Page 18 of Broken Bonds

My throat was extremely dry, so I got up to make myself a drink. Ace followed me into the kitchen. The sodas were only slightly chilled, but it was better than water. He poured some rum into two glasses, and I poured the soda, then he picked up the glasses and headed for the couch instead of the coffee table, where we’d been sitting before.

He handed me my glass and took a sip of his before setting it down on the coffee table. I took a large gulp, swallowing half the drink at once. Looking into his eyes, I waited for the judgment, but it never came.

“You don’t have to continue. I don’t want you to suffer through this again.” I shook my head, needing to talk about this. Now that I’d started, I didn’t want to stop.

“He asked me out one Friday night when we were watchingHarry Pottermovies. One day, we were best friends, and the next, he was kissing me and telling everyone I was his girlfriend.” A small, pained smile touched my lips. “When he turned seventeen, his father bought him a bike at an auction. They worked on it every weekend until it was perfect. He was so proud of his bike. It was one of the qualities I admired mostabout him. He spent every minute on that bike, and we went on the best rides together.”

I paused to take another long sip of the rum, wishing it could ease the ache in my chest and the phantom, burning pain in my legs.

“For Christmas, his parents and I got him special protective gear for riding. I spent my Christmas bonus from work on this special, flame-resistant helmet that was on sale.” My hands began to tremble, so I tightened them around my glass. “He did everything right, Ace. He went that extra step to be safe.”

Flashes of the accident swirled in my mind, and I closed my eyes, fighting tears.

“He was perfect in my eyes,” I croaked. “I loved him more than I had loved anyone. I loved him more than he ever really loved me. His damn bike came first—always. On Saturday nights, we used to ride down to the beach and stay the night here, then the next day, he would spend the entire day washing and fixing up his bike. I never understood his love for that damned thing. I didn’t understand how he could love an object more than a living person. But I was willing to do anything for him.”

Ace shifted uncomfortably, and I was scared I had said the wrong thing because he wasn’t looking at me anymore. “Should I stop?” He looked at me quickly, reaching for my hand again, interlocking our fingers and squeezing. I hadn’t even realized he’d let go, but at some point, he had because he had to unclench my fingers from around my glass.

“Don’t stop, Celine. I’m here, and I’m listening.” His words gave me the gentle push I needed to get through the next part. And it was the hardest part of the whole damn story.

“One night, we were on our way to the movies. We had a huge fight during the day because he hated the movies and didn’t want to go—said he’d rather spend his money on upgrades forthe bike.” Ace made a noise of disgust in the back of his throat. “I was so mad because he never took me out anymore. Everything was about that bike. Weekends revolved around cleaning and restoring, sometimes even bike shows. I wantedone nightto be a normal couple.”

I looked down at my legs, swearing they were going to be on fire. But they were still bare. Still healed. How had Ace not noticed the scars yet?

“He told me he loved the bike more than he could love me, so I tried to break up with him. That made him even angrier. I had never feared a man before in my life until that moment. He raised his hand as if he were going to slap me, but Ryan walked into the room. To this day, I still have never seen my brother so mad. Threats were thrown back and forth, and then, Aidan left. Ryan wanted to tell my parents, but I didn’t want anyone to know. I stupidly forgave Aidan when he came back an hour later with flowers.” A sad smile tilted my lips. “He had never gotten me flowers before.”

I looked out the giant window, watching the heavy rain fall. It reminded me of that night. The roads were wet, and he was so stupid for racing that guy. And I was stupid for getting on the bike along with him.I knew better.

Ace finished his drink and reached for the empty glass that I was clutching. I handed it to him, and he went into the kitchen to make another drink. He was being so understanding, making this easier than I ever thought it could be.

He sat back down beside me, handing me the full glass. I took a small sip and then leaned forward, placing it on the coffee table. Ace did the same, then leaned back, putting his arm on the back of the sofa. Lightning crackled in the air, lighting up the dim room, and then thunder shook the house.

“He picked me up that night, and I left without saying goodbye to anyone. Ryan was still pissed and wouldn’t speak tome, and my parents were out of town.” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “We never made it to the movie.” Ace’s hand squeezed my leg, reminding me that he was there, sitting beside me. I could do this. Ineededto do this.

“He always took the back roads everywhere because he never wanted to risk getting into an accident, but that night, another guy on a faster, newer bike was on the same road, and he wanted to race. Aidan was never one to back down from a race.” I shook my head. “I didn’t object and, God, I wish I had. The roads were wet. I was so stupid, Ace—so fucking stupid.”

I looked out the window again. This was the part of the story that haunted my dreams. The part of the story I relived all the time. Thought about all the time. The part of the story that made me question so many what-ifs.

“I still don’t know what happened. One minute, we were riding fast, racing this stupid guy, and the next, we were flying in the air. It happened so quickly; he must have braked suddenly, which threw him from the bike. I hit my head when I landed, and when I woke up, I was trapped under the bike, and it was on fire.”

“Help! Aidan! Help!” The flames were licking at my black jeans. It was so hot. What happened? “Aidan!”

Frantically turning my head from side to side, I searched for any sign of him. The streetlights never worked on this road, and I couldn’t see him in the darkness. He hadn’t left me alone, had he? There was no way he’d leave his bike. He had to come for me—for this machine.

God, itburned!

“Aidan, the bike, please!” Sweat dripped down the side of my cheek. I could only see the bright, orange flames engulfing his beautiful, black bike that was pinning me to the cold asphalt. The flames were so hot, licking into my skin and melting my clothes to my body.

“Celine, princess, come back to me.” Ace was shaking me, both his hands on my arms. I blinked up into his face, looking into his alarmed, concerned eyes, and then I burst into tears. Yanking me into his arms, he held onto me tightly, squeezing me to his chest.

“I’ve never felt so alone, Ace,” I croaked. “I was trapped, and it burned so badly. Aidan wasn’t answering me. I didn’t know he had died. The other guy never came back to check on us. I was trapped there for so long. It felt like hours…” My voice trailed off into a strangled, croaky whisper.

“You’ll never be alone again, Celine.” Ace gripped my damp face in his hands, forcing our eyes to lock. “I know I don’t know your family well, but I can see how much they love you, and I know Ryan blames himself every day.”

I frowned. “How could you possibly know that?” He hadn’t even known about the accident until today.

“Because if you were my little sister, I would never forgive myself.” I was surprised at the conviction in his voice. As far as I knew, Ace had no siblings. But there was pain in his eyes—the kind of pain only losing someone close to him could cause.

We were quiet for a moment, and eventually, he dropped his hands from my face before wrapping his arms back around me, pulling me back into his warm, solid chest. His heat seeped through my clothes, warming me. Despite the hot temperature of the house, I’d been cold. I hadn’t even realized it.

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