Page 76 of Twisted Needs

“Yeah,” I sigh. “And now he has to die.”

“Luca or Parker?”

I look over to them with a hardened look. “Double homicide.”

Lee’s mouth pulls into a smirk. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Murder?”

They shake their head. “Getting over your weird little Parker obsession. I was starting to think you needed an intervention.”

My stomach churns at the thought of that.

The fact that my friends have noticed how hard of a toll this has taken on me makes me feel even more pathetic. I can’t believe I gave this man so much power over me. Like, I’m genuinely crazy. That’s the only explanation.

Right as I start the blender, the front door unlocks. Every muscle in my shoulders goes tight. I’m literally standing here fully raging over this man, but the moment I actually see him, my body betrays me and freaks the fuck out. How the hell am I supposed to get over him when I still automatically gravitate towards him?

What a fucking dumbass.

Despite myself, my lungs stop working when I finally lock eyes with him. At least he looks just as miserable as I do. Exhausted from travel, no doubt. He’s got his hat on backwards and the growing hair on his face is just begging to be shaved off.

I hate that I notice things like that almost automatically.

“Hey,” he says, but I can’t hear him over the loud blender. I nod in acknowledgement, expecting him to leave, but he doesn’t. Parker never lingers when I have friends over. I glance over to Lee, who has a shit-eating grin on their face.

As soon as the blender stops, Parker opens his mouth to speak again, but I hit the blend button again to drown out his voice. He gives me a look that only further shows his frustration, huffing and letting his gym bag drop to the ground.

The look he gives me afterward almost makes it worth it. I can’t tell if he wants to rip me a new one or just rip me apart.

He walks into his office and closes the door behind him.

“Jeez,” Lee murmurs beneath their breath. “You’re cooked.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and throw by head back. “I think I might have to move out.” Hearing the words come out of me is a whole other problem on its own. I don’t want to move out. Financial reasons mostly, but also because I’ve just gotten so used to living here with him.

Until recently, I’ve genuinely enjoyed living here with him.

“Anders, come here a minute,” Parker calls out from his office.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I groan, rolling my eyes. “Let’s take our smoothies to go,” I suggest. “Get the fuck outta here.”

Lee chuckles. “You’re running away from your problems.”

“No I’m not. I just refuse to take any of his bullshit.”

Parker pops his head out of his office, clearing his throat. “Anderson.”

Fuck. He used his sexy authority voice. That always fucking works on me.

“Government name,” Lee teases, slapping the counter. “My cue to leave.”

“Nooo. I hate you,” I groan, following them as they grab their things and walk towards the front door.

“See you tonight, Andy,” they smirk, closing the front door behind them.

I squeeze my eyes shut again, blocking out the ringing in my ears. I can feel him staring at me from behind and it’s paralyzing. “I know you’re staring,” I mutter. When I turn around, he’s leaning against the doorframe, watching with a smug, patient look on his face. I click my tongue, ignoring him as I walk right past him. My heart is beating faster than I can comprehend, my body being at war with itself. Half of me wants to chew him out while the other half just wants to give him a show of blowing him off the way he did to me.

“I need to talk to you,” he tells me firmly.