Bound Together (Torn and Bound Duet 2)

“It’s one of them,” Mia says, glancing up at me. Her glasses are removed and her eyes are red-rimmed. Her cheeks blotchy. She must’ve been wearing a little bit of mascara because it’s slightly smeared under her eyes. Her hair is up in a messy bun. She looks so damn sad.

“Probably.”

“How could he do this?” she asks, sitting up and crossing her legs, bringing them up to her chest like she’s trying to protect herself from the big bad world.

“Which one?” I raise a brow, and she releases a shaky breath.

“I was referring to Ashton, but I guess both of them.” She closes her eyes and swallows thickly. “How did this happen? How did we get here?”

Here meaning her being in love with her best friend and caring deeply about mine.

Here meaning me being in love with my best friend and caring deeply about hers.

Here meaning our best friends kissing, who, the last time I checked, hated each other.

“I don’t know,” I murmur, wishing I had the answers, but at the same time not wanting them.

My phone vibrates again, and Mia’s glassy eyes meet mine. “Maybe you should check it.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“I get it,” she agrees. “My heart… it hurts so much.” Fresh tears well up in her eyes and fall over, racing down her cheeks. “I love him, but I’ll never be enough.” Her body racks with fresh sobs as she covers her face with her hands. I pull her back toward me, wrapping my arms around her, hoping to comfort her.

“He loves you too,” I assure her. “He’s just so damn confused.”

I shouldn’t be defending Ashton, not after what I witnessed. But I can’t help the way I feel about him. I care about him, even when he does stupid shit like kiss my best friend. It’s who Ashton is. He acts without thinking. Makes irrational decisions. But it’s half of what I like about him. I wish I could be a little more like him. Act impulsively, consequences be damned.

“I know,” she says. “But it doesn’t change the fact he hurt me. He told me he loved me and wanted to be with me, and I believed him.”

“What about Brayden?”

Mia chews on her bottom lip for several seconds. “Brayden knows.”

“And he was okay with that?” Doesn’t sound like the Brayden I know.

“I think…” She sighs. “I think he understood because he feels the same way… about you.”

Her sad as fuck eyes lock with mine and my first emotion breaks free. Guilt.

“I’m so fucking sorry for my part in all of this.” I beg her with my eyes to forgive me. “I don’t know how this all got so twisted. It’s like one minute, I was trolling for a woman to hook up with at The Lodge and the next, I’m fucking around with two different guys.”

Mia does some weird snort-laugh-cry thing and then grants me the smallest smile. “I get it. They’re both… oddly irresistible in their own ways.”

Her smile falls and she takes a deep breath. “Where do we go from here?”

“I guess the question is, where do you want to go from here?”

She chews on her bottom lip in thought before she says, “Right now, I think I need a little breather.”

I get exactly how she feels. “If you want me to go…”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Unless you want to go…”

“Right now, I think I need a little breather as well.”

“Wanna watch a movie?” she suggests. “Try to take our mind off the shitstorm that’s waiting outside for us.”

“Sure.”

She clicks the television on and presses play on the first movie that pops up. The opening credits have barely even begun, when I hear her sniffling.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I take the remote out of her hand and press pause.

“It’s ‘No Strings Attached’.” She hiccups through a sob. “It’s about two best friends who fall in love.” Her lids fill with tears and her chest falls up and down heavily. “Drew,” she cries. “I love him. I need him. I don’t want to lose him.” She’s crying so hard, it’s difficult to make out what she’s saying. “And I really, really care about Brayden,” she adds. “I’m so sorry. I know you love him…”

“Shhh… It’s okay.” I guide her closer so I can comfort her. She lays her head across my lap, and I run my fingers through her hair, trying to calm her down. When she shifts her body, getting comfortable, her face brushes against my crotch, and my dick stirs, thinking he’s about to get some attention. I close my eyes. Breathe in, then exhale harshly, praying she doesn’t notice.

But she does…

“Umm… Drew,” she says softly. “Are you…?”

I clear my throat. “Hard? You’re rubbing your face against my dick, Mia.”

“Oh,” she breathes, sitting up. “I’m sorry.” She eyes me sheepishly. “We’re a hot mess, aren’t we?” She laughs, and I chuckle at how up and down her emotions are. One second she’s in tears and the next she’s laughing. It would be amusing if not for the circumstance.