Drawn to Obsession: A Prequel to the Obsession Series

By Brooke Page

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR CREATES A PAGE TURNING PREQUEL TO THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING SERIES, THE OBSESSION SERIES.

They say a fresh start means a new beginning, but that’s only true if your past doesn’t haunt you.
My name is Jamie Ray, and I’ve convinced myself that this time will be different.

I've moved in with my best friend after graduating from college, both of us determined to have one last hoorah of summer before we start our careers. I'm the edgy one, always cool and calm, ready for anything. Settling down isn't even in my vocabulary.

But it's all a facade.

Internally, I'm the opposite. Paranoid and constantly on high alert. living in fear that my past will sink its ugly teeth into me, draining my hopes to have a normal and happy life.
With moving across the state, new situations are arising, including a sexy stranger I've met at the bar. He's bringing out foreign feelings inside of me that I'm not sure how to handle, and opening up to him is becoming appealing.

Maybe I've escaped my past, and I'm finally ready to start living...

Or maybe he just hasn't found me yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brooke Page
• Release date: Apr 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463528891

Brooke Page

Indie New Adult Romance AuthorMother of two, wonder wife, after school art/pottery instructor, self proclaimed runner, and Indie Romance Novel junkie!

Book preview

Drawn to OBSESSION

A Prequel to The Obsession Series

By: Brooke Page

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SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright @Brooke Page 2020

Chapter One

They say a fresh start means a new beginning, but that’s only true if your past doesn’t haunt you.

My name is Jamie Ray, and I’ve convinced myself that this time will be different. 

Is that the last box? Becca, my best friend, asked.

I kicked the door shut to our new apartment, hauling the hefty cardboard through the hall and into the kitchen where Becca stood. It was oversized, and I let out an oomph when I dropped it next to the island counter. Yes!

She stood next to me and examined the box, a smile spreading across her face. Saved the best for last! She cheered, ripping the packaging tape and opening the cardboard. She rummaged through the newspaper covered items, finding two stemless glasses and headed to the sink with both of them. Turning on the faucet, she rinsed each glass, then grabbed a bottle of Boones Farm from another box.

Way to keep it classy, Becs, I teased, knowing damn well I was the one to introduce her to the cheaper way of life. 

She smirked, unscrewing the top and filling each glass. You know I like it sweet.

I took my glass from her. Yes, I suppose I’m to blame for your poor choices in alcohol. 

Becca was from a very well off family. Her dad owned half of Grand Rapids, and either Becca was oblivious to her wealthy status, or her mother did a wonderful job raising such a humble person. 

We met at Florida State University as suitemates and have been inseparable ever since. 

So what’s the plan? I asked after taking a few sips.

She let out a long breath, running the tip of her finger along the rim of her glass. I’m not sure.

Did you ever sign up to take your certification test? That’s the last step to become an official architect, right?

She nodded. It is the last step, but I haven’t scheduled it yet.

I smiled sympathetically. You know, you could get a job as an architect here in Florida, or Montana, New York... I’m pretty sure they’re needed everywhere. Nothing says you have to go back home.

Keeping her thoughts in her head, she took another sip of wine. After our six years away at school together, we both had grown tremendously, but Becca’s story was different from mine. 

I just want… to be… sporadic, she finally admitted. 

My eyes lit up with excitement. Becca, I’m so proud of you! I was the unpredictable friend, always pushing the limits.

She laughed and rolled her eyes. I figured since everything went to shit when I followed a plan, that ‘winging it’ might work out better for me. At least for a while.

Everything did go to shit for you, I agreed, recalling the awful woman, Ashlynn, whom she used to call a best friend. Everything will go wonderfully if you truly stop talking to that skank who’s sleeping with your ex-boyfriend.

I haven’t talked to her since graduation.

Which was even too much, I huffed. I don’t care how close your family’s are, your mother shouldn’t have requested a photo of the two of you together. Especially when Connor stood awkwardly off to the side like a fucking idiot.

Connor feels bad about how it all went down, she whispered. He’s apologized to me more than once.

Yeah, you should when you cheat on the perfect girl, I deadpanned.

I’m hardly perfect, she mumbled, pushing her glass forward then covering her stomach.

