Page 43 of Broken Bonds

“The pain is better. I can walk this time,” I told him, but he shook his head.

“I’m not letting them get worse.” My heart clenched in my chest. “From now on, I’m carrying you. Your mother’s orders.” And just like that, the hope thatmaybehe saw me as something other than Ryan’s little sister died. Ace stopped by the door to the office, and I flipped the light switch off. Then, we were in the dark hallway again.

Back in the gym, everyone was asleep except for Barb, Donna, and Oscar, who were sitting in one of the far corners watching a tiny television giving updates on the storm. We sat with them for a few minutes, listening as well. Ace asked Oscar a few questions before Barb and Donna decided to call it a night.

Barb handed us each a sleeping bag, a blanket, and a pillow. “Here—you can use these to sleep on. I have two pillows andtwo blankets. There’s a spot over there where nobody should disturb you,” she pointed to a corner, “or you can choose to sleep in another room. Entirely up to you. Sleep tight, dears.” Ace let me walk to the spot Barb had mentioned. It was far away from everyone, tucked in a little crevice of the room by some weightlifting equipment. It was just a small piece of solitude, and I hated that my heart skipped a beat in my chest at the thought of being this close to Ace again.

Why did I have to like him when he barely seemed to care about me apart from making sure I made it out of this alive?

Ace laid out both bags before laying down in his, zipping it up, and throwing the blanket on top. Then, he put his head on the hard pillow. I did the same, my back facing the wall, Ace in front of me. He had me trapped between him and the wall, and while I was sure he was just doing it to protect me, it still sent my traitorous heart aflutter.

I wish it would get the memo that Ace didn’t want me like that.

Like the previous night, he wrapped his arms around me, holding me. I hated how much I liked being trapped against his body. I liked the warmth of his breath on my neck. I liked the feeling of safety he surrounded me with. Why did I have to like this so damn much?

I knew he was only doing this to protect me. To keep anyone unwanted from coming near me. I knew he wasn’t interested in me, and it was pathetic that I had to keep reminding myself of that fact over and over every time I started to fall for him.

Falling for Ace would hurt too much. I had to protect myself.

“Maybe I should stay up and sleep during the day tomorrow,” he whispered as I was just beginning to drift off, worry tinging his words.

“Don’t even think about it,” I sleepily grumbled. “Go to sleep, Ace. If anyone touches me, I’ll scream.”Anyone but you.But hedidn’t need to know that. I wouldnevervoice those words out loud.Never.

“I won’t let it get that far.” I wanted to roll my eyes, but they were closed. Ace was so damn… so damn confident. Cocky.

“We’re both beyond exhausted. We’ve literally hikedmilesin two days in the pouring rain. I almost drowned, and now we’re both going to sleep. End of story,” I told him, wishing he’d just rest. Justsleep. He needed it as much as I did.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” he muttered like a petulant two-year-old.

I heaved an annoyed, exhausted sigh. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“I’m trying to protect you like Ryan wants me to.” I almost scoffed. What a dick.

Subtle reminder, buddy, really subtle—as if you haven’t been flirting with me.

“I can take care of myself.”

He scoffed, and my hackles rose. “Like you did in the water today.” It was a low fucking blow, and he knew it.

His words cut deep, and tears burned in my eyes, silently slipping down my cheeks. Why were guys such dicks? Did he think Imeantto try to drown? He knew how bad my legs hurt. He knew the surgeries I went through. Knew that my legs would never be normal again. And he had the audacity to say something as callous and harsh asthat?

“Crap, I didn’t mean that, Celine. I’m sorry,” Ace said, urgency to his tone. He tugged me closer, like if he dragged me close enough, he held me tight enough, he could rip the words out of my brain.

I said nothing. I just kept my eyes closed, wishing I were at home in bed with my purple blanket. Back at home where all of this would just be a horrible nightmare, where I still hated Ace Danvers. Where Ace was nothing more than my older brother’s idiotic, asshole best friend.

Where I hadn’t poured out my heart to him. Where he hadn’t twisted me all up inside, leaving me confused and discombobulated.

“Celine, please, I’m not good at this. It just slipped out. I’m sorry.”

“Go to bed, Asshole.” My words were softly spoken, and I hoped he couldn’t hear the hurt and pain clogging my throat.

“Princess, please, I’m sorry.” He hugged me even tighter. I shoved at his chest, not wanting his touch. It made me weak, and he had to learn eventually that his words had consequences.

“Don’t touch me,” I seethed.

“Celine, let me explain myself,” he softly pleaded. “You want to know who I am, then fine, I’ll tell you.” Of course, he was willing to result to manipulation to get me to stop being upset with him. But I couldn’t deny that my interest was piqued. Sighing, I ran my eyes over his outline in the dark. He was close enough that I could see his eyes. That pretty blue—as pretty as the sky in the middle of summer but I knew was only a cover for the hell that resided inside of him. The torment.

“I’m listening, Asshole.”

---