Page 59 of Psychotic Obsession
I've never been so off the ball with work. I can hear my worst nightmare currently walking up the hallway, and I know she's about to blow through my office and lose her?—
"What the fuck, Aria?" Gabriella snaps. "Why didn't you go to the meeting?"
I frown at her, wiping hair out of my oily face. "What meeting?"
"You are unbelievable." She shuts my office door, dropping down on the chair opposite my desk. She's never looked at me the way she is now – disgusted. I prepare myself for an argument. "I think you need to take some time off work, maybe go see someone."
"I don't needto see someone."
"Aria! You are a mess.” She picks up the empty wine glass and sees the bottle under my desk, her mouth dropping open. “You’re drinking at work? What the fuck? And when do you evermiss any type of meeting for Ivy, or any of your patients for that matter?”
All I do is glare at her. She’s also becoming an issue in my relationship.
"My best friend never forgets this stuff, ever."
I take a deep breath, fed up with her controlling ways. "Then maybe your best friend needs you to back the hell off."
She tuts, completely disappointed in me. "I've already filed your paperwork. Pack your things and come back when you're feeling better," she tells me, standing tall. "I've been trying for weeks to get you on track, Aria. I've done everything I can as a friend to help you, and nothingI do is working. You don't speak to me at home, you never pick up my calls, and you act like I'm some sort of enemy. You're my best friend. Tell me how I can fix this?"
"Stoptrying to fix something that isn't broken, Gabriella."
I watch as her eyes well up, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she nods slowly. "I know you're going through a hard time. Not seeing Jason as much and your parents demanding you go see them, it must be eating you alive, but I'mhere for you. And I'm not saying that it's Tobias." I glare at her as she says his name, preparing to go to war. "But ever since he's come into your life, you're not the same, Aria. He doesn’t have your best interests at heart, and I think he might be manipulating and controlling you."
"Tobias is the only person there for me!" I slam my palm on my desk and stand up. "He's the one talking me down when I panic for no reason. He's the one who cares about my actual feelings and knows exactly how to make me feel better. Not you, not Ewan, not Jason. Him."
She scowls at me, humming as if somethingregisters with her. She takes a deep breath, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Okay, then I'll go stay elsewhere."
"You do that," I snap as she walks out of my office, and an email pops up telling me to go on leave for four weeks.
Gabriella,staying true to her word, clears out half of her drawers, leaving a note on the kitchen counter.
Aria,
I know my best friend more than anyone on this earth, even more than that idiot Ewan. Get some sleep, go back to the gym, and eat healthy like you always did before. I promise you that it will get easier, and I will be with you every step of the way. But please, for the love of god, get that guy out of your life before he ruins it.
I'm giving you space. Get your head straight and take a bath... preferably a long one.
I love you.
G.
I reread it, unsure if she's genuine, or if she's belittling me. Scrunching up the paper, I toss it in the trash, opening the fridge and grabbing one of the bottles of wine. I skip a glass, drinking straight from the bottle as I sit down on my bed, staring out my window at the busy streets, my afternoon taking a ridiculous turn.
I'm happy, I'm reallyhappy. Gabriella needs to just back off and concentrate on her own life. Maybe it's jealousy that Justin hasn’t spoken to her since leaving, or maybe she just misses having me to herself, but Tobias is my number one.
My phone dings as soon as I finish the bottle, and since I have everyone else on silent, I know it's Tobias. I bite down on my lip while I drunkenly attempt to unlock my screen, the fingerprint scanner not working.
I enter my pin instead, failing six times before opening the message.
TobiasWork: How's work?
Just as I begin to reply that it's been a shitty day, someone knocks on my front door. Instantly, I jump up off the bed, stumbling a little while I screw my eyes up, totally buzzed.
"Who is it?" I yell out, using the wall to lead me down the hallway.
No one replies, and I get butterflies at the possibility of Tobias being here, waiting on the other side of the door, cupping my cheeks, and telling me that everything is going to be okay.
I hurry, stubbing my toe on the sofa, cursing as I wobble to the front door, swinging it open with a wide smile. It drops as soon as I see who it is, and quickly, I slam the door on his worried face.
