His Secret Obsession
Chapter 20

I swallowed hard, gathering every ounce of strength I had just to take a step forward as I looked away from Asher and kept my head down. Why was he even here?

I honestly thought that I wouldn't be as affected as I am seeing him again..I thought that everything Ronan and I had experienced together would make what happened between Asher and me not as impactful..but the moment our eyes met, I swear all of those emotions and feelings rushed right back into me and I felt the guilt rising..I shouldn't be thinking about what happened. I shouldn't still feel the hurt and rejection..I refuse to..no, no way in hell am I letting Asher McNeal get under my skin..not today. "Hey, sorry about that, I just had to make a phone call." My eyes met with Mack who was giving her own death stare to Asher.

"Well we should get going, I would say it was nice seeing you Asher..but you and I both know that would be a lie." Mack said rudely and I made the mistake of glancing at Asher and his eyes were burning into me.

On the bright side, Ethan was no longer bothering me..he was actually avoiding me now that Asher was here, so maybe there is a silver lining to all of this after all.

"I thought I could hang with you guys, considering we are all friends here right?" Asher said cooly, glancing toward Craig and Ethan who seemed extremely uncomfortable. They looked worse than I felt. "Yeah, sure man..that's cool..of course." Craig managed to form an actual sentence while Mack practically stomped her foot angrily.

"Fine, whatever, I'm sure you were sent here by Carson anyway..he needs to get a damn life.." Mack grumbled, looping her arm through mine as she was now giving Craig the cold shoulder. Ethan on the other hand seemed completely pissed off, like his whole day was now ruined.

There was no denying that Craig was affected by Asher's presence one hundred percent. Considering Asher was the captain of their team, there was a certain amount of respect that had to be shown. I could tell Ethan was still affected but not like Craig. Craig hasn't even looked at Mack since the moment Asher arrived.

"Why the hell do they always have to ruin everything?! I know for a fact Carson is behind this. Why is he so obsessed with you." Mack hissed and my head snapped over towards her.

"With me? Why would he send Asher here for me? You are the one dating Craig." I said matter of fact, wondering why MacKenzie was blaming this on me now. What was her problem? I wasn't the one who invited the guys here to begin with..behind my back as a matter of fact.

"Because you are all he cares about, his precious Em. You two have been inseparable this whole fucking summer." She said bitterly and I stopped in my tracks, causing her to halt with me.

"Are you being serious right now Mack?" I asked, the words she said hurting me as I felt like I was in some type of twilight zone. MacKenzie has been gone this whole summer..no this whole past year..she would go weeks without responding to me and now Carson and I are somehow the bad guys?

She just looked me in the eyes, her arm slipping from mine as she turned her head and was now giving me some type of silent treatment. Whatever, I'm not doing this..

"I think I might just get an Uber home." I said, feeling defeated and like I was done with this day. I just wanted to go home and talk to Ronan and try to salvage whatever I messed up there. I could tell something was off with him and I didn't like it one bit. Suddenly Asher stepped forward, his arm reaching out as if he wanted to console me. The action made me fill with confusion..why was he even here, did Carson send him to keep an eye on us?

"Em..can we talk?" Ethan's voice suddenly broke this awkward tension as my gaze drifted toward him.

Before I could even answer Asher was standing between Ethan and I, his long muscular back facing me as his posture turned defensive.

"No, she isn't going anywhere with you." Asher practically growled.

"Oh come on Asher, seriously? Fuck this.." Mack suddenly groaned, turning towards me once more as Craig shuffled on his feet awkwardly.

"Em, let's go." Without warning she gripped my hand, dragging me away from the guys as I watched Asher quickly turn around and begin to follow us. His silver eyes were fierce and fueled by what I can only suspect was anger. He brushed his dark brown hair back as his patience was officially wearing thin. I had seen Asher mad before..but this..this was different..this was pure rage.

"MacKenzie, let her the f**k go, right now." He ordered, causing Mack's eyes to widen as she stopped in place. She could feel it too and she knew as much as I did that Asher's anger was a force to be reckoned with.

Asher wasn't one to fly off the handle, in fact, the other night was the first time I had ever seen him lose his cool like that when he fought with Ethan. Asher was always in control of his emotions, never showing them or letting them take control, so both Mack and I knew she went too far this time.

"What's the big deal Asher? Is it so wrong for Em to spend time with a guy who is actually interested in her for once?" She turned around to face him, her voice bitter and full of venom as a few people turned their heads, wondering what was going on. Why was this all about me now? I had no idea what was going on or why we were even fighting.

