His Secret Obsession
Chapter 68

(Emery)

Well, the rest of the week ended up being pretty hectic..Asher continued going to practice in the mornings and I came clean to my Uncle and Dad about the texts I was receiving. Uncle Jack called his friend who is the sheriff and told him about the situation. He asked for us to keep my old phone activated to see if he tried to reach out anymore..apparently he has...multiple times. Asher won't let me see the texts though..I guess he shares them with everyone else but doesn't want me to know anything about it which honestly makes me relieved. I don't know if I would be able to function normally if I knew what was on those texts..but I have a new phone now with a private number that I have only given out to four people.

My uncle was beyond livid once he learned about Ethan..at least he and Asher have something to bond over now... Uncle Jack wanted to beat Ethan's a*s but once he learned about what Asher did and how he got him arrested before he seemed to look at Asher a little differently. That didn't stop him from telling me to move back in with them at the house though..he and my dad both thought it would be the best thing but I just don't know..they even said Asher can live with us too.

It just seems like too much..and honestly, why am I going to let this psycho dictate my life now? I pretty much have a damn guard on me at all times whenever Asher isn't around. If I'm not home alone and safe, then one of the guys drives me to and from wherever I need to go. Today my dad was the one to pick me up and drop me off at the Bakery because I have a few shifts this week. We leave on Friday for Florida..which Asher is more than ready..I don't know how he is handling practice with Ethan being there..but Carson says the tensions are high between all of them.

It's all hectic and I don't even know what is going on anymore. I am just trying to live day by day and be as optimistic as possible...somebody has to be. Would Ethan really come out and do something to hurt me? It's just so hard to imagine. Not that he wasn't persistent before and creepy in a pushy way..but I never felt like my life was in any serious danger. I just thought that it was a crush that went a little too far that I never fully shut down..is this partially my fault for not telling him I'm not interested? Then again, I don't know what he is texting..so if Asher is concerned for me..then I will take his word for it and be careful. Asher is one of the people that I trust more than anything in this world..he is everything to me and I know he has my best interest at heart. After frosting a cake that was due to be picked up in thirty minutes, I checked the time and saw it was now 10:20 am. Asher should be home by now so I went to peek at my phone as I heard Mrs. Weston talking to a customer in the front. Maria Weston is a sixty-year- old woman who has owned this bakery for as long as I can remember. My dad actually loves the apple pies that she makes and she will occasionally send me home with one for him. She and her husband have lived in Kentville their whole lives and this was their dream to open a bakery and have been given awards for their famous pies. They do wedding cakes, parties, family events..you name it and she can bake it.

Since my dad knew her and Mr. Weston since he was even a teen, he got me this nice little job and I have worked here since I was in high school. So we are pretty close and sometimes it almost feels like working for family.

I walked over to where I kept my purse and pulled out my phone. My lips twitched into a smile as soon as I saw Asher had texted. I finally changed his name in my phone to something cute like he does to me..for some reason it makes me feel even more official with him..as lame as that sounds.

3 New Messages

9:40 am From Babe: Just got off of practice..I love you and miss you already.

9:45 am From Babe: Fuck..I hate coming home to our place empty..After Florida, you don't need to work anymore baby..I want to take care of you while you go to school.

I read his text a few more times, his words making my heart race as I bit my lip nervously...he doesn't want me to work anymore? It's not like I work crazy hours or anything..I can't expect him to pay for everything, that's not why I wanted him to move in.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly..I guess there is no point in stressing about it now.

10:30 am To Babe: I miss you too baby..and you take care of me more than enough already babe

I responded..trying to lighten the mood as I went to check the last text that was from my dad.

10:13 am From Daddio: Hey Em, let's grab a few burgers on the way home and eat at the house..already had Carson invite Asher and Jackie over.

10:32 am To Daddio: Okay sounds good!! I still should be getting off at 3..love you!

I set my phone back down and heard it vibrate just as I did, making me check it once more.

10:33 am From Babe: Emery, I'm serious...we will talk about it more tonight.. Send me a picture? I'm having withdrawals.

