Page 17 of His Coveted Obsession

She rolled her eyes again. “I’ve had sex education, thank you very much. And there is this little thing called the Internet. You may have heard of it.”

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Brat, but I love you, anyway.” I tugged on a pair of baggy jeans, zipped them up, and looked at myself in the mirror hanging over my dresser. Then I faced Annie with my arms out. “Well, how do I look?”

She shrugged. “Like you always do.”

“Ugh, I know, but I can’t…”

She stepped up to me and wrapped her thin arms around me, and I held her back. “I know. We can’t afford much. Anyway, he better love you, or I’m going to punch him in the nuts.”

I chuckled and kissed the top of her blond head. “It’s just a date, Annie Boo.”

I needed to hurry so I wouldn’t be late. Something told me Easton wouldn’t appreciate it.

“Okay, I’m off. Don’t wait up for me.”

We hugged again, and I ran off after grabbing my wallet and house key, which hung on a chain, and wrapped it around my neck.

“Have fun.”

“Text me if you need me.”

Even if I stayed the night at Easton’s place, Annie would be fine to go to school on her own. We’d been taking care of ourselves for years now.

As I ran down the stairs and grabbed my coat from the tiny front closet, Dad stopped me. “Where are you going?”

I shrugged on my coat, pulled on a scarf, and put on my gloves. “I’ve got a date.”

“Who is this man?”

“Someone I met at the coffee shop. Anyway, I’ll be back later.”

“Wait… Tommy?”

I turned to face him as he walked over to me from the living room. “Yeah?”

He stood there, rubbing his neck, not looking at me. A lump formed in my throat and worked its way down to my stomach. It was an all-too-familiar feeling.

“Listen, uhm, do you think there’s a way to get back that money I gave you? I, ah… there’s this horse and Iknowshe’s going to win. I could really make bank on her.”

I always tried to be happy and positive. Life was hard enough as it was, but Dad was good at disappointing me. He didn’t try to be a bad man, but he stopped being a good man a while ago.

There was no way I was giving him that money back, no matter how much I hated how he’d gotten it. “Sorry, Dad. Can’t. I spent it on tuition, like you said.” I hated lying so much. I hated listening to it and doing it. But I didn’t want him begging me for it if I told him it was in the bank. Thank god, I deposited it. I had no doubt once I left, he’d snoop around in my room.

“Dammit! I need that cash,” he snapped.

I tensed, feeling the anger rise. “You don’t need it. Anyway, I’m gone. Don’t wait up.”

I rushed out of there before he could complain or beg, slamming the screen door behind me.

The late afternoon was cold and still wet from the sleeting last night, but at least it hadn’t frozen over. I jogged to the bus stop two blocks away and waited.

I made it to the coffee shop with five minutes to spare and stood outside, waiting. A minute later, a bright grass-green Porsche pulled up in front. Wow, what a pretty car. I wasn’t into cars all that much, but that one really stood out. It was beautiful with its unique color.

My jaw suddenly dropped when Easton climbed out. God, he looked so sexy in his gray-blue scarf and black wool coat. There was not a blond hair out of place. He was so elegantand handsome.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Ah, yeah.”

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