"Are you really that jealous of Emery because she is getting more attention than you? You will go as far as to encourage the biggest asshole in Kentville to sleep with her..All so you can hope it pulls her away from Carson..how pathetic." Asher said with disgust, making my eyes widen as I almost said something to deny that completely..but seeing Mack's body language left me standing there quietly. She looked guilty..like what Asher said was true and she couldn't even look me in the eye.

"Mack..that..that's not true right?" I whispered, my heart slowly cracking as the silence said so much more than she ever could.

"I thought..I thought we were best friends." I looked down, feeling Asher by my side now, his hand resting on my lower back as I couldn't even feel his touch.

Suddenly I noticed MacKenzie straighten her back..I could feel a wall that never existed before slowly coming up..what the hell was happening?

"I was just trying to help you, I mean..how pathetic can your situation be..you are nineteen and you haven't even had your first kiss. You'd think not being fat anymore would help you with that." She spat, her eyes were the darkest I had ever seen them...I felt like I was just slapped across the face as I flinched from her words. How could she be this cruel? I had seen her treat other people like this..even then it tied my stomach into knots, but being on the receiving end..it was horrible.

Suddenly realization seemed to hit..she quickly stepped forward, reaching her hand out as I turned away from her.

"Em.....I didn't mean it..I was just mad because of Asher.." She blurted, remorse clear in her voice but it was too late..the damage was already done.

Asher quickly wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest as he cursed MacKenzie out or something..I didn't know what happened after that but having my own best friend say something like that..it made me feel as if she couldn't accept me for who I was, then who the hell would? Has she always felt this way? That I was some pathetic person she pitied?

"Come on, I will take you home." A deep voice whispered into my ear and I swear it sounded just like Ronan. I glanced up, seeing Asher's silver eyes peering into me as I nodded my head, forgetting how much they really sounded alike. Then the most ridiculous thought crept inside of my mine..and I pushed it out before it could fully form. There was no way in hell..absolutely no way.

They might sound alike but Asher and Ronan were complete opposites personality-wise. Ronan always seemed to act on emotions and was passionate and possessive. He didn't hide himself from me and I felt as if I could read him just from the sound of his voice, whereas Asher was so closed off and reserved that I could never read him in the past. That's why I was shocked when he made a move on me because I had no damn clue he was even remotely interested.

At least Ronan puts it all out there for me..I am thankful for that and not to mention they are almost the complete opposite looks-wise.

We walked out of the mall in silence, I was pretty sure Ethan tried to talk to me before we left but Asher gave him one look and he backed off.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, looking down at the asphalt as we made our way silently to his car.

Asher's head snapped to mine, his eyes searching me as I couldn't bare to look into them. I felt ashamed..I felt like I didn't deserve to even be in his presence..that I was on the lowest level possible and everyone around me was beyond anything I could even hope to be.

Suddenly he stopped, pulling my arm as he forced me to turn and face him.

"Stop..stop that right now. Don't you dare take a single lie Mack said and think it's true." He breathed with frustration.

I couldn't help it..I couldn't stop the hot tears from rolling down my cheeks as his hand cupped my face, forcing my head to tilt back and meet his gaze.

"You are beyond this..you are better than all of this. You always have been Emery Lewis..MacKenzie Prescott never deserved a friend like you." He said with conviction, his thumbs sliding across my cheeks as he wiped my warm tears away.

I felt pathetic..I felt like I shouldn't be crying over this and I was having the biggest pity party of my life..

"Fuck ba..Emery..come here." Asher quickly said, confusing me as he cut himself off before finishing his sentence. Then before I knew it his arms were wrapped around me tight.

I reached my hands up, gripping his shirt in my palms as I cried an embarrassing amount of tears..this definitely has to be one of my lowest moments ever..but somehow I feel safe with Asher. Somehow him being here and comforting me..it just feels right. My eyes widened from the realization and I quickly pulled myself off of him, wiping my eyes as I cleared my throat and looked away. My cheeks were red from embarrassment and I knew this was wrong.

"We..we should go..thank you for offering to drive me." I quickly stuttered out and then proceeded to walk to his jeep. I don't know what the hell has happened since Friday night..but I have never been involved in so much drama in my life..and apparently I am in the center of it. What will happen with Mack and I?..I dont think I can just let that go..Not for a while. Also, how am I going to tell Ronan that Asher was here? I hope this doesn't destroy everything..why do I have the sinking feeling that it will..especially with how possessive he is. Ugh..this sucks..big time.