Page 35 of Burning Obsession

Not just for today, but forever.

Chapter 10

Victor

My phone sits on my bed, speaker on, as I finish packing my suitcase and talk to my sister. My very excited sister who I’m pretty sure, even though we’re not videoing each other, can see both the cheesy happy smile mixed with panic on my face.

I’m going out of town with Jake. He’ll be here literally any minute, and I’m a fucking wreck. Not because I don’t want to go with him to this wedding, but because of what it means. This is big. Huge. And we’ve just started talking. Are we moving too fast? Or is this how it’s meant to be?

“You’re smiling again, aren’t you? Come on, Vic, switch this to a video call. Let me see him when he picks you up.”

My head is shaking before the words ever leave my mouth. “Nope, no way in hell, Nellie. For one, you wouldn’t be able to keep your mouth shut, and you’d embarrass me.”

“Me?” Her gasp radiates through the speaker. “I’d never. All I want is to see the man that has my brother tied up in knots. I have a good feeling about this.”

“You had a good feeling about every guy I dated,” I reminded her.

“Not true. I hated Michael. He was a bottom feeder. A leech. Scum. Not worthy enough to eat my dog’s shit. You finding him cheating on you was the best thing that ever happened.”

“Is my pain the best thing to ever happen?” I question her.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

Of course, I know she didn’t, but I love making her squirm. She’s right, though. He was the worst decision of my life. And trust me, I’ve made a few bad choices. Hopefully they don’t all bite me in the ass like he did. Almost five grand in debt with a credit card that I added him to really stung.

“Sure, stick to that story if you want to, Nellie.”

I let out a heavy sigh, one that doesn’t go unnoticed by my sister.

“Vic, what’s wrong?” As much as she teases me, she loves me just as much and only wants to see me happy.

“Nothing.”

“Lie to me again and I’m going to be on my way there, wooden spoon in hand to beat your ass.”

The sad part is, she totally would. I can still see Mom, chasing us around the room as kids, ready to spank us for the mischief we got into. One of us always had some hair-brained idea that either ended with us in trouble, in the emergency room, or both. My hand instinctively goes to the scar above my eye, the one caused when she broke a sheet of glass meant to be made into a window over my head. I couldn’t sit for a week after Mom got done with us.

“Fine. I’m just nervous, excited, terrified,” I confess, sitting down on the edge of the bed after zipping up my suitcase.

“And those are all valid feelings, Victor. But it’s going to be okay. You’re an amazing man, and he’s lucky to have you interested in him.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re my sister and you’re contractually obligated to do it.”

She bursts out laughing. “That means nothing. I’m saying it because it’s true. Have fun this weekend. Enjoy and don’t overthink anything.”

I stand up, take my suitcase off the bed, and pick up the phone, making my way to the living room. I set my luggage by the door, then make my way around the living room, making sure the windows are locked. I’ve already done it everywhere else.

Any minute Jake is going to be here and we’ll be together the whole weekend. Even sharing the same room. He messaged me late last night making sure that it was okay. If not he’d find another room. But I couldn’t fathom being apart from him. But now I’m paranoid that this weekend will be the time I start snoring, or worse, what if I fart in front of him?

“Victor!!” My sister screams, getting my attention.

“What?”

“I was asking you a question and you went radio silent.”

“Sorry, I was reading a message from a client. What did you want to know?” Lie, but she’ll never know.

“Are you ready to meet his family?”