I couldn't help but smile after that one. I quickly sent him a picture and told him I loved him before putting my phone away and washed my hands and slipped on some gloves to finish off the cake. He is serious about me not working? I can't expect him to pay the whole rent and groceries..maybe he is just worried about the Ethan thing and doesn't like me leaving the house in general right now..that has to be it.

After writing out "Happy Birthday" in red, I slipped the cake into the box and tossed the gloves into the trash.

"Hey Em, can you handle that cake order for the Davison family? He called and said he was on the way." Mrs. Weston asked as she went back into her office.

"Sure thing boss." I smiled brightly before grabbing the cake box and walking to the front. Davison..couldn't be THAT Davison right? I quickly checked the name on the order and all it said was that name..what are the chances it's Jacob.. Well, apparently the chances are pretty damn high..

I looked up just as the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jacob walked in with the biggest smile on his face. I tried to politely return it as my stomach filled with nerves. The last time I saw him he had given me his number..and I definitely never used it.. "Emery Lewis..what are the chances?" He smiled brightly and laughed, I quickly returned the gesture, trying not to act as awkward as I felt...

"It's nice to see you Jacob." I added, noticing he was dressed in a suit and tie, I wondered where he was headed dressed so fancy. I can't lie, he looks pretty handsome in a suit..well Jacob has always been handsome, that much I do know. But he is no Asher..sorry, I just had to make that clear.

"You look great Em, I should have known you would be a talented baker..I remember the cookies you made for me that one time in 7th grade." He added, making my cheeks redden as a nervous burst of laughter escaped me..why was I acting so weird?! "You remember that?" I honestly couldn't believe it, I had even forgotten about that. I'm pretty sure he also gave Mack half of them, trying to win her over...yeah..that's right, now I remember.

"Of course, you were my best friend, I remember everything about you." He smiled kindly and his words actually touched me. Not in a "flattering" kind of way..but in a way where I never thought I was rememberable, especially to Jacob, the most popular boy in school. So to hear him confirm that I was his best friend too..it was quite satisfying because I had doubts later on that it was more of a one-sided friendship.

"Yeah, those were some good times." I smiled genuinely, Jacob wasn't a bad guy, and weirdly I felt comfortable with him from all those memories as kids.

"Well, maybe we can get together sometime, you know, as friends..considering you have a boyfriend, he can come too if you want." He offered, making my eyes widen as I began typing his order into the register.

"I would like that, I will let Asher know." I said, feeling distracted as I took his card and swiped it.

"Asher, Asher McNeal?" He asked curiously and I nodded my head as I met his gaze. I could see a weird emotion cross his eyes before he masked it with a smile.

"Well, he is one lucky guy." Jacob added while I opened the cake to show him what it looked like. Suddenly I heard the door chime as another customer walked in but I didn't dare look up as I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by Jacob's response..so yet again... laughed nervously. I need to get a grip on that..

"Wow, looks amazing, my grandma is going to love it." He added while gazing down at the cake before snapping his eyes back to me.

"Oh it's Grandma Claudia's birthday? Well, tell her I said happy birthday. Here..give her one of these too." I quickly walked to the counter, pulling out a chocolate chip cookie before wrapping it up nicely. I remember Grandma Claudia, she used to bake for us whenever I would come to Jacob's house. She lived with them for a little after her husband passed, she was a very sweet lady.

"We just moved her to the Willowbrook retirement home..that's partially why I moved back. She wanted to come home to her roots and I guess I had the same calling. She actually asks about you a lot." He laughed before taking the cake box and wrapped up cookie. "Well, I hope she has a wonderful birthday and it was nice seeing you again Jacob." I smiled more brightly than I have yet..it really was nice seeing him. Maybe we could be friends again, now that he knows I am dating Asher and we were friends before, so why couldn't we be now?

Just as he was turning to leave, I glanced up, my eyes meeting those stormy silver ones I love so much causing me to gasp.. Asher..his tall body was leaning against the wall as he watched Jacob and I carefully with his arms crossed..what the hell, when did Asher get here?! And why does he look thoroughly pissed..oh god..why do I feel like I'm in trouble now..

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