Torn Apart (Torn and Bound Duet 1)

“Well, you know… A few weeks ago we almost…”

Drew releases what sounds like a relieved sigh and laughs. The tension in his shoulders melts away as he flashes me a devilish smirk. “We almost what?”

“You know what.” I slap his arm. “When we were in that room at The Lodge.”

“Know what?” His brows furrow together in false confusion.

Fine! He wants me to spell it out for him, two can play this game. “When you stuck your fingers in me… and I had my hand on your dick.”

Drew chokes on his water, clearly shocked I would come out and say it, then coughs to cover it up. “Well, now it’s weird.” He laughs. “Since I now have the image of you spread out on that bed, with my…”

The door swings open and Ashton storms in like a tornado. His face is down, looking at his phone, so he doesn’t notice me at first.

“Hey,” I say, making my presence known.

His head snaps up, and a look of shock and… disgust flashes over his features. My stomach roils. Something is wrong. Way wrong.

“What are you doing here?” he asks with irritation in his tone that has me regretting waiting for him.

“Didn’t you get my text?” My eyes dart to his phone in his hand. He obviously did and ignored it. “I’m leaving soon.”

“I didn’t know your text required a reply,” he says, walking past me. “I reek of chlorine. I need to shower.” He disappears into his room, leaving me sitting here, almost in tears.

“Hey.” Drew covers his hand with mine. “You okay? I know some stuff has happened between you and Ashton…”

My gaze darts over to him. He knows? Has Ashton confided in him? It would make sense since they’re roommates.

“Has he been acting okay this week?”

“He’s been a little more distracted than usual,” Drew notes. “Not as many witty comments.”

“I’m worried,” I admit softly. “Maybe I should cancel my trip.”

“Don’t do that. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”

“Thank you.” I sigh in relief, feeling a little better about leaving. “Give me your number.” I pull my phone out and open it to my contacts.

“Aren’t you already juggling enough guys?” Drew jokes.

“Ha-ha.” I hand him my phone. “So you can keep me updated.”

He types in his info, then hands it back to me. When I glance at what he typed, I’m confused. “Guy Number One?”

“Well, I was the first guy in the picture, before Brayden and Ashton fell for you.” He laughs, mischief twinkling in his eyes.

I’m laughing at his remark, when Ashton’s door creaks open and he steps out into the hall in nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. Water dripping down his firm chest and washboard abs. My girly parts clench at the sight of his nipple piercing—something he religiously wears when he’s not swimming. A simple tiny metal bar shouldn’t have such an effect on me, but it does. I wonder what it would feel like to run my tongue along the metal and—

Drew clears his throat, shaking me from my thoughts. My eyes slowly rise to meet Ashton’s, knowing I’ve been caught checking him out. I’m expecting him to make some cocky comment about it, and with the way things are going, I’m actually hoping he does. I don’t even care at this point that he caught me drooling over him.

But he doesn’t.

“What are you still doing here?” he asks, making me gasp in shock and hurt.

“I was waiting for you.” I stand. “I thought we could hang out before I go.”

He stares at me for a long moment and then sighs. “All right. Let me get dressed and I’ll meet you over at your place.”

Once he disappears back into his room, Drew says, “I’ll watch out for him. I promise.” He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Go on your trip and if you need to know anything, I’ll text you.” He smiles softly and his sexy dimple pops out.

“Thank you.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “It means a lot to me.”I’m in the middle of packing my luggage when Ashton saunters into my room, dressed in a gray long-sleeved Jane’s Addiction shirt and holey jeans, complete with his black Doc Martens. The guy puts like zero effort into what he wears and somehow it makes him look even sexier.

“What’s up?” he says, dropping onto the edge of my bed, his eyes never leaving his phone.

“Packing. You gonna miss me?” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood.

When he doesn’t respond, my mind races with worry. He told me we were fixed, that things would go back to the way they were, but he lied. Everything is broken and nothing is the way it was.

I grab two tiny dresses and hold them up to get his attention. “Which one should I wear to the dinner party?”