Bound Together (Torn and Bound Duet 2)

With those words, I leave him hopefully feeling not so alone, because it’s the truth. All four of us have a play in this situation—each aiming for the goal and always missing—but no one’s winning shit.He won’t look at me.

Not that I’m surprised.

I royally fucked up.

All through practice, I felt Drew’s intense glare on me, but by the time I would glance at him, his stare was elsewhere. His jaw clenched, the only tell of his pain.

Not anger. Pain.

I fucking hurt him.

“You going to Marcus’s party tonight?” Finn asks as he shoulders his bag.

“Nah,” I grunt, toweling my wet hair. “I need to study.”

Finn smirks. “Is this about that girl? Naked studying?” He waggles his brows. “Need a study partner?”

“Go away,” I say with a laugh, shoving at him.

“I’ll text you the address in case you change your mind. See ya, Murphy.”

“Later.”

The moment he’s gone, I steel my nerves. I need to talk to Drew. He may have been able to avoid me at practice, but he won’t be able to avoid me when I march right into his office. I’m just grabbing a clean shirt from my bag when I hear keys jangle. I dart my eyes over at Drew’s office to find him locking up.

He’s trying to escape.

Fisting my shirt, I charge over to him, my heart clenching and blood buzzing through my veins.

“We need to talk,” I grit out, hating how he still won’t meet my eyes.

“I have a meeting.”

“Liar.”

His blue eyes finally—fucking finally—lock onto mine, blazing with anger. Good. I can deal with anger. I can’t deal with breaking his heart.

“I have a meeting,” he says, his voice turning icy.

“So cancel it.” I take a step closer, needing to be near him. “I want to talk to you.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw and his nostrils flare. “There are things I want too, but clearly that’s not going to fucking happen.”

His words are a punch to the gut.

“Drew,” I choke. “What happened with Ashton—”

“Stop,” he snaps. “Just stop.”

I step until we’re nose to nose. “We were fighting and then…” I close my eyes, frowning. “Then we were kissing. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His words are cold. “Can I leave now?”

I open my eyes to look at him. “I fucked up.”

“It was just a kiss,” he mutters. “Not a big deal.”

“It was, though.” I fist the front of his shirt, aching to kiss him until he forgives me. “After what you and I did this weekend, I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“Brayden…” He sighs. “I’m more worried about Mia right now than my feelings.”

His words make me flinch—a stab from a double-edged sword. They’re a reminder that another person was hurt by that kiss. Mia. And that he holds her feelings above his own.

I’m storming with confusing emotions.

“I’ll talk to her,” I assure him. “I’ll make this right.”

Drew snorts in disbelief. “It’s too fucked up to ever be right.”

“Please don’t shut me out,” I beg, hating the vulnerability in my tone. “Please.”

His blue eyes soften as he studies me, seemingly searching for answers as to what is going on in my head. I’ll tell him. Whatever he needs to hear to make it right again.

“I’m not shutting you out.” His hand grips my wrist, but he doesn’t pull my hand away from where I hold on to his shirt. “I just need space to think.”

“About us?” My voice cracks. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us.”

I know I fucked up and kissed Ashton back. I’d gotten so caught up in the way he was taunting me that it just sort of happened. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t attracted to Ashton. Seeing him swim is what changed things for me. From hating him to admiring him. When he had me pinned and was fucking with me to piss me off, I got turned on. That kiss was… unfortunately, really fucking nice.

It was just with the wrong person.

“I need to leave,” Drew reminds me. “We can talk later.”

I crave to kiss him and hug him. To show him that we really can be okay. All we have to do is try. I’m not confused right now. I want Drew. I want to make it right.

“Tell me we’ll be okay.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “We’ll be okay.”

Even though he doesn’t sound convincing at all, I’m fucking elated. I release his shirt to hug him, burying my face against his neck. My heart tightens inside my chest when he hugs me back. Everything is fucked-up and messy, but being like this with Drew is one of the right and good things in my world.

Someone clears their throat.

Drew and I fly apart. My skin prickles with worry when I whirl around to find Dean Carter staring at us, wearing a frown that looks so much like Ashton’s it’s frightening.