Fine," he replied flatly, clearly uninterested in prolonging the conversation.

I exhaled slowly, turning back to my phone.

[Me]:Okay, thanks for fixing it. Wouldn't want any wild animals finding their way in. Jared's enough.