Page 76 of Broken Bonds

“It’s going to be okay, baby. You aren’t going through this alone. You have Amber, Ace, and your family. You’re going to be okay.”

“I know,” I said softly. “I just don’t want to go through this again.”

“It’ll fly by; I promise.” But would it, really?

Dad, Ryan, and Ace stepped through the door a few minutes later, all looking worn out from a day of work. Ryan sat next to me nervously on the couch as Ace took my other side.

“On the bright side, you get an excuse to miss class and to stay in bed all day,” Ryan said, trying to lighten the mood. But it just freaked me out even more. Iwantedschool. Iwantednormalcy. “Imagine all the TV you can watch.” Ryan threw an arm around my shoulder, trying to ease both of our nerves.

“Do I detect jealousy?” I teased, not letting him see the internal conflict I was having.

He laughed, the rich sound vibrating from his chest. “You definitely do.”

We sat watching whatever was on the TV, me stuck between the two men until Ryan eventually left to go shower.

“We need to talk,” Ace muttered as he shifted closer to me, his electrifying gaze on my face.

I frowned, staring at the TV, unable to bring myself to look at him. “I’m not girlfriend material, Ace. Not right now, anyway.”

He scoffed. “Shouldn’t I get a say?” My chest tightened at his words—at the anger and pleading in them. “I want to be with you, Celine. I want to kiss you every time my eyes land on you. To touch you. To fucking take care of you.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I can’t just be friends. Not with you. I can’t be around you and not want you.”

I swallowed thickly, opening my eyes to stare down at my lap. If I looked at him, I would cave and only wreck us both in the end when he realized I was too much to deal with. “I want you, too, but Ace, it’s just better this way.”

He gripped my chin, tilting my head up so I was forced to look at him. I wanted to cast my eyes away, but his intense, blue-eyed gaze pinned me in place. “I’m going to prove you wrong. I’m not him. I’m not your ex, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to be with you.”

“Ace, please.” My voice trembled.

He leaned forward, his eyes darting behind me to check the stairs. “I want you, Celine, and nothing is going to get in my way.”

When his lips brushed mine, my eyes fluttered closed, the fight leaving me.

chapter twenty-seven

ACE

Celine fucking Wilson had me wrapped around her finger. Whether she wanted to accept that or not was another issue entirely. She kept pushing me away, and I should’ve agreed with her, but I couldn’t—not when my eyes landed on hers. Not when I could feel her body heat pressing into me. Not when I could smell her intoxicating, expensive perfume and the sweet scent of her hair.

Those blue eyes hypnotized me and pulled me in, no matter how hard I tried to pull away. Just below those ocean eyes was my next favorite feature on the girl—those soft, pink lips, so pliant and willing, so fucking sweet.

She had been quiet all night after I kissed her, barely speaking during dinner, only speaking when someone actively engaged her in a conversation. Ryan had helped her to bed, frowning at me when I offered to carry her up the stairs. Celine was going to end up coming between us, but it would be worth it. He’d come around eventually. He had to.

And now, Ryan and I were sitting in the same position as his first night home—him glaring at me from the bed while I stared at the dark ceiling.

“I’m not changing my mind.” He fell back onto the pillows with a huff when I didn’t break the silence first.

“Didn’t think you would,” I responded, folding my hands over my flat stomach, not moving my gaze.

He made a low sound of annoyance. “Then stay away from her. Stop kissing her when you think I’m not looking.”

I couldn’t stop the smirk from tilting my lips even if I tried. “No.”

He abruptly sat up, whipping the covers off of his body. I just eyed him out of the corner of my eye, not moving other than that. “I told you, Ace. You don’t deserve her.”

Those damn words again. Fuck him. I knew I didn’t deserve her, but why couldn’t he trust his sister to know what she wanted? To know what was good for her?

“She doesn’t think so,” I retorted, unable to help it. He was pissing me off and pushing my buttons and being a really shitty fucking friend.

“Shedoesn’t know you!” he growled.

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