Devious Obsession

by S. Massery

Jacob shakes his head at me, his eyes saying I’m a stupid fuck—but he would’ve done the same freaking thing if he could get his professor back. We all would for our girls… even the lost ones.

“Look at me, Aspen.” His finger under my chin brings my head up, and I meet his dark gaze. “There’s no one who can tear us apart.” “I love you.”

“I love you,” he says. “I’m not a wordsmith. Not even close. But I’m so fucking obsessed with you, I can’t stand it. I love you. I’ll love you forever.”

“My dad called you Asp on the phone one time over the summer. A nickname he probably picked up from your sisters or mom. An asp is a viper. It felt appropriate.”

I’m not doing it because I’m desperate for a job. I’m not doing it because I have no other options. I’m doing this because I love playing the piano, and I’ve had dreams of being in an orchestra ever since my uncle took me to a ballet when I was ten.

Pride swells in my chest when, after several more minutes of soul-rocking playing, her fingers linger on the keys and the sound fades off into silence. I wipe a tear away. Her pain and loss was so very powerful.