I rolled my eyes. How many times do I have to tell you how much of a catch you are? Any guy would be lucky to have you. I’d kill for curves like yours.

She smiled, but it didn’t match her eyes. ’Curves is a code word for fat, Jamie.

You’re crazy. Guys are constantly checking you out! Becca was beautiful, but she grew up under a microscope, and her smallest flaws were put on display. Her mother didn’t help, constantly pointing out little errors through her eyes. Becca was curvy, but miles away from being considered ‘fat’. 

Becca, you’re well manicured. Your complexion is killer, your clothing style is on point, and your hair… I’ve told you a dozen times how jealous I am of it. 

Her hair was thick and soft with natural blonde highlights that gave her texture. My caramel color was boring, and I couldn’t afford the same expensive shampoo as Becca.

Oh, Jamie, you’re too nice to me, she sighed, walking around the counter and into the living room, plopping down on the sectional couch. I’d kill for your gene pool. You’re skinny and lively; guys fawn over you left and right. You’ve got this exotic beach girl look with your brown eyes and tan skin. If you wanted to settle down with a guy, you’d get the pick of the litter.

I cleared my throat and winced out of her view. I don’t need a man.

She was right. I didn’t let men get close. It was the big reason why I was willing to move locations across the state with Becca. And neither do you.

I know, I just still miss Connor sometimes.

How can you miss him when he cheated on you?! I scoffed.

It’s not necessarily him, I just miss being close to someone. It’s nice sleeping with a warm body holding you.

I smirked. You don’t have to have a committed boyfriend for that to happen.

Just because you can pick up guys from the bar and bring them home for the night, doesn’t mean that I can, she grumbled.

You’re overthinking this. I set both of my hands on the counter. Men will do anything for some ass. They will cuddle, and kiss, and touch, and all of that bullshit to get your clothing off.

Becca laughed. They have to be interested in you first.

I’ll show you. Come out with me tomorrow night as a single sex kitten, and you’ll realize that they are looking at you, Becca, and that they’re interested.

She glanced down at herself, curling her legs to her chest and hugging them. She was so uncomfortable in her skin, and I hated that she felt terrible about her looks.

I followed her to the couch, grabbing her half-filled glass and handing it to her. Look, if you want to drop a few pounds, I’ll get on the bandwagon. Tomorrow, we’ll switch to red wine and liquor.

She hesitated when I sat next to her, then took her glass from my hand. You’ll even go to the gym with me?

I crinkled my nose, That’s pushing it.

Come on, if you really want to help me, that’s a big part of it, she pleaded. I saw a gym down the street. 

I grumbled, but conceded to her request. Fine, if that’s what you need to gain some confidence, then okay. Tomorrow, we’ll go check it out, but tonight, I held up my glass, we celebrate a fresh start.

Becca clinked her glass with mine. Yes, to new beginnings, she agreed. 

And for knowing what we want!

Becca nodded. That will be our anthem. We know what we want!

It can be our secret code for the summer, I added.

 We’re going to have fun and live in the moment, not thinking about our future, she said firmly. That’s what this summer will be all about.

We both took a long sip, then proceeded to our bedrooms to unpack. We’d eventually get back to the wine once our rooms were somewhat in order. 

When I came across a specific box, I peered down the hall to make sure Becca was still in her room, then quietly closed my door. The same chill that always hit me crawled up my spine when I dug out the beat up shoe box.

Setting it on my bed, I pulled off the top, the contents hitting me with haunted memories like a weighted brick. It was full of letters, all written in beautiful ink with a pressed seal that had kept them folded in secret. 

The paper he used was its original kind, a crisp black that was thicker than your average notepad entry. It even had a distinct smell to it, the kind when you’d open an antique drawer from a wooden furniture set. It was heady at first, and I always wriggled my nose from the abrupt scent.

This box was the reason why I refrained from having a genuine connection.

Taking the letter on the top, I reread its content written in white ink.

Congratulations, my love.

The day that we’ll be together again is coming soon.

He had left this for me the day after I graduated from FSU with my marketing degree. I should have been overwhelmed with happiness and engulfed in success, but instead, fear struck me, wondering when he would return.

Did he know where I was now? How long would it take for the letters to start appearing again?

Chapter Two

"This is our first day of summer, and you have me up before eight-o'clock