Page 70 of Broken Bonds

He paused, looking back at me. Instead of lashing out at me like I thought he would, he sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Not good, man. Not good.”

Fuck.

When I dropped my head back to the pillow, Ryan left the room, closing the door on his way out. I pushed myself up from the floor and hurriedly got dressed, brushing my teeth and combing my hair the best I could so I could get downstairs and see Celine for myself, Ryan’s words running on repeat through my head.

Not good, man.Not good.

Five minutes later, I walked into the kitchen to find everyone already seated at the big table, munching on pancakes.

“Nice of you to join us, Asshole,” Celine chirped, a giant grin on her beautiful face. I watched her lips close around the fork she was bringing to her mouth, and her eyes closed as she ate the pancake. “These are so freaking good, Mom,” she moaned, looking across the table at her mother.

She was putting on a show. Her smile was too big, her eyes too wide as she tried to force some chipperness into her voice. Ryan was right. She wasn’t doing good.

The chairs beside her were taken by a grumpy-looking Amber, all that fiery red hair piled on top of her head in a big knot, and Ryan, who had his mouth filled with pancakes, syrup all over his face.

“Morning to you, too,” I mumbled, taking the only open seat left, which was next to her father, who was on the phone.

“Here you go, Honey. Freshly made pancakes.” Mrs. Wilson stacked four pancakes on a plate and handed it to me.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Conversation was lighthearted through breakfast with no mention of Celine’s legs or the last few days. The constant noise of the news filled the spots of silence as the TV in the living room showed the destruction of Hurricane Dawson in all parts of Florida. After breakfast, we all helped clean-up, except for Celine, who sat rambling about the class she and Amber had together. “Can you believe he said that?!” she exclaimed.

Amber laughed, almost dropping the pan she was washing in the sink. “He’s such a rude man. I’m not looking forward to going back.”

“I can’t wait to go back to campus. I liked all my other professors. What about you, Ace? You’ve said nothing all morning.” All the attention in the room turned in my direction.

I shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance. “I’m enjoying the extended vacation.” My answer seemed to be enough. The three started on the topic of their past summer vacations, allowing me to get lost in my thoughts.

They drifted back to her—to the girl sitting at the kitchen table, a fake smile plastered to those kissable lips, her brows furrowed in pain the same way they had been for days. Ryan bumped into me, seeing my gaze on his sister, and shook his head.

His words flashed through my mind, reminding me of his threat last night.I don’t deserve her.

She laughed at something Amber said, and her head fell back, her blonde hair tumbling down her back, exposing her slender neck. I wanted to kiss her there, suck the skin, bite her.Iwanted her so badly, I could barely think past it.

Celine stared at me, confusion in those blue eyes that always seemed to pull me in. Those lips puckered, teasing me like my favorite candy, and her long, tanned, bruised, and swollen legs were on display in a pair of small shorts, a big hoodie covering her top half. Despite the hideous discoloration on her legs, shewas still so fucking beautiful, she stole the breath right from my lungs.

“Ace, what are you looking at? Is there food on my face?” Her mouth was moving, and her sweet voice caught my attention.

“Nothing.” I shook my head, smiling at her. “Just making sure you’re okay.” Nervousness raced through my veins, causing my words to jumble and the Texas twang I grew up with to come out. She smiled, making me ache for those lips just a little more.

You don’t deserve her.

YOU don’t deserve her.

Ryan’s voice screamed through my mind. Sneaking a glance in his direction, I was thankful to see he was deep in a conversation with the redhead. By the looks on their faces, he wasn’t going to last very long with that one.

“Move me over to the couch please?” Celine whispered for my ears only. Who the hell was I to say no when she was looking at me like that? Like I was the center of her universe. Like she was desperate for even a sliver of a moment with me.

Looking at me like I washers—her man. Fuck, I wanted to be hers so badly.

You don’t deserve her.The words rang in my head again. Regardless of the voice screaming in my head, I took a step in her direction and then another until I was right in front of her. Sliding one arm around her back and the other under her thighs, I lifted her into my hold, feeling her warm body sink into mine, her hands clasping around my neck, our lips so close, noses almost brushing.

“Thanks.” Her warm breath blew against my lips, and the sickly-sweet smell of syrup hit my nose.

“Anytime, princess.” My words were low, only meant for her ears, so as not to alert her brother of our stolen moment.

I walked out of the kitchen and into the foyer, where I walked over to the place that they had made for her to keep her legselevated. Placing her gently down on the soft couch, I gingerly wrapped my fingers around her ankles to place them on the chair with the pillow waiting for her.

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