His Secret Obsession
Chapter 10

"Yo, she lives!" Carson said loudly, causing me to wince from his booming voice.

"How are you alive though? That's the real question." Asher added like we weren't just kissing and my life wasn't just flipped upside down.

Asher walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a Gatorade, placing it in front of me. His eyes met mine for the briefest moment before he turned away and sat at the kitchen island on a stool. Anxiety filled me..what the hell has happened since yesterday? I had three guys into me in the span of twenty-four hours?! Better late than never I guess.

"Surprisingly I didn't drink that much. And holy shit..did you guys clean the kitchen?" Carson said with surprise, looking around the kitchen. I peered over at Asher, the memory of his mouth on mine flashing through my head as I pressed my lips tightly together, unable to speak.

"Not me, just Em." Asher informed him, pulling out his phone as he glanced up at me once more. I quickly looked away and was suddenly met with Carson's arms wrapping around my waist and picking me up. "Carson! I'm going to be sick." I whined, seriously..my stomach was not doing well..between the alcohol and Asher drama..I was close to yacking.

"Thanks, Em..you are a fucking godsend. Our sweet and kind Em." He crooned, making me laugh as I turned my head to look at him.

"Now you are making me feel like you want something else. " I said, looking at him with narrowed eyes. Suddenly I heard my phone vibrate as I batted at Carson's hands, making him put me down. "When you move to the new apartment we should do dinners a couple of times a week together." Carson brought up randomly as he walked towards the coffee maker.

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." I agreed, taking a sip from the Gatorade Asher gave me and fighting the urge to look at him again.

"Can't believe our Em is all grown up, right Ash?" He winked, glancing at Asher who was on his phone.

I pulled my own phone off the charger and saw the time was now 9:20 am and went to call my dad, of course he picked up on the second ring.

"Hey bug, I was getting worried." He said, a twinge of stress in his voice.

"Sorry Dad my phone died and I had to charge it. We are all just now waking up. I think we might go to brunch unless you want me home now." I said, pleading silently for him to tell me to come home now. "Nah, you go have fun. Your uncle and I have to go up towards the city for a few hours so we won't be home until dinner." He informed me and I soon realized they must be on the hunt for another car part. "Okay, you want me to make spaghetti tonight?" I asked, seeing Carson turn and look at me. Oh god..I forgot Carson loves spaghetti night.

"Yeah, invite the whole gang too if you like." He added, making me nod my head as Carson nodded his too..smiling mischievously. I couldn't help but roll my eyes when I suddenly felt my phone buzz against my ear. "Okay Dad I love you, see you tonight." I added quickly.

"Love you too bug." And with that, he hung up.

I pulled my phone from my ear and opened the messaging app.

6 new messages.

Trixie69: sooo..how did it go?

Ronan74: Good morning beautiful, I haven't been able to get you off my mind all morning.

Ronan74: Did you sleep well?

Ronan74: Maybe you are still sleeping, call me when you wake-up?

Ronan74: please send me a picture too..I miss you already.

Ronan74: hello?

Shit, he has been trying to reach me all morning..I hope he isn't mad. A pang of guilt began to fill me..ugh, while Ronan was worried about me I was in the kitchen being kissed by Asher. Should I tell Ronan about it? Oh god..why is everything so complicated now. Katina to Ronan74: hey! Sorry, my phone died and I just charged it. Sorry for not responding earlier. I miss you too.

Katina to Trixie69: a lot happened...let's just say I had some liquid courage to finally talk to Ronan..

I glanced up, realizing Carson and Asher were both looking at me as I cleared my throat.

"So what's up with the guy Em.." Carson asked straight out. Causing me to choke on my spit and glance between him and Asher.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to compose myself.

"Who is he? Where does he live?" Carson asked, grabbing his coffee and making another cup.

I knew if I didn't say anything Carson would just drag it out, so it's better to just give him the basics..that won't hurt.

