Page 89 of Pretty Obsessed

Iris sat in the corner with the pencil pulled out of his hair, writing in the notebook he always carried in his back pocket. His hair draped around him like a shield. I would have given anything to give him the happiness I’d found in Japan with Emory. But I didn’t know how to help him.

“Ready to take a look?” Aki asked, sitting up.

Emory held my gaze. “Yes.”

We both looked over as Aki wiped away the excess ink.

He stared at his arm, and my stomach jumped to my throat. Nothing showed on his face. I couldn’t bear the thought he wouldn’t like it. But what if he hated it and it tainted the entire trip?

“It’s spectacular. Wow. I don’t know how you managed so much detail in such a small space. It’s truly art. Thank you.”

Aki tipped his head. “It was a pleasure to be given the honor.”

Emory turned towards me at last, and I breathed for the first time. He cupped my face. “Do you like it?”

“I love it—” I cut myself off before more feelings spilled from my lips.

We walked out, all sporting wraps and smiling. Emory pulled his sweater tighter around him, looking completely like an English professor. I hung back to walk with Iris.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting lost again tonight.”

“Cas is looking for me.” Which meant yes.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been ignoring his calls.” Iris pulled his phone out to show me.

“Then take Smith with you.” The bodyguard tailed us, always staying just far enough away where he didn’t feel overwhelming.

“Don’t make me.”

“Please.”

He sighed. “Fine, but don’t tell Cas where I am.”

They left as we neared the hotel and I leaned against the side of the building, the high from the night hit me hard.

“Are you okay?” Emory didn’t touch me, but he stayed close.

I still wanted him closer. “I think the day is sinking in.”

What more could I say? That I wanted to ask him to stay? That I’d had a massive revelation before the show? That I was worried about Iris?

“What is hitting you?” he stroked his fingers down my bare arm.

“It’s been intense. Lots of feelings. Good ones and hard ones…” I hoped that would give him enough and he wouldn’t press.

“It has been a lot, and I’m sure you’re worried.”

Relief flooded through me. Iris was easier to talk about than my feelings for him. “I’m worried he’s not going to get through this.”

Would it all come crashing down when Emory left? Not only was he my support and a large part of my happiness but he’d become close with Iris as well and it made me doubt if any of this could be done without him. How I’d functioned before having him there. It made me come to terms with how long I’d been running on empty.

Eighteen

Emory Ker

“Because of the fight or the drugs?” It felt weird to be having this conversation, standing in an alley, watching Iris fade into the dark in a foreign city.

---