Page 116 of Pretty Obsessed

“Well then, tell him I’m retiring and he’s going to write it.”

“Only if he finishes his book.” I hoped today went well for him.

“Still not done? Shit, I guess I’ll need to reconsider my monetary plans.”

“You could just sell your boxers on the side and make a living. Bet the bulge people would be all over that.” I tried to hold back a laugh but failed.

“Alister already does that.” Iris shot me a glance over his shoulder as he walked out to the balcony.

I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not. “I was going to ask, but don’t tell me.”

He held a lighter to a joint he’d produced from someplace. “Will you spill already? What’s going on with you two?”

“Well, it started over the phone. We were having video sex.”

Iris gave an impressed noise. “That’s one way to keep things alive.”

I grinned over at him. “It’s been quite arousing.”

“And the issue is?” Iris ashed the joint over the railing.

“We started talking about ownership. Which is also extraordinarily arousing.”

“It sounds like you’re dating to me,” he mumbled around the joint.

“So I thought as well, and then he established it’s only when we are in the same city.” I turned away, not ready for his judgment, or maybe it was mine I couldn’t handle.

“And you went along with that?”

“What could I say? I’m gone all the time. Maybe he doesn’t want to be tied down.” I stared at the city surrounding us, not sure how much more of this I could take.

“I can’t imagine he’d feel like that.” Iris put his hand on my shoulder. “And if he is, he isn’t the person for you. The right person will want everything you want for you.”

“Maybe that’s it. Maybe he doesn’t want this lifestyle. We are saddled with this insane pressure to be role models when we are barely adults ourselves. And we have this pressure to never mess up, and yet have every single thing we do and say up for public consumption and judgment. I’m putting all of that on him if we ever are public. We’d barely have a private life.”

“So don’t be public. It’s not anyone’s business.”

“Maybe you’re right. Is that why you and Cas never?”

He lifted his shoulders. “No, I want everyone to know who I’m dating, and the right person will want that with me.”

Sadness bled from him. He gaped like an open wound, and I wished I could do something to stop the flow of emotions leaking from him. Or even help. But I didn’t know how.

“You deserve that.” I pulled him into a hug, not sure who needed it more.

* * *

We went to our meeting and made sure we were good to go to the studio tomorrow, but I wasn’t present. Too in my head, going over and over what Emory had said.

Emory wore a smile when I returned to the hotel room, looking up from his screen like I was the best thing he’d laid eyes on. The warmth in his expression hit me in the chest.

“You're early, if I’d had known you were on your way back, I would have been on my knees waiting.”

My entire body reacted to his words. “My mistake. One I won’t make again.”

“I’ve been waiting with my phone.” He smiled coyly. What a tease. “How’d your meetings go?”

“Great, we’re excited to get back in the studio.”

---