Torn Apart (Torn and Bound Duet 1)

Her palms press to my chest and she pushes, breaking the kiss. My hand slides down to the side of her neck and I caress her jaw with my thumb.

“You can’t do this.” She presses her lips together.

“I’ve figured it out, though,” I explain, leaning in to kiss her again.

“So?” she snaps, pushing me back. “I didn’t realize I was supposed to wait until you figured your shit out.”

I clench my jaw. “Mia…”

“No,” she hisses. “I went away this weekend stressed about seeing my mother. I needed you and you weren’t there.” She swallows. “Know who was?”

Fucking Brayden.

“Yeah,” I grind out. “I know.”

She lifts her chin, leveling me with a hard stare. “We messed around.”

I don’t flinch. She didn’t say it to hurt me. Just stating facts.

“I don’t care,” I tell her gently.

“Well, you should,” she says, “because I like him. I like being with him.”

Now, I really do cringe at her words.

“What about us?” I mutter. “MiMi, I can’t lose you.”

“There is no us… not like that.”

I reach forward, running my knuckles along her cheek. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. Mia forgets I can read her better than I can read myself. She’s upset and angry with me—justifiably so—but that doesn’t mean she hates me or can turn off the way she feels about me. I drag my thumb across her wet lip, searing her with a determined stare.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I vow, my words low and husky. “This thing between us won’t just disappear. Believe me, I already fucking tried to make it go away.”

She swallows hard and a tear races down her cheek. Leaning in, I kiss the wet streak and then pull her to me for a hug. I’m happy as fuck when she hugs me back.

“You’re making this hard on me,” she whines, making me smile.

I stroke my fingers through her hair and kiss the top of her head. “It’s one of the things you love about me. I’m a hot mess. One you signed up for when you looped your arm with mine and told everyone I was your boyfriend.”

“Totally regretting that now,” she mutters.

I chuckle. “Nah, you love me. Want to know why?”

“Oh God. Don’t tell me you made a list.”

“I couldn’t find enough paper. I guess I’ll just have to tell you.”

“Why do I love you, Ashton?”

Pulling away, I smile down at her, admiring her pretty features. “I honestly don’t know why, MiMi, but I’m glad you do.”Yesterday, Mia and I made progress. Not in a romantic sense, but in the way we got back to our normal friendly ways. Last night, we laughed together at stupid shit, ate junk food, and played video games until late. This evening, I plan for more of the same.

I manage to avoid Drew again today, which makes me feel like shit, but I can’t have him distracting me. It’d be smart to confess to Mia about what happened between Drew and me, but I can’t bear what that would do to our fragile relationship. Knowing her, she’ll see it as more uncertainty on my end.

That’s anything but the truth.

I’m completely certain where she’s concerned.

I want to kiss her and hold her and one day go to bed with her. It’s the natural progression of us. I won’t rest until we’ve tried. If we fail, so be it, but I need to try first.

After grabbing a big bag of Skittles, I head over to Mia’s once I know she’ll be home from class. I’m just letting myself in when I hear her giggles. I’d smile if it weren’t for the fact I’m not giving her the giggles. Someone else is.

My irritation is further ratcheted up the moment I see Brayden. He has her pinned against the back of the couch, planting teasing kisses on her. Jealousy coils around my heart, making the world turn green around me. I want to rip her out of his massive arms and pull her to me. But I know Mia. That’ll just piss her off when I really can’t afford to do that right now.

“Hey,” I grunt out, trying to keep my voice level.

Mia flashes me a guilty look before forcing a smile my way. “Hey. I invited Brayden too. Thought we could all hang out.”

His smug, stupidly hot smile gets on my last nerve. He lifts his head at me in greeting but doesn’t say a word. The satisfaction gleaming in his chocolate brown eyes has my hand tightening around the bag of Skittles as anger threatens to drown me.

“Cool,” I grumble. “We watching a movie or what?”

“Yeah, Brayden thought we could watch that new Chris Hemsworth movie. We went ahead and ordered food.”

I walk past them into the kitchen and start opening cabinets on a hunt for booze. Mia shows up, hugging me from behind. All my fury bleeds away, forcing me to relax.