Page 139 of Pretty Obsessed

Iexpected him to bring up our argument. Or the idea of dating again, but not a word. I understood why he hadn’t after how it turned out last time, but my heart ached. It sat on the tip of my tongue the entire time he was there.

I went over and over Octavius' words and I still didn't know what was right. All I knew was I didn't want him to leave.

We talked every day. He might have been on the other side of the world with a schedule so packed, I didn't know how he didn't lose it. But I never felt like he was too busy for me. We talked and we laughed.

"I've missed your face." River lay in bed, half-asleep. He'd had a long day. He hadn't said so but I could read it in the lines in his eyes.

"You saw it a few hours ago." I laughed, unable to help my smile.

"Doesn't mean I don't miss being able to touch it."

"Okay, you have a point there." I switched my position, rolling to my stomach.

"How's your novel?"

My smile grew. "I'm so close. I can taste it."

He sat up, staring at the phone. "Really?"

"Yes. Only took many months longer than it should have, but it's nearly twice as long as I thought it would be."

"Twice?" The joy on his face was infectious. I wanted to touch his lips.

"Nearly. It's the book that wouldn't end." I brushed my fingers over the lines of his smile on the screen like a creepy bastard. "But not in a bad way. It's all needed."

"The story took more words to tell. I'm sure your fans will love it."

"Did you finish the single?" They'd spent the day in a studio someplace in England. He'd been sending me pictures. It was like out of a dream.

I wished I could have been there with him. Experienced it all firsthand. But I loved being the person he shared it with.

"Yes, I think so. It's amazing. Want to hear some of it?"

"You can do that?" I sat up.

"Of course I can. Let me get my iPad." He rolled and reached for something off-screen. "Ready?"

I nodded, holding my breath.

The most beautiful melody started to play. Sad, but in came a beat, morphing the sadness to a depth.

The hook came in and the lyrics were beautiful.

"Stardust and rain drips.

We had the universe in our grasp.

Cold clean obsession.

Three days since you called me.

Two more and the silence is loud

Deafening.

Secrets and lies I believed so many times.

There’s no escape, there’s no surrender, we go on blindly.

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