Page 53 of Forbidden Bond

Katie

I don’t move when my bedroom door is opened. A few seconds later, the room is illuminated by light. With a sigh, I shift so I’m facing Jameson’s, who is standing by the light switch with a frown on his face.

“I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you you’re being pathetic, right?”

A gasp flies out of my mouth. “What?”

“It’s been two weeks, Katie. And the only thing you’ve done in those two weeks is lay around in bed, and watch some shows. You told your parents you were staying the night two weeks ago but clearly you moved back in. That’s fine, you always have a place in my home but seeing you like this is sad and I can’t watch it anymore.”

My eyes narrow. “Wait, so let me get this straight. You spend the last two years on a path to destruction, and I watch and I let you do so because it seems like that’s what you need. But when I spend two weeks in bed, it’s pathetic? You asshole!” I yell.

He smirks, moving over to my bed. “You and I are not the same, Katherine.”

“Whatever. Leave me alone, let me wallow in peace,” I tell him, throwing my comforter over my head. “Also, could you get me some popcorn? I’m about to start binging Gossip Girl.”

I hear Jameson’s soft sigh before he rips the blanket off my head. I glare.

“Dude!” I snap.

“Don’t ‘dude’ me, you’re a mess. So what if D’Angelo dumped you? Move on!”

I sputter, “That’s—he didn’t dump me. And this isn’t about Topher, dammit! This is about the fact that my life is shit and I literally don’t know what to do about it!”

“You can start by getting up.”

“You choosing today to be sober doesn’t mean I have to suffer along with you,” I mutter.

He glares at that comment. “I’m not partying like that anymore. I quit after what happened at the casino the other day! And you would have noticed if you took time to pay attention instead of sulking like a fifteen-year-old.”

That makes me sit up. “You’re going to quit? Everything? The partying, the drinking, the drugs?”

“More or less,” he replies, grinning. “All you need to know is that I’m done walking the path to destruction.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because I almost put you in danger. I realized I wasn’t only harming myself with my behavior.”

I study him for a few seconds. “That’s not the only reason. What did you and Tessa talk about that day?”

“It’s not something you need to concern yourself with, Katie. How about you? Did you tell her you slept with D’Angelo?” he questions, sitting on the bed beside me.

I shake my head. “She grilled me about it all night, but all I told her was that I was working for him, then I quit to appease Dad. If she found out I slept with him, she’d be pretty disappointed. Even she doesn’t support me being anywhere near him.”

“And yet…” Jameson says.

“And yet,” I echo, shrugging. “Maybe they’re right. I mean, it’s probably a good idea to stay away from Topher. Not that it matters anymore considering he hates me now.”

Jameson bumps his shoulder against mine. “He does not hate you. You rocked his world so hard that night, he probably can’t stand to look at you anymore.”

That makes me laugh. Jameson stares at me for a few seconds, long enough that it starts to make me uncomfortable.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m trying to figure out how to help you.”

“I don’t want any help,” I groan, throwing the blanket over my head. He rips it off again, and I sit up with a glare.

“I think you should see D’Angelo again,” Jameson announces.

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