Page 14 of Broken Bonds

“Shouldn’t I do them tonight?” He paused the movie and looked at me.

Shaking my head, I sat beside him again, bringing the drink to my lips again, downing half of it. “You have to actually be able to see what you’re doing, Asshole.”

He heaved a sigh. “You do know that’s not my name, right? I know they both start with an A.” He resumed the movie, and I chose to leave his question unanswered. I liked the nickname I had given him. I found it rather suited him.

We watched the movie without conversation. Halfway through, I received another phone call from my mother, who claimed they were going to drive for two more hours, then call it a night at the first hotel they saw. I could hear how tired and worried she was. My mother was overbearing when it came to our safety, and I knew it was bothering her that I wasn’t with them.

Ace fell asleep toward the end of the movie, so it was now my turn to pick something to watch. Settling on an oldFriendsrerun, I grabbed a blanket from the chest in the corner of the room and curled up on the other side of the couch.

An hour later, Ace stirred, mumbling something about needing the bathroom as he stumbled up the stairs. He came back, grabbed our empty cups, and filled them again before plopping down on the couch, closer to me this time. I tried to ignore the way his body heat emanated from him, but it was nearly impossible. Irefusedto acknowledge how much I wanted to lean against him and sink into that warmth.

His eyes were red and bloodshot, and his hair was sticking up in the back. For once, he didn’t look like a total asshole… at least until he opened his mouth.

“I’ve never cared for this show. There’s no point to it, really. It’s not likeArroworGame of Throneswhere the order of the episodes actually matters.”

“That’s the whole point, Asshole. It’s a twenty-minute episode filled with humor. No real thinking involved.”

“Whatever,” he grumbled. “How long was I sleeping?” He sipped his drink and choked, laughing at Ross screaming about being on a break—quite possibly the most famous line of all time.

“I think an hour. I wasn’t really paying attention. You did miss the ending of the last movie.”

He shrugged like he didn’t care. “I’ve seen that movie at least a dozen times. It was my favorite growing up.”

I waved him off, not sure how I felt about him sharing more intimate details about himself. I didn’t want to like him.

“Be quiet; you’re ruining my favorite show.” He rolled his eyes and sipped slowly at his drink. Our laughter was interrupted by my phone ringing, and he grabbed it before I had a chance.

“Celine’s phone. She’s currently too busy being a brat to answer.” He snorted loudly, and I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me. His face suddenly dropped, and he stopped laughing immediately, getting up from the couch to go stand in the kitchen. He finished the rest of his drink in one gulp.

“I’ll keep her safe, Ryan, and I won’t go near her either.” My gut twisted uncomfortably. “You have nothing to worry about. She’s not my type anyway.” I flinched and quickly finished my own drink. I knew I didn’t want to like him, but hearing him so bluntly say I wasn’t his type and he wouldn’t go near me fuckingcut. Walking into the kitchen, I held my hand out for my phone. Ace looked at me, guilt flashing in his blue eyes before he passed me the phone without a word.

“Goodnight, Ryan. Tell Mom and Dad I love them.” I hung up the phone before my dick of a brother could say anything else, handing Ace my empty glass before I headed upstairs without another word, trying to ignore the hurt tightening my chest.

“Going to bed, Celine?” he called through the empty house.

“Not that you would care, but yes, I am.”

I heard him sigh. “Goodnight, Celine.” He was at the bottom of the stairs now, his voice carrying up to me.

I gripped my door handle. “Night, Asshole.” Then, I stepped into my room, shutting my door behind me.

chapter six

CELINE

“HELP! Aidan, help!” I woke up in the darkness, covered in sweat as the accident played over and over in my mind like a horror movie. The flames licking at my skin and the weight of the bike crushing my legs felt all too real.

Wiggling my toes, I made sure it really was a dream. That I wasn’t still trapped under that burning bike. That I had use of my legs still.

Because a year ago, I couldn’t wiggle my toes.

The bathroom door swung open, and a shirtless Ace barged into the room, frightening me. He was wearing my brother’s sweats, and they were too small for his long legs, riding a couple of inches above his ankles. “What’s wrong?” he rasped, his eyes darting around the room, looking for the source of my scream.

“Nothing.” I hated how strangled my voice sounded. I clenched the blanket in my trembling fingers to hide their shaking. “Go back to bed.”

He looked confused, a frown pulling at his lips. “You were screaming. Iheardyou scream for help.”

I swallowed thickly. “The thunder scared me,” I lied. He shook his head. I was hoping he wouldn’t question me anymore. He didn’t need to know anything about me—certainly not theworst thing that’d ever happened to me. We were just two strangers trapped in a house, waiting out a hurricane. There was no need to share any past stories.

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