Just a Bit Obsessed (Straight Guys, #2)

by Alessandra Hazard

He wasn’t very good at sharing his things and he believed in monogamy. But he owed it to her to at least give it some thought, regardless of how much he disliked the mere idea of another man touching her.

Some people had a nice smile. Some people had a beautiful smile. And then there were a lucky few who had a smile like that guy did. It transformed Christian from just good-looking to stunning when he smiled.

He had started staying at Jared’s house until Jared’s parents eventually took him in when he was fourteen. Alexander’s parents didn’t care: his father was too busy fucking someone on the side and telling Tanya how much he loved her, and his mother was a broken woman—broken by lies and her own inability to let go of the man who didn’t deserve her love. Except Alexander didn’t think it was love. Love was the quiet affection and attachment he felt for Mila. He wasn’t obsessed with Mila. She didn’t drive him crazy. If Mila cheated on him, he would be… reasonably upset, but he would tell her to leave and never return. He would get over it. He would never share his partner, but he would never be the clingy, hysterical wreck his mother had become. Tanya was obsessed with the man, unable to let go and see anyone but him.

He couldn’t stand flirts; he had zero tolerance for them. Most of them didn’t know the meaning of the word loyalty. They loved being admired and wanted; one person was never enough for them. They were everything he despised.

“Enough, Mila,” Alexander said, bile rising to his throat. She looked nearly hysterical. She looked like…He put his hands on her shoulders and shook her slightly. “Don’t you have any self-respect? You deserve better. I’m the asshole here. You shouldn’t give me a second chance. It will change nothing.” She shook her head slowly. “But you didn’t cheat,” she whispered. Alexander looked her in the eye. “I kissed him.” She opened her mouth and closed it before opening again. “I don’t care. You didn’t have sex with him. You didn’t cheat.” Alexander hesitated. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she was clutching at straws. “Maybe not physically,” he said, forcing the words out. “But I did it every time I looked at him. Every time I couldn’t look away.”

Some emotion flashed across Jared’s face. “There’s no need for that tone. I don’t have an answer for everything. Far from it. I’m just saying sometimes love isn’t pretty. It’s not neat, and it’s not textbook perfect. There’s no template for love. Sometimes it’s ugly. Sometimes it’s a bit creepy. And sometimes it hurts.”

“Maybe I’m weak. Maybe I’m an idiot to stick around only because he needs me. Maybe it’s unhealthy to live for crumbs of affection and let one person become the center of my life. Maybe.” There was a long silence, during which Jared stared into the crackling fire and Alexander stared at him. “If you want my advice,” Jared said, still not looking at him. His voice was rough and clipped. “My advice to you: fuck whatever issues you have. Don’t overthink it. Obsession, love—it doesn’t matter what you call it. They’re just words. If you look at him and think ‘this is mine,’ that’s it. Grab it if you can. I wish I could.”

“It’s very simple. He loves you, you know it and still make him watch you with your girlfriend. Don’t you give a shit about him at all?” “You don’t get it.” “No, I don’t,” Alexander said, his voice hard. “I’ll tell Jared you know.” Gabriel grabbed his arm. “Don’t you dare,” he growled, green eyes flashing. His expression transformed completely, something ruthless and ugly lurking in his gaze. “If you do that, I’ll make sure he’ll never talk to you again, got it? I can do that. If he has to choose, he’ll always pick me, not his cousin. He’s mine.”

“I’ve never wanted anyone so much, and it creeps me out, but just sex would never be enough for me. I know you don’t do relationships, but I don’t do casual relationships.” He felt his lips twist. “And this… there’s nothing casual about this. So if you say yes, you’ll get the full package deal, whether you want it or not.”