Page 88 of Scoring His Obsession

Tab grins. “Well, except that time she humped Micah Freeman on live television.”

I elbow her. “Don’t remind her. It was traumatizing.”

Before long, Tab and I are sitting on another bright-white couch, lights in our faces, while the two hosts with impossibly white teeth are welcoming us on. The interview goes as expected.Since Tab and I are both here and we’re in Nashville, we assumed we would be talking about Pet Threads and we are. We touch a little bit on the video, of course, but Micah isn’t even mentioned by the time it seems like we’re wrapping it up.

Tab is amazing. She shines in the spotlight, and I’m sure everyone can tell now that they’ve been asking the wrong partner to be on TV. The anxiety in my stomach starts to dissipate. Another interview unscathed. Katya, Jace, and Sunny—our new employee—are holding things down at the store. I’ve got my dog right beside me. What could be better?

Then the tone changes. I barely hear the words spoken, only the gist. Like even as they come in, I try to block them out. Micah. Relationship. Trade rumors.

I freeze, panic entombing me. Everything around me fades, and all I feel is the rising surge of anxiety, like an elephant stepping on my chest one foot at a time. If Micah is traded, he won’t live in Nashville anymore. What will happen? Where will he go? What if he’s clear across the country?

My heart slams against my ribs. In my head, I see my father being whisked away by winds hell-bent on destruction, and this feels a lot like that. Like the path is only going somewhere unavoidable and tragic.

Tab talks next to me while Athena places her two front paws into my lap and licks my face. Her attention helps me calm a bit. A very little, but enough for me to hear Tab cussing out the hosts.

“We didn’t know she didn’t know.”

“Well, you were obviously aware you were going to ask that question. A heads up would’ve been nice. But you didn’t care. You wanted to see her squirm.”

“We wanted to see her raw reaction, yes.”

“Well, here, you’ve got it!” she almost yells. “What a great thing to do to someone with anxiety. Congratulations.” She comes over and puts her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it.“Attention and likes are fleeting, but you’re the ones who have to live with your actions.”

“Miss—” An important-looking person comes out with a suit. “We?—”

Tab puts up a hand. “No excuses. Don’t worry. We’re pretty popular on social media, too. We’ll see what happens when we voice our side of the story.”

Athena is doing her thing and making sure my body doesn’t spiral out of control, but it’s my mind that latches onto the thought of Micah leaving. Micah…just gone.

Tab kneels next to me. “Are you alright, honey? Fucking idiots. I’m sure it’s fine. It could just be a rumor.”

Tears leak from my eyes. I love that I have someone like Tab. She gets me. She understands why I’m so upset.

“We’re back on in thirty seconds.”

Tab whips her head around. “Good. Come back on so I can explain to your viewers what rotten people you all are. I’m not moving her like this.”

“Ma’am!” The voice moves closer.

Tab stands again, and it feels like my throat starts to close. Athena paws at me, placing her leg on my chest in a reminder to breathe. It feels like everything is closing in. My brain is screaming.

Another scuffle in the distance sounds before I hear, “Hey!”

I know that voice. My vision narrows further. All I can hear is the pounding in my ears and the rapid fluttering of my heart. Soundless tears track down my face, and Athena kisses them away.

I want to come out of it for her. She’s trying so hard, but my mind won’t shut off.

“Hey, it’s me. It’s me.”

Not Tab this time. Micah…

“Breathe, okay? Good girl, Athena.”

The arguing in the background is still going on. It’s setting my nerves over the edge.

“I’m right here,” he says softly. “Right here.”

It’s like he said the magic words. I start to steady my breath. Four inhales, four exhales. Repeat.

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