Torn Apart (Torn and Bound Duet 1)

“That fucking bastard,” Ashton hisses. “Bleach? Is he trying to kill me?”

My blood runs cold. Travis. I thought he smelled funny. Looked guilty as fuck, too.

“I’m going to beat that motherfucker’s ass,” I rumble, my hand curling into a fist.

Ashton shakes his head at me. “You can’t.”

He just tried to make him drink bleach! The hell I can’t.

Ashton snags his shit up and storms off to the locker room. I stalk after him, not ready to end this conversation about Travis. That guy needs to lay the fuck off. As soon as we’re in the locker room, Ashton starts stripping out of his red shorts, flashing me his toned ass. I cross my arms over my chest, refusing to leave.

He dresses in record speed, before turning to glower at me. “Enjoy your peep show, dude bro?”

“Nah, man,” I grind out. “I’d rather check out Drew’s ass.”

His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches.

“Now you’re thinking about it,” I taunt. “How you jacked each other off last weekend… How my fucking best friend’s tongue was down your throat.” I stride right up to him and poke his hard chest. “Drew told me every sordid detail. Best friends and all. Makes me wonder. Did you tell your best friend?”

“Back the fuck off me, Brayden, or so help me I will knock your ass on the ground.” His hazel eyes flash in warning.

“What’s wrong? Can’t have Mia find out you prefer dick over pussy?”

“I said back the fuck off.” His words are low and threatening. “Now.”

“You want to beat my ass for telling you the truth, but I’m not allowed to throat punch that pussy Travis for trying to poison you?”

What the hell is wrong with this guy?

“I’ll tell her,” he mutters.

“She knows.”

He lets out a murderous roar and shoves me with surprising force. I trip over his bag, landing hard on my ass. He pounces on me, his hands on my throat. I land a punch in his ribs, but he’s snarling like a fucking mountain lion. We grapple, each of us trying to get the upper hand until it happens.

We both freeze.

He’s hard. He’s fucking hard. But so am I.

“Told you,” I bite out, triumphant. “You can’t just turn off the fact you like dick.”

His hips flex as a hateful expression crosses over his features. “And what are you going to do when Mia finds out that your dick is a fan of dicks too?”

I let out a dark chuckle. “She already knows. Now get the fuck off me.”

“Or what? You’ll beat me up?” he taunts. “You gonna poke my eye out with your hard-on?”

Fucking asshole.

“You have to the count of three,” I warn. “One.”

His mouth curls into a sinister grin. “The jock can count. All that tutoring paid off after all.”

“Two,” I spit out.

“Like the number of dicks Drew had in his hands when we spent the weekend together and we came all over my stomach together.”

I don’t even get to number three because his words set me off.

Red.

I see fucking red.The second Brayden disappears from the hallway, I’m stalking next door. My heart is pumping, my blood boiling. This last week Ashton’s been all over me, trying to convince me that I’m who he wants. I think I knew deep down, contrary to what he preached, I would never be enough for him. But to find out from Brayden that Ashton hooked up with Drew is like a slap to my face. He’s the same guy I left for Ashton the night at The Lodge. The same Drew I pushed from my thoughts, telling myself he was off-limits because he is. He’s the man Brayden loves and cares about. Can’t live without.

As I bang on the door, I’m not sure what I’m even mad about at this point. Everything is so confusing and complicated. Am I pissed that Ashton might’ve fucked Drew? And if so, shouldn’t I be upset that Brayden also kissed the same guy? My heart hammers in my chest. I am upset, I am mad. At Brayden, at Ashton…

The door opens and Drew makes his appearance and suddenly I realize I’m also really freaking mad at Drew.

“How could you!” I shout, tears of anger pricking my eyes.

His eyes go wide. “Mia, I…”

“Ashton is my best friend.” I swipe the falling tears. “And Brayden.” I take a deep breath that does nothing to calm my nerves. “I really care about him.”

“Mia…”

“Why? Why, Drew? You can’t have them both! It’s not fair. Why did you do this? Was it because I left you hanging that night at The Lodge?” But even as I say the words, I know they aren’t true. I know Drew isn’t like that. He cares about Ashton and Brayden, just like I do.

I stare at Drew for a second. His eyes are glossed over with guilt and he looks crestfallen. I want to yell at him some more, take out my hurt and anger and frustration on him, but it’s obvious he’s going through this as well.