Torn Bond (Bonded Duet 1)

“Two weeks.”

She turned her head to look at me, but I couldn’t give her anything. It didn’t matter what I wanted to say. It mattered what I could say.

“I…I’m not sure. I’ll let you know, okay?”

“Okay.” Asher frowned at her, and I knew he could feel her unease too. She could sense things around her, and I had no doubt she could feel my frustration. I needed to push it all aside, but it was hard when I’d gotten close to her. So close, I wasn’t sure where she ended and where I began.

I pushed my chair back, the scraping of the legs ringing out around us. I opened my mouth, not sure what I was going to say, but then I closed it. I didn’t have control over how I was feeling, so instead of saying something, I stayed silent and walked back into the lake house with Lottie trotting behind me.

I refused to be part of a plan that didn’t give Belle a voice. For now, I’d keep quiet, but Friday morning, I’d make sure to back Belle up.

* * *

BELLE

The house had been a flurry of activity since we woke up this morning. We were all leaving together, and I wasn’t sure if it was a coincidence or a plan, but one thing I did know was that I couldn’t wait to be alone with Ford again. Since the one time in my bedroom, we hadn’t touched again. Not since we found out Aria had heard us.

My cheeks heated at the memory of what we did on this bed, and then they reddened even more at the thought of Aria hearing us. She hadn’t said another word since Tuesday evening, and even though I wanted to go and talk to her about it, I feared someone would overhear. So I pretended she hadn’t alluded to hearing us, and resolved to ask Ford what he thought once we were on the road and back to my apartment.

My bedroom door was open, which meant Asher waltzed right in with a grin on his face. “Hey, sis.” He dived onto my bed, missing the suitcase I was packing by mere inches, and then star-fished. His legs hung off the end, but he looked every bit like the little kid he used to be.

“’Sup, Asher.”

He snorted at my greeting. “You’re such a nerd.” He stared at me for a beat, and his grin slowly turned into a frown. “I’m gonna miss you.”

“Awwww.” I zipped my suitcase and jumped onto the bed next to him. “Summer isn’t long away. Then we can terrorize the neighborhood, just like old times.”

He chuckled at my words as he sat up. “I’m already thinking of pranks we can play.” He flung his arm around my shoulders. “It’s not the same at home without you.” I knew what he meant because my apartment wasn’t the same without my annoying brother across the hall.

I opened my mouth, about to confess that to him, but footsteps moving toward my room stopped me. “Your dad wants to see you,” Aria said, stopping in my doorway.

“Okay.” I stared at her for several seconds, wondering if she’d bring up anything, but she just spun around and headed back down the stairs.

“That seemed—”

“Ominous,” I finished for Asher. I raised my brows at him, wondering what was going on, and then stood. “Carry my suitcase down, Asher. Your muscles need working out.”

I heard him heave from behind me, but didn’t turn back to look at him as I made my way out of my bedroom and then down the stairs. I could hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen, and as soon as I walked in, they stopped.

The silence stretched between everyone, and when Asher halted behind me, he asked, “What’s going on?”

“Belle,” Mom started. “Hear your dad out before you—”

“Before I what?” I frowned and turned to look at Ford, but his narrowed eyes were focused on my dad. What the hell?

“You’re coming home with us,” Dad said, his voice brooking no room for argument. He pushed his cell into his front pocket. “Let’s go.” He stepped forward, but no one moved after him. He was used to giving a command and people following it without questions, but this was his family, not his work.

“No,” I ground out. “What the hell is going on?”

“You’re coming home with us, that’s what’s going on,” Dad demanded. “Ford can bring your suitcase, but you can come in our car.”

“And if I refuse?”

Dad took two steps toward me, leaving only a few feet between us. “Then, I’ll put you in my car myself.”

I raised a brow and turned to face Mom. I pointed at Dad, my anger starting to bubble up inside me, threatening to overflow. “Is he serious?”

Her nostrils flared, and I could see plain as day that she wasn’t happy either. “Brody, why don’t you—”