Bound Together (Torn and Bound Duet 2)

“Nah, man. I’m good.” I give him a head nod and then stalk out of the tutoring center.

She canceled because of what I did.

I hurt her.

Just like I hurt Drew.

I’ll need to see her soon and repair things. Apologize. Grovel. Sure, Mia and I were technically “off” whatever it is we were attempting, but it doesn’t mean I still didn’t hurt her.

Since I’m fucking starving after practice, I make my way over to the cafeteria and grab a sandwich. I see a few guys I recognize and tip my head to them, but never stop to talk. I pause for a second, letting that sink in.

I never stop to talk.

Never party with Finn or the others.

Rarely meet up with the other teammates outside of practice or games.

I’m a damn loner.

It wasn’t always this way. Before Ben’s death, I was popular and liked at my school. I had ride or die friends, including Drew. I went to sleepovers and terrorized the mall with my buddies. I went on trips out of town with my friends and their families. I allowed myself the pleasures of friendship.

When Ben died, I began to retreat.

I didn’t feel deserving to have fun when he’d never be able to again.

It all felt so unfair.

And now I’m a goddamn man who has no friends because the ones he does have, he tries to stick his dumbass tongue down their throats.

Fuck.

“Hey, Nick,” I grunt out, walking up to the table of guys who were just waving to me. “Your brother still play for that Canadian hockey team? How’s that going for him?”

Everyone blinks at me, seemingly surprised that I approached and engaged in conversation.

Okay, so I’m really shitty at this.

“Yeah, man,” Nick says, his brows furling. “Want me to put in a good word?”

“No,” I rush out quickly. “I was just making conversation.”

“Oh.”

The uncomfortable silence wanes on.

“Right, so if you ever want to hang, hit me up,” I state, giving him a forced smile.

Nick nods, but confusion glimmers in his eyes. “Sure thing.”

I grunt out a goodbye and then walk away, hating how fucking awkward that was. Why do I have to be this way? All I care about is hockey, my parents, and Drew. It’s all it’s been for as long as I can remember.

What about Mia and Ashton?

Mia’s a no-brainer. I do care about that girl.

Ashton…

I don’t want to think about Ashton. He’s problematic.

On the way over to Mia’s, I wolf down my sandwich, my mind spinning with all the confusing shit I’m dealing with. I don’t know how to make sense of the way my heart speeds up at the thought of seeing her. Or how it seems to stop altogether when I think of the kiss with Ashton. My heart just fucking explodes when my thoughts return to Drew—always Drew.

I finally reach Mia’s door and knock, hoping like hell she’ll answer. Heavy footsteps thud toward the door. The lock flips and then the door opens enough to reveal Drew.

My Drew.

Why the hell is he here?

“This was your meeting?” I bite out, flames of anger licking at my insides. I know it’s irrational, but I feel duped somehow. “What’s going on here?”

He still looks hot as hell wearing his Ice Hawks long-sleeved white shirt and dark wash jeans. I want to yank him to me and kiss him, but after the shit storm that was last night, I don’t dare. We’re on thin ice and one wrong move could lead to dire consequences.

I can’t lose him again.

Not when we’re so close to… something.

The something feels right and I need it.

“My meeting was canceled,” he states in a gruff tone. “It was an academic probation meeting with advisors, but since all my players got their grades up, it was unnecessary. Anything else you’d like to interrogate me about, Officer?”

I tear my gaze from his lips that have twisted up in an angry sneer to peek past him into Mia’s apartment. “I need to talk to Mia. She canceled her tutoring session with me.”

He crosses his arms, blocking the doorway with his big body. “You should reschedule with someone else.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” I throw back, heated at his words. “I want Mia!”

We both flinch at my words.

It’s not like that, but it kind of feels like that.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you or Ashton right now. Give her some space.”

I have the urge to yell for her to come to the door but then that’d be going against the advice I just gave Ashton about Mia last night. I know this girl. It’ll only piss her off more.

“Can you tell her I stopped by?” I ask, deflating like a balloon. “Please.”

“I will.”

“Tell her I’m sorry.”

His blue eyes flash with pain that stabs me right in the gut. “You’ve been saying that a lot today.”

I want to pull him to me and say it a thousand more times because now that my head’s out of my ass, I know what I want.