Page 19 of Broken Bonds

“Eventually, someone found us,” I told him. “When they removed the bike, that was when I saw him.”

The image that haunted me filled my mind and wouldn’t leave.It never leaves. I choked on the sob that escaped my sore throat.

“He was dead. The helmet I bought him didn’t save him. The protective gear he wore didn’t save him. He died as soon as he hit the ground. His neck snapped.”

“God.”Ace held me tighter. I was sobbing into his chest now, and he didn’t lessen his grip.

“I don’t even remember our last conversation.” My perfect Aidan had been tainted. Every time I thought about him, I was reminded of the last time I saw him.

I could only see Aiden’s broken helmet, the blood splattered on the road, and his burned bike.

Aidan’s lifeless body, crumpled on the side of the road, flashed before my eyes, his void eyes looking back at me. “I was airlifted to the hospital, and Aidan was taken away in a black bag. I couldn’t speak for a long time. I couldn’t tell anyone about that night for weeks. And I couldn’t face his parents.”

“What happened to you, Celine?” The way he said my name sent a shiver of fear down my spine. He handed me my drink, and I finished it in one go. I had never told anyone before just how badly that accident affected me. How much survivor’s guilt had torn at my insides. At my mind.

“At first, they told my parents I was lucky to have survived. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I should’ve been burned alive, but I wasn’t.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “After a day of testing, I was told I would never walk again. To put it lightly, my nerves had been fried.” Ace’s brow furrowed.

“I didn’t want to live anymore,” I quietly confessed. “I was haunted by my last memory of Aidan, and the news of never walking again felt like a death sentence. I was about to graduate high school, and I wouldneverwalk again. A whole life ahead of me bound to a wheelchair. One reckless night and my love for a prideful boy almost cost me everything.”

“You didn’t try anything, did you?” Ace asked, his voice sounding a little strangled. I wished I could tell him I didn’t, but I would be lying. I was pretty sure he knew that, too.

“I tried many times but failed each time.” A pained sound tore from Ace’s throat, and his fingertips pressed into my back.“I could never go through with it. After months of research and calling doctors all over the world, my parents finally found an optimistic doctor in Germany, who claimed he could heal me. At that point, I’d finished high school online and had no plans for the future. What was the point of planning when I was trying to end my life? I had nothing to lose but everything to gain.”

We jumped when a loud clap of thunder boomed outside, and I was instantly reminded of our situation. Of how I survived that accident, but I might still die from a fucking hurricane.

“We flew to Germany the next day, and after a year of multiple surgeries, he fixed me. I had to teach myself to walk again, which was rather difficult, but I did. It’s the reason I’m starting college late. The struggle to get up every day and act like nothing happened is a… hard pill to swallow.”

Ace gently leaned me back, moving a strand of hair out of my eyes so he could look at me. “You are the bravest, strongest person I’ve ever met.” My chest tightened at his words. “I won’t let anything happen to you, okay? I promised Ryan, and now, I’m promisingyou. Don’t be afraid with me.”

Tears burned in my eyes, but I kept them reined in. A heavy breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped my parted lips.

Don’t be afraid with me.

chapter eight

CELINE

There was a moment when I thought Ace was going to kiss me, but I reminded myself of what he said about me last night—I wasn’t his type; I shouldn’t get attached. But it was so hard not to, especially in these moments when he was revealing the soft, more tender part of himself.

“Wanna finish that game?” he asked, slowly sliding his arms from around me. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought he was reluctant to let me go. But I knew that was just wishful thinking. Ace wasn’t interested in me like that.

“Yes, I was going to beat you, remember?” I was thankful for the subject change. I didn’t want to talk about Aidan anymore. As it was, I felt too raw. Too splayed open. Could Ace see me bleeding everywhere from my freshly opened wounds? “Let’s get back to that.”

We played with what was left of the afternoon light. It was hard to tell what the time was since the house was now only lit by candlelight. We finished the game, and Ace won, the triumphant look he gave me making us both laugh. As he stood and stretched, I made us more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner. Our options were limited, and this was better than starving. Besides, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches weren’t theend of the world, especially if you got the ratio of peanut butter to jelly just right.

Ace made us another drink while I cleaned up the kitchen. “I’m afraid this is going to be our last drink unless you like them hot,” he chuckled, setting the drinks on the kitchen table next to our plates.

“I’m not sure I want another.” A sheepish smile tilted my lips. “I drank the others way too fast.”

“Have you ever been drunk before, princess?” For a moment, I wondered if I should lie to him, if he would judge me for never having too many drinks. But he didn’t judge me before, so why would he judge me now?

“No.” He smiled, no judgment in his gaze. He took a bite of his sandwich, not saying anything more on the subject. “These are delicious, princess. Way better than mine from earlier.”

I blushed. “How many times have you been drunk?” I asked. Ace laughed, taking a sip of his drink.

“A lot. I’ve had a lot to forget.” His voice was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of truth to his words that made me ache for him. Not wanting to pry, I just took a bite of my sandwich.

He was right—these were delicious. It must have been the extra jelly I added.

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