Shady's obsession

25.

Third person
Em paced back and forth in his room, his mind racing with thoughts of Hazel. She was kind, beautiful, and vibrant, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her. However, he couldn't ignore the fact that there was a significant age gap between them. Em was in his 40s, while Hazel was only 26.

He knew that Hazel had feelings for him, but he was nervous about pursuing a relationship with her. What would people think? Would he be judged for being with someone so much younger than him? He didn't want to be seen as a predator or take advantage of her in any way.

Em's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Hazel, and she had come to talk to him, since he'd asked her to. Em took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves as he opened the door.

"Hazel," he said, motioning for her to sit down.

"Em, what's wrong, did I do something wrong?" Hazel said, her eyes searching his face.

Em's heart raced as he struggled to find the words to respond. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he was nervous.

"You're making me nervous." Hazel took a deep breath.

"I saw the journal, I didn't mean to, but- I- Hazel, you're an amazing, beautiful woman." Em finally said. "But you're so young Hazel, I-."

Hazel's face fell, and Em could see the disappointment in her eyes. He hated the way he'd backed out of telling her how he felt. He wanted to kiss her right there and then but the anxiety of 'what ifs' stopped him in his tracks. It was easier to push her away then it was to be honest, especially after all the heartache he'd been through in life.

"Ok, Em," Hazel said. "But I'm an adult, and I know what I want. I want you."

"I don't want you, how could you think this could ever work?!"

"You're actions and you words are not making any sense Marshall, you've slept in my bed, you've looked after me and you've-"

"You're not special Hazel, I literally had to, I had no choice, you were so fucking broken when you came to me, how could I turn you away? You're confused and you're damaged, so you're clinging on to the first man that treats you with a little respect."

Em took a deep breath, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He cared about Hazel deeply, but he couldn't get over his own fears.

"Ok, well I don't appreciate you reading my private shit, this is kinda embarrassing on my part." Hazel said bitterly, before walking out of the room.

"Haze! Can we just-"

"I don't who the fuck that was, but it wasn't Marshall...Just don't talk to me right now." Hazel huffed, before the sound of her door slamming echoed through the house.

The sound of RnB filled the house and it wasn't long before Hazel was heading back to Hailie's house in her sweats to stay overnight.

..............................
Hazels pov

"Are you okay?" Hailie sat down with her pyjamas on and a glass of wine in her hand.

"He told you what he was going to talk to me about didn't he?" I huffed slightly.

"Maybe." She sipped her wine.

"What happened?" Hailie sighed.

"I got rejected, even though it's not like I tried anything, I didn't ask him to read my journal." I rolled my eyes feeling frustrated as I got choked up.

"I thought he cared about me, at very least as a friend, the whole you're not special I had no choice shit makes me feel like a burden."

"What the hell was he doing! I promise you we didn't talk about THIS." Hailie groaned.

"I was so broken he couldn't turn me away. I'm confused and I'm damaged so that's why I'm clinging on to him." I bitterly quoted what Em had said earlier and I couldn't stop my tears.

"I promise you he didn't mean that." Hailie hugged me tight.

"I promise you he didn't mean any of that." She whispered, as she broke away from the hug.

"I hate to break it to you girl, but I think he did." I chuckled and wiped my tears away.

"No I know my dad, and I know the conversation we had, he's so fucking petrified, he hasn't let himself open up to the idea of being in love since my mom, he's going to push you away first Hazel, just give him some time and he'll realise." She smiled and handed me a glass of wine.

I smiled at her and nodded before sipping it, I just wanted to put her mind at ease, even if I didn't believe anything she'd said.