Page 56 of Her Dark Obsession

“I’ll be fine,” I tell her. “Come on, lie down with me for a little bit.” I take her hand as I lead her over to her bed. I’ve seen it in many video calls I’ve had with her, but never in my life did I think I’d be in her bedroom. I guess I am as insane as she thinks she is, because it really was suicidal to sneak up here. Alsoworth it.

Aurora lies down with me but her gaze keeps going to the door.

“It’s going to be fine,” I say.

“You don’t know that,” she replies.

“I promise I will not let myself get caught in here. Now, tell me about how we’re going to become the Bonnie and Clyde of serial killers together.”

Aurora’s hand comes up to slap at my chest. “Shut up. We are not. I’m not saying I want to go around killing people. I just don’t hate doing it.” She sighs. “Can I tell you something?”

“Anything.”

“I never felt before you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, I never felt attracted to anyone. I never felt this overwhelming need for anyone before I saw you,” she says. “And now you’re all I can think about and it’s suffocating. I feel like I can’t breathe when you’re not near me.”

“Well, if you ever need to breathe, come and find me. I’ll always be around for you,” I say. “No matter what happens, I will always be your oxygen.” And I mean that. I know the chances ofus living a happily ever after are slim to none, but I will never turn my back on this girl. If she needs help, I’m going to help her.

“Promise?” She holds up her pinkie.

I mirror the gesture before I bring our joint fingers to my lips and kiss them. “Promise.”

Aurora fell asleep within fifteen minutes. I stayed in her bed, holding her for an hour. Just staring at her. She really is a true sleeping beauty, so fucking breathtaking. I was supposed to be distancing myself from her. Tonight, I did the opposite. I feel like I went all in. We both did.

It’s just going to hurt more when it all blows up in our faces. The thought of her hurting doesn’t sit well with me, and I just can’t figure out a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Kenny’s car stops in front of me. I called him to come and get me once I was clear of Aurora’s house. It wasn’t easy getting out unseen. Let’s just say I hope the blocker I put on the property’s CCTV worked. If not, I have no doubt her father will see I was there.

Again, if I get killed because I wanted to give my girlfriend a bit of comfort when she needed it, then so be it. I don’t regret it.

“Nice neighborhood,” Kenny says, giving me the side-eye as I climb into his passenger seat.

“It’s not bad.” I shrug.

“You know who lives just 'round the corner? Aurora Valentino, that little asylum escapee you’re not supposed to be dating.” He laughs.

“Don’t call her that,” I growl. “There is nothing wrong with her.” I know she plays into the whole insane vibe, but after tonight, I also know it fucking bothers her that people believe it.

“Jeez, relax. I was joking,” Kenny says. “Mostly. But seriously, you can’t tell me she’s not a little unhinged.”

“She’s not unhinged,” I reply. “She’s just… misunderstood.”

“Fuck, you’ve got it bad.” Kenny shakes his head. “Where am I taking you?”

I think about it for a minute. I don’t want to go home and deal with my parents right now. “Cabin.”

“Party?”

“On a Sunday?” I raise a brow at him.

“Why not?” Kenny picks up his phone and dials a number. I tune him out as he starts ordering his friends around.

You know those moments where you have hindsight? I’m having one of those right now as I watch drunken teenagers fall over each other, grind together half naked, or puke their guts up because they can’t handle their alcohol. I should have told Kennynoto his party idea.

At the time, I thought it’d be a good distraction, something to take my mind off the girl I left sleeping in her bed. The one I just gave my heart to on a silver fucking platter. She’s probably going to be the one to crush it too, and knowing Aurora, she’ll do it with her bare hands.

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