Page 18 of Shadowed Obsession

“I’m fine. I just got caught on something,” I lie.

“I know what a gunshot wound looks like. I’m in medical school,estupido!Or did you forget since you’re DIY-ing my job? DoesMamieven know you’re back?” she asks, fishing her phone from the tote bag on her arm.

“Please don’t tell her. She doesn’t need this right now,” I beg.

“Start talking, Chuki. Now,” she demands, crossing her arms and sucking her teeth. She stares at the wound, shaking her head as it starts to bleed again.

“Okay. I’m seeing someone. It’s new.” Her eyebrows jump up, and before she can start asking more questions, I continue. “I was hoping to surprise her when I got back from Puerto Rico. You know I was getting the house set up forAbuelita.”

“Yeah, and?” she urges, waving her hand for me to hurry.

I sigh. “Well, I scared her and she…shot me. I promise I’m okay. Just grazed me.”

Her face scrunches in disbelief, and she asks, “If you’re dating…and you came over to see her, why would she shoot you?”

“She—uh, scares easily.”

That’s a fucking lie.

“She wouldneverintentionally hurt me. It was an accident, and she’s pretty shaken up, and I’d like to get back to her. You know, more women should carry weapons,” I suggest with a shrug, ignoring the pain. “So, are you going to keep interrogating me or will you help wrap this up since you barged intomyhouse?” I say, pointing at the gauze on the counter.

Now, I understand how she felt about uninvited guests.

“Uh—sure.” She crosses over to my sink, washing her hands before applying gauze to my bicep. “You know, for a dummy, you did a good job cleaning this wound.”

I snort. “Thanks. You can learn anything on the internet.”

“You could’ve called me,” she reminds me in a soft tone, focused on the task at hand.

“You mean to tell me I’m paying for you to learn shit like this when it’s online forfree?”

She rolls her eyes, stifling a laugh. “You’re an idiot. So, when can I = meet the woman who shot my brother? Maybe she could give me some pointers,” she adds with a cackle.

I mock her laugh. “I’m not ready for her to meet everyone yet. The last thing I want to do is scare her off. Anddon’ttellMami.”

“Fine. You’re all set. I’ll get out of here,” she tells me as she pats the now covered wound, making me hiss out my exhale.

“Please. It’s late, and I know you love the guest bed. Go on,” I assure, tilting my head toward the hallway.

She stands on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “Goodnight. Be safe.

Maybecallbefore you drop by this time,” she teases as she proceeds down the hall.

“Saysyou,” I chime after her, and she blows a raspberry before shutting the bedroom door.

The drive back to Doe’s is calm and free of deer. I stand outside her bedroom window at a respectful distance to find her peeking out the curtain as if she’s been expecting me. Her eyes widen when she realizes I’ve returned, and I greet her with a text.

I live to piss you off another day. Go to bed, Doe.

She picks up her phone and smirks. I give her a wave as I head back to my truck. I shake the curiosity of what it would be like to sleep beside her.That ain’t happening, I tell myself when my engine roars to life.

I knowexactlywhat makes her so dangerous, yet I’ll be back tomorrow and the next day. She ain’t getting rid of me that easily.

8/

viola the monstera

Deirdre

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