Torn Apart (Torn and Bound Duet 1)

Brayden: Just one date.

A part of me wants to go on this date with Brayden. Push what happened with Ashton to the side. But the other part of me, the part that’s in love with my best friend, needs to know where we stand first. I mean, I know where I stand. I left a club where I was about to hook up with a hot guy just because he called me, and that was before he kissed me. It was obviously a blessing in disguise since Drew ended up being the hockey coach and Ashton’s roomie, and that would’ve been awkward as hell—well, more awkward than knowing Drew’s dick is the only dick I’ve ever touched… and stroked… And then there’s the fact that no guy besides him has ever had his fingers in me… But my point is, I ran from Drew that night because of my feelings for Ashton. So, before I try to see what there might be between Brayden and me, I need to make one hundred percent sure Ashton doesn’t see a future with us. Chances are he’ll tell me the kiss was nothing, but before I move forward, I need to know one way or another.

Me: Give me a minute.

Brayden: What?

Me: BRB!

I drop my phone on my bed and run out of my apartment and over to Ashton’s before I lose my false bravado. Since I forgot my key, I bang on the door. A minute later, a tall, shirtless, sexy as hell man answers.

“Is there a fire?” Drew asks, raising a single brow in question.

My jaw drops as I take in his tanned, muscular chest that’s on display. I’ve seen him before, that night we were together… but I was too focused on what we were doing to take the time to appreciate the view. As my gaze descends, I notice he has a tattoo on his ribcage: a quote of some sort. I would have to get closer to read what it says.

As my eyes rake farther down his body, counting each of his abs, he clears his throat, forcing my gaze to go back to his face.

“How long are you going to stand here and eye-fuck me?” he asks. “It’s kind of chilly. Think you could finish in here with the door closed?”

He smirks cockily and I groan, embarrassed. How did I go from having no sex life to being attracted to three guys? Well, actually, technically I still have no sex life, since Drew is the coach and off-limits, and even if he wasn’t, I still bailed on him because of my feelings for Ashton, who is gay…

“Mia.” Drew laughs, making me snap out of it. “Get in here.”

“Oh, sorry.” I step inside. “I’m here to see Ashton.”

“I’m in here,” Ashton calls from his bedroom. “Please tell me you brought breakfast.”

“No, I didn’t,” I yell back, stepping past Drew and heading straight to Ashton’s room.

“MiMi, I’m starving,” Ashton whines, when I get into his room and close the door behind me so we have some privacy.

He glances up from his video game and then pauses it. “Are you okay? You’re looking a little flushed.”

“Yeah, it’s, umm…” I clear my throat. “It’s cold outside.” When he un-pauses his game, I step in front of the screen. “We need to talk.”

Ashton pauses the game again and releases an annoyed sigh. “Can we talk after you feed me? You know it’s hard for me to think or communicate before I eat.”

“The kiss between us the other night. What did it mean to you?”

Ashton’s eyes bulge out and then fly back down to his controller. “My stomach is going to eat my insides if I don’t get some food in me soon.”

“Don’t do that,” I plead. “Don’t change the subject. I need to know if the kiss between us was just that, a drunken kiss, or if it was more.”

When Ashton remains quiet, I add, “Brayden asked me out.”

“Rapey Dude Bro Bray, really?”

“He’s not rapey,” I argue. “He’s actually really sweet and funny, and he wants to take me on a date, but I need to know if there’s something between us first. I mean, I know you’re gay but—”

“That’s right,” Ashton says, cutting me off. “I’m gay.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. I knew this was a possibility, but a piece of me had hoped…

“So, the kiss?” I ask, needing him to verbally confirm it.

“Was just that… A drunken kiss,” he says, looking anywhere but at me. I’m not sure if he’s doing it because he’s full of shit, or because he feels bad.

I kneel in front of him, making him look at me. “So, you’re okay with me going out with another guy?”

“Well, I think you could do better than that asshole jock, but yeah.” He shrugs a single shoulder.

“Fine, then I’ll tell him yes.”