His Secret Obsession
Chapter 53

(Emery)

After everything settled down, we all decide just to stay at the house that way we can assess the damage tomorrow. The police cleared everyone out and made sure to keep a patrol car outside for a couple of hours, to make sure no one comes back. Asher had a broken nose but the paramedics managed to reset it and I felt like I was still in shock from this whole situation. How did it get this bad? I began thinking about all of my interactions with Ethan..was I overly flirty? Did I lead him on in some way to make him think we had a chance? I guess I didn't necessarily shut it down but I thought I was always just being friendly.

Honestly, I have no freaking clue..Asher is the first guy I have ever been openly flirty with and even then I am clueless as hell, it was nothing like the way I spoke to Ethan.

After laying with Mack for a few minutes after she fell asleep, I got up and wanted to go check on Asher. He and Carson were finishing up with the police reports when I took Mack up and I felt like I never really got to speak to Asher yet.

A part of me was upset..like really upset. How could he risk his life like that? What if Ethan went too far and something horrible happened to him?! It was reckless and I wished there was some other way it all could have been handled.

I made my way downstairs, wanting to grab a bottle of water before heading to bed. I didn't even know where Asher was and I felt completely out of the loop. Maybe I was being a baby but I felt tired, annoyed, and just drained. It was almost 3 am now and I decided just to go to bed.

I don't know what it was..but I felt like Asher was ignoring me or something. I tried talking with him a few times and he told me to go upstairs or to go to bed..it made my stomach drop. I know he is probably in pain and stuff..but I am afraid he might think this is too much for him. Like maybe I'm not worth all of this. I don't know what guy would get their ass beat for a girl and totally be fine with it. Like yep, all in a day's work of being with my girl..ugh..now I am overthinking everything.

Grabbing the bottle of water, I peeked my head out towards the living room and didn't see anyone. Maybe he did go to bed..

That's when I heard the sound of a basketball dribbling outside. Could Carson not sleep either? I walked towards the back sliding door, looking towards the huge court that the Prescott's had specialty built. There were large spotlights that they had installed because Carson and Asher used to play well into the night as kids. I remember sitting on the sidelines, watching them play one on one, wishing they would ask me to join, but they never did. Carson would only play with me when we were alone. That's how I became the horse champ and I even got so good at the game, I would beat him every round.

Looking out the glass door, my gaze quickly landed on Asher's tall figure. He was shooting hoops and his body seemed stiff and rigid. I bit my lip nervously, telling myself I should just go to bed and that he wants to be alone..but my body must have had other ideas because the next thing I knew I was slipping out the door and walking toward Asher. He was my boyfriend for goodness sake..so why was I feeling so nervous?

I felt weird..it was almost as if we were right back to where we started before all of the Ronan stuff. I could feel Asher was closed off and hiding himself from me and I just didn't know why. Four hours ago we were making love in his bed and he was ready to move in with me..and yet now I feel like I couldn't even speak to him..I didn't know what to say..

"Do you mind if I join you?" I whispered, catching him off guard as he whipped his head towards me and gripped the ball in his hands.

Glancing at his face, it was hard not to wince as I stepped forward. My arm instinctively reached up as I couldn't help but study his beaten and bruised appearance. I wanted to fix him, to somehow make it all better, and to have those bruises disappear beneath my touch.

But before I could even place my fingers against him, he turned away and began dribbling the ball once again.

"You should go to bed. It's been a long night." His voice was firm and lacking emotion, causing my heart to drop.

I just stood there, studying him as I felt it..I felt him growing distant. I felt it all changing right before my eyes and I was confused more than ever. Was this it? Was this all I would get from him and now he realizes I'm not worth it all? I honestly didn't expect it to happen this fast but knew it would eventually. I can't even be upset really, I had to be prepared for this moment, but why go through all of this hassle..why tell my family all of those things and let Ethan do this to him. Every word he spoke..everything he said..why would he go that far just to end it like this?

I looked down at my hands, tears welling up in my eyes as I tried my hardest not to let them spill over..I don't need to embarrass myself even more. But this was it for me..I am done after this..I am ruined forever.

