Page 89 of Unapologetic Obsession
“I guess so.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re developing intimate relationships, showing patterns of healthy habits, and seeking me out when you need it. Whatever triggered this progress, stay on course. I have a client that’s about to walk in, but I want you to schedule an in-person session so we can talk through these major changes in your life.”
No way. She would figure me out if I met her in person. “I’ll check my schedule and get back to you. Thanks for taking my call.”
“Anytime.”
I hung up. Blowing out a breath, I texted Poppy to meet up for a study session. I was done talking about my feelings and wanted to be around someone who wouldn’t probe me for answers. I threw on a pair of taupe high-waisted trousers, a stone-colored shirt, and grabbed a trench coat on the way out of my room.
Amelie was already in the living room, dressed in a teal jumper and ready to take on the day.
“Good morning,” she said cheerily, pouring me a cup of coffee and handing me a granola bar. It was our breakfast staple.
My senses awoke when I sipped on my morning java, and I almost forgot the horrors that had kept me up all night. “You’re up early,” I said.
“You’re one to talk.”
“I have to study.”
“But you never wake up this early, even during midterms.”
I unwrapped the bar and took a bite. Not because I was hungry, but to buy myself time. We had lived together since freshman year, and she was attuned to my strict regime. I was walking on eggshells. One misstep and Amelie would figure out something was wrong.
I would have confided in her if she weren’t so fiercely protective. There was a big chance she would report Professor Maxwell to the administrators, and I couldn’t let that happen.
“Consider today an anomaly.” I flashed her my brightest smile, packing my tote bag with books and pens. “I’m heading to Bageltown to study with Poppy. Wanna come?” I asked, hoping it would distract her enough to drop the topic.
“Sure. I don’t have class till noon.”
We descended the stairs to exit the building, stepping into the lively energy of the campus mall. The building with “Bageltown” engraved on the side was past the manicuredgardens. Just as we reached our destination, I caught a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision. I could have sworn I saw a figure with dirty-blond hair and a muscular build.
Turning slowly, I watched students rushing off to their early morning classes.
Amelie gave me a gentle nudge and a questioning look because I had stopped short in front of the café. Shaking my head, I stepped inside and tried to dismiss the unsettling feeling.
It was a figment of my imagination, I told myself. I had been on edge since yesterday, that was all. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
A wave of relief washed over me when I spotted Poppy in her signature all-black ensemble. Her presence was familiar and comforting. She had claimed a table far away from everyone else, exuding an unmistakable aura that warned others to keep their distance.
“Morning,” I greeted, dropping my bag on the chair opposite her.
“Morning, Poppy!” Amelie added cheerfully.
Poppy barely acknowledged us, glancing up briefly before returning to her book on microfinance.
Amelie didn’t take the dismissal personally as she had become quite desensitized to Poppy’s ways. “I’m going to place our orders.” She didn’t ask me what I wanted. We never looked at the menu and always opted for our usuals—an oat milk lavender latte for me and an almond chai for her. “Do you want anything?” she asked Poppy.
Poppy cut her another sharp glance. With a shrug, Amelie made her way to the counter.
I fixed Poppy with a pointed look. “You could be a little nicer to my roommate.”
She didn’t lift her eyes from her book. “You didn’t mention she was coming.”
“I thought you liked Amelie.”
“She serves me no purpose.”
My jaw dropped. “Poppy! You know how much I love Amelie.”
