Tamed (Torn #5)(17)

“I didn’t even think you noticed me before last night.”

“I’ve watched you since that first night. As soon as I walked onstage, I saw you. I couldn’t seem to keep away even if I didn’t talk to you.” His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as if what he’d just said took a lot of physical effort on his part.

“Then, why didn’t you talk to me?” I asked softly.

“Because you were off-limits. I told you before, I don’t f*ck my friends’ friends. It always ends badly.”

“It didn’t end badly with us,” I joked.

He shrugged. “Not yet.”

“I’m not going to start acting clingy. I’m not that type of girl.” I had no intention of trying to force myself onto Adam, no matter how badly I wanted him. I wasn’t that pathetic.

He glanced over at me. “I realize that now. I just don’t want shit to be awkward.”

I laughed. “It won’t be, I promise. I’m still going to hang around with you guys, but as far as I’m concerned, last night never happened. I don’t want an awkward situation any more than you do.”

He was quiet for a moment. “You know, I think you’re damn near perfect, Amber. We might even end up being friends.”

“Maybe,” I said as we pulled up outside my dorm. “Well, thanks for the ride.”

“Which one?” he asked, a wicked grin on his face.

“All of them,” I said as I opened the car door and stepped out.

“I’ll see you around,” Adam said just before I shut the door.

I waved at him before turning and walking toward the entrance to my dorm. It took everything in me not to turn around to look at him one last time. Once I was inside, I caved and peeked over my shoulder. His car was still idling outside. His eyes locked with mine for a split second before he looked away and hit the gas. His tires squealed as he disappeared around the corner.

I stared out the door for a moment longer before turning and heading for my room. Once inside, I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. As I grabbed my bathroom bag and a change of clothes from my closet, I promised myself that I wouldn’t spend another moment thinking about Adam. He was unattainable, and I knew that. It would do me no good to think about him. We had spent the night together, and that was the end of it. It was no different from my nights with Alex.

I could forget about Adam. I had to.



After tossing and turning for most of the night, I climbed out of bed at the ass-crack of dawn. I’d never been a morning person. The worst part was that I was up early on a weekend. That should be illegal in all fifty states.

I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. I decided to go without makeup. For me, that was the equivalent of someone walking around in public wearing only underwear.

I debated on texting Chloe to see if she wanted to go out for breakfast, but I decided not to. It was still early, and I didn’t want to bug her if she was with Logan. I frowned. Once again, I was stepping away from my friends, so they could have a relationship, and I knew it would only get worse if things continued to progress with them. I almost wished things would go back to the way they used to be. I hated myself for even thinking that way. Chloe and Logan were my best friends. They deserved happiness, especially with each other.

My stomach rumbled, pulling me from my thoughts. The only thing I’d eaten yesterday was a granola bar after I came back from Adam’s apartment, and my body was demanding food. I grabbed my keys off the dresser and headed out the door. Pancakes sounded like heaven, so I headed for IHOP. It was clear across town, but it didn’t matter. I had no plans for the day.

I smiled when I pulled into the parking lot. There were perks to waking up early. The lot was almost completely empty. I stifled a yawn as I opened the door and stepped inside. The hostess seated me immediately. I scanned the menu, debating on which pancakes sounded the best.

“Following me around like a stalker already? I thought we had an understanding.”

I jerked my head up to see Adam standing next to my table. “Adam? What are you doing here?”

“Probably the same thing you are. I want breakfast.” He slid into the booth across from me.

“Oh,” I said just as a waitress stopped next to my table.

“Do you need another menu?” she asked, eyeing Adam in a way that made me want to scratch her eyeballs out.

“Nah, I know what I want,” Adam said.

My gaze flickered to him. He was watching me in a way that said he wasn’t talking about food. I automatically clenched my legs together, remembering our night together.

“What do you want?” the waitress asked, suddenly annoyed.

Maybe she noticed the eye-f*cking going on between Adam and me.

“Regular pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs,” Adam said, his gaze never leaving mine.

“To drink?”

“Coffee.”

“And for you?” she asked me.

“The same,” I said as I tore my eyes away from Adam.

“Great. I’ll put your order in right away.”

She grabbed my menu from my hands and walked away. I watched until she disappeared around the corner, desperate to look at anything besides Adam.

“So, why are you up so early?” Adam asked, forcing me to look up at him.