I stepped forward, feeling that sadness bottling up and building into something else..something I had never felt before. I had reached my limit.

I lunged forward, stealing the ball out of Asher's hands as I began to dribble it. I don't know what the hell came over me.

"You always did this..you never let me play with you even as a kid." I snapped, taking my stance before shooting the ball into the net, making a clean shot.

"Em.." He began to speak, the fact he hasn't called me baby or his kitten since the fight hurt me even more.

"No, it's always the same with you Asher, I thought it changed..I thought you finally let me in and weren't going to do this, but I should have known." I breathed, staring at him as those tears threatened to spill over any second. He just stared at me, his emotions so hidden I couldn't even read him. It was like the man before me was a stranger..it was as if the past few days were simply a dream..no..a delusion.

I threw him the ball, turning before I embarrassed myself even more as he just stood there, saying absolutely nothing..confirming my fears even more.

I heard the ball bouncing behind me as my vision blurred, my cheeks feeling those hot tears rolling down them as I tried to hold in the sobs that wanted so badly to escape. I gave him every part of me..and now it is ending like this.

Before I could make it to the house, I felt those arms..the ones that I have grown so used to in just a short time. It's been three damn days and I was already so far gone. I felt pathetic.

"I'm sorry baby..I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." He whispered against my ear, making my head hang down as I just stood there.

"If you are having second thoughts..just tell me now please.." I muttered sadly, bracing myself for rejection.

"Second thoughts?! What the fuck are you talking about Emery." Asher spoke firmly, his hands gripping me tighter.

"You wouldn't even look at me..you told me to go to bed and won't even talk to me. you didn't even call me baby." I sobbed, I guess not making a fool of myself was out of the question.. "Emery, look at me." He whispered, turning me around as I looked up into his silver eyes.

"I'm sorry, but you are wrong..I'm not having second thoughts...in fact it's the fucking opposite..and to be honest it scares the hell out of me." Asher admitted, confusing me..I didn't understand what he ment.

"I'm sorry I am being distant..I just..I wanted to give you space. I..fuck.." he cursed, running his hands through his hair as he let out an exasperated sigh.

"I know tonight was a lot for you, I don't know what the hell I am doing..but I know for a fact I don't want to fucking smother you..after everything that asshole did and all that you witnessed. I just don't want to scare you away." He explained, making my brow furrow together as I looked up at him, completely perplexed by this whole thing.

"But..I needed you.." I whispered, did he really not get that? He thought I would be freaked out about what happened and want my own space?

"Emery, I feel so fucking crazy about you..being away from you for even a minute gives me anxiety..I just don't want to ruin this and apparently me trying not to ruin it is f*****g ruining it." He sighed, and I slowly wrapped my arms around his waist before pulling myself closer.

"Asher, all of that doesn't ruin this..it's when you shut me out and push me away I start having doubts. I over analyze everything and honestly..I'm afraid this is too good to be true, that you are going to realize I'm not worth any of this.." I admitted, wanting to explain everything as I looked down towards my feet.

Asher reached up, his hand gripping my chin as he tilted my head back, meeting my gaze.

"Emery Lewis, I love you so fucking much and would do absolutely anything for you. Don't you get it? You are a dream come true and I don't want to lose you..I can't lose you." He breathed, his mouth coming crashing down as he melded his lips to mine. The overwhelming feeling of love and passion coursing through our connection as his kiss left me gasping for air.

"I'm sorry for acting distant..I just don't want to be too clingy and push you away..I will do better, I promsie." He said softly and I nodded my head, my hand reaching up as I brushed against his bruised cheek, causing him to wince as a frown set on my face. "I can't believe you did that.." I grumbled, causing him to smile as he bent down, placing his lips against mine once again.

"I told you..I would do anything for you Emery..you are mine." And with that, he kissed me with such fervent need, my body melted beneath his touch..my heart feeling whole once again as I realized we still had a lot to learn about one another. Asher might shut down when he has emotions he can't quite express and I jump to the worst conclusions..but we talked through it..we are really doing this and I need to be more patient..I don't know how much more my heart can take of these up and down emotions but let's just hope after this he realizes he doesn't need to shut me out.