"Well..his name is Ronan..at least I think. And we met on that online game I play Destiny Reborn. I'm not sure where he lives yet..I guess I better ask that.." I laughed awkwardly, trying not to be fully embarrassed.

"Destiny Reborn..don't you play that Ash?" Carson asked, turning to Asher as it seemed like it was his turn to choke now. But why was he choking?

Did Asher play Destiny Reborn? I never even knew that. I glanced at Asher as he looked away, waving his hand in the air.

"Yeah, like a few years ago, couldn't really get into it." He said, looking back down at his phone.

"Wierd, thought I saw you playing it the other day. Well..just be careful Em, you never know what kind of weirdos play those games..no offense." He added with a chuckle.

"Just don't want you getting catfished by a fifty-year-old dude or something." Carson quipped and I pointed at him.

"That's what I said! I asked if he was an old dude. He said he is twenty-two though, but he did send me a picture too." I admitted.

"Let me see, I can totally tell if he is a catfish." Carson declared, walking over towards me as Asher suddenly stood up.

"Carson, think I heard Jackie calling you." He said quickly, turning around slightly as we both looked at him curiously. Why was he acting so strange?

"Oh shit, I told her I would bring her coffee right away. Show me later okay?" He said, grabbing his and Jackie's coffee and walking swiftly away. I couldn't help but smile, seeing how sweet and doting he was being.

I looked up and suddenly realized Asher was gone now too..well I guess that isn't a bad thing..I have a lot of stuff to think about. I can't believe he kissed me..actually kissed me..oh god..what am I going to do. The real question is now..did he mean it? I was midthought when my phone buzzed once more.

Ronan74: So you are alive, I was getting worried.

Katina: sorry, I forgot to charge my phone.

Ronan74: hmm I think you better send me two pictures now to make up for it.

I couldn't help but smile as I read his message, and quickly walked outside towards their outdoor pool.

I walked over to the edge, took off my shoes, and rolled up my pant legs, exposing my calves as I stuck my feet into the heated pool. One more benefit of having a model mom and lawyer dad..two pools.

Lifting my phone, I took a selfie of me by the pool and another one of me smiling brightly.

Katina: anything for you

I sent it, including the two pictures.

Katina: also the pool is not mine so don't get your hopes up.

I teased, waiting to hear from him as I closed my eyes, letting the morning sun wash over my body, warming me as a gentle breeze passed by. Suddenly I got the weirdest sensation that someone was watching me. I turned my head slightly, looking up towards the house, and thought I saw someone in the window briefly before disappearing. My phone began ringing, causing me to jump as I went to answer it.

"Hello?" I spoke softly, a little nervous to talk to Ronan after everything that happened last night and this morning.

"Good morning kitten." Ronan said cheerfully, a clear smile in his voice.

"Good morning, I missed you." I admitted, realizing I really did miss him already..what was wrong with me?

"I missed you too..thank you for the pictures. How is it possible for you to look even more beautiful in the mornings." He said sweetly and I couldn't stop the huge smile that formed on my lips.

"Maybe it was just really good lighting." I said with a laugh and I heard him sigh.

"I get the feeling you don't realize how beautiful you are." His tone was serious and I sat up straighter, his words making me feel..weird. did he really think I was beautiful? I wonder if he would have thought that way a few years ago.

"I guess it's something I'm still getting used to." I laughed awkwardly.

"What do you mean?" He asked, as I could hear him moving around on his end of the call.

"Well, I recently lost a lot of weight. So it feels kind of weird lately." I admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed like he might think badly of me..I know it's irrational..but that's how my brain works.

"How is it weird?" He spoke quietly, I couldn't tell he was trying to be kind and supportive.

"Eh, just some people who never gave me the time of day before suddenly seem to care. Like I am finally being noticed just because I look different..it kind of sucks, it makes me feel like I wasn't good enough before but suddenly I am now.. That's why I like talking with you Ronan, because you have seen me from the start. None of this stuff really matters...it's like you are interested in the real me..well I mean I hope so anyway." I added with an awkward laugh, feeling like I might have shared too much.

