Page 4 of Shattered Obsession

Instant match. Again.

For a split second, I feel good. Wanted. Two matches in one night, both of them messaging first like they mean it. That has not happened to me, ever.

Then I read what my new match has sent me.

Damian

Damn, gorgeous. Where have you been hiding?

I roll my eyes even as I feel that same hot flutter in my stomach. I hate that lines like that still work on me even when I know they’re recycled, probably pasted into fifteen other chats word for word.

Thalia

Hiding??? Bold of you to assume I’ve been hiding.

Damian

So, you’ve been WASTING all that pretty on dudes not even worth it? That’s even worse.

I can fix that.

It’s fast. All of it. He moves the conversation like he’s steering it down a hallway and I’m just following. I give one-word answers, and he turns them into invitations. It feels like a roller coaster I didn’t technically agree to get on.

Damian

What are you doing this weekend?

Thalia

Nothing exciting.

Damian

Good. I’ll take you out.

I blink at that.

It isn’t a question. It’s a statement dressed as one. I don’t even know him. I haven’t even decided if I like him.

My thumb hovers.

It hurts to admit it feels good to be wanted that confidently. Like I don’t have to beg for someone’s attention. Like someone is looking at me and easily saying ‘mine’, as though I’m worth claiming.

My last relationship was more guessing than loving. More ‘are you mad at me?’ than ‘I miss you.’ I’ve been told that I’m too sensitive, too much, and too complicated enough times that now, when someone simply says ‘I want you’, it feels like oxygen.

So, I say yes.

Damian

Atta girl.

Something about that sits wrong. Atta girl. Like a pat on the head.

I swallow it.

We’ve been talking for less than an hour, and the different conversations split into two tracks.

Xander is steady. He checks in without checking up. He sends me dumb memes and videos of dogs being dramatic and asks how my day really was. He tells me about his job in this half-apologetic way, like he’s worried I’ll think it’s boring. He tells me what he cooked for dinner and how he accidentally used too much garlic so now his entire kitchen smells like a vampire extermination site.