"Emery, I can guarantee you were beautiful before, the things that attracted me to you were things that I'm sure others have seen too. Like your laugh and kindness, how you seem to always put others first even before yourself..which I'm not sure I am too fond of, to be honest..you deserve to be first more than anyone. Also how short and feisty you are, and that you aren't afraid to do the right thing or what people might think of you." He said tenderly, his words the kindest thing I had ever heard in my life. He knew all that stuff about me and actually cared..no guy has ever said anything like that to me. Suddenly my eyes blinked open, the realization of what he said at the end hitting me.

"Wait, how did you know I was short?" I asked curiously and he went quiet, a thick silence filling the call for a few seconds.

"Oh, I um, I guessed by the pictures you sent. I think you mentioned something on the group calls too once." He responded nervously.

"Dang..and I was trying to catfish you to think I was 5'6"." I quipped, causing him to laugh, and let out a sigh of relief.

"I like that you are shorter..I think it's adorable. Picturing you in my arms..your legs wrapped around my waist." He said with a deep and velvety tone, making my stomach flip.

Suddenly my head went straight to Asher..my legs wrapped around him and his bare chest pressed into me. Shit..I stood quickly, clearing my throat as I began walking around the pool.

I heard Ronan chuckle, his voice pulling me out of my inappropriate thoughts.

"Would you like to have your legs wrapped around me?" He whispered in a low deep tone.

"Yeah..I would like that." I breathed, biting my lip, my hand going up to my thick brown hair and brushing it back. That tingling feeling returning once more as it slowly started to make its way down and pooled between my legs.

"Em! Come on we gotta get going!" Carson suddenly yelled out the back door, causing me to jump as my phone slipped out of my hand and landed straight into the pool.

I gasped, what I just did making Carson burst out laughing as I looked down in the pool.

"Better go get it." He yelled making me frown as I quickly jumped into the pool, diving down to the bottom and snatching up my phone.

I breached the surface, hearing laughter not only from Carson but from someone else in the house too.

"Why.." I whined, pulling myself out of the water with my soaking wet clothes.

"I have never met someone so clumsy in my life..and hey..my new hoodie." He frowned, realizing that I was still wearing his hoodie.

I looked down at my phone, water dripping from every hole as the screen was now black and dead.

"Better put it in some rice." He said, grabbing a towel from a basket by the house and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"Great..thanks Carson." I said sarcastically, glaring at him.

"Why is it my fault?!" He gasped, his hands raising up.

"Because you scared me!" I said, standing and walking towards the house.

"Hey, don't be dripping all over the house, at least try to dry off a little." He said, frowning at my soaking-wet appearance.

"Okay." I smiled mischievously and immediately began shaking my hair like a wet dog, splashing him as he yelled and ran towards the house.

"Don't even Em! I swear." He scowled, pointing a finger at me.

"Carson, give me a hug!" I teased, running towards him as he ran into the house, locking the back sliding door.

"Pat dry. Then you can come in." He yelled behind the glass and I rolled my eyes, wiping my wet clothes down as I tried to make it so I wasn't dripping.

"Can you at least put my phone in the rice?" I asked, holding up my now drowned phone.

I hope Ronan isn't worried..ugh, I probably won't get to talk to him until I get home now..I might have to buy a new phone.

Carson cracked the door, letting me hand him the phone, and swiftly shut and locked it once more. What a baby...

I drip-dried a little longer until Carson was satisfied and finally let me in. Walking into the kitchen I noticed Asher was now sitting at the island once more. He wore a white t-shirt with jeans, his curly brown hair was damp and amusement filled his eyes. I just cleared my throat, looking down as I passed by him.

"What happened Em? Why were you so jumpy?" He asked, a smirk on his lips as my cheeks turned beet red.

"No reason." I responded quickly and ran the hell out of that kitchen. Why did it feel like Asher knew I was thinking naughty thoughts when Carson scared me? How embarrassing..