Tamed (Torn #5)(28)

She sighed as she started gathering up dirty clothes off the floor. “I don’t know. I just know I hurt him, and I don’t deserve to be happy. I’m sure Drake has moved on by now anyway.”

I picked up a dirty sock and threw it at her. “Did you listen to anything I just said? Drake is as miserable as you are, and he definitely has not moved on. You have no idea how many girls I’ve watched him practically throw off of him at the bar. That boy is in mope mode. Trust me.”

She growled as she shoved the dirty sock in the laundry basket with the rest of the clothes. “I can’t, Amber. I just can’t. If he rejects me, I’ll never survive it.”

I kept silent even though I wanted to tell her what Logan and Adam had said. I knew without a doubt that she’d end up with Drake even if she didn’t realize it yet. If Logan wanted me to play nice and help Chloe, then I would. I didn’t agree with what he’d said about letting her move on with Drake, but I did want Logan and Chloe both to be happy.

God help me. I was going to play matchmaker.



The next couple of weeks passed without incident.

When I’d told Adam what had happened with Logan and Chloe, he’d seemed relieved. “It’s about damn time,” he’d mumbled.

I started spending time with Chloe and Logan again, but things weren’t like they had been before. Logan rarely smiled, and Chloe acted as if she was walking around in a daze. A few times, I’d mentioned that she should talk to Drake, but she’d shot me down.

It was now three weeks after I’d forgiven her, and nothing had changed between Chloe and Drake.

I was at the bar with Chloe’s roommate, Rachel, to watch Adam and the rest of the band play. I already considered the night a win because of Adam.

The band was covering “Turn Me On” by Royal Bliss. As Drake sang the chorus, Adam stopped playing his guitar and jumped offstage. He grinned wickedly as he grabbed me out of my chair and carried me up onto the stage with him.

“This song was made for us, babe,” he mumbled before going back to his guitar.

I spent the rest of the song onstage next to him, dancing and laughing.

When my phone started flashing, I saw that Chloe had texted me. I smiled when I read it. This night was going to be epic in so many ways.

Chloe: Off work early. Going home. See you tomorrow.

A plan instantly formed in my mind. Chloe worked at Starbucks, which was directly across the road from Gold’s. Every time I’d tried to get her to come watch the band play, she had used work as an excuse. Tonight, she didn’t have an excuse.

Me: At the bar. Come over.

Chloe: Can’t. I’m too tired.

I frowned. There was no way I was letting her escape again. I dialed her number.

She picked up on the first ring. “Yes?”

“Don’t yes me, Chloe Marie! Get your butt over here. They’re playing a bunch of new stuff tonight, and it’s a great show. If you want, you can leave before they finish. It’s not like I’m asking you to have a heart-to-heart with him. Just come watch them play.”

She hesitated before finally giving in. “All right. I’m across the street, so I’ll be there in a minute.”

That was easy, I thought to myself as I put my phone down.

Chloe appeared a few minutes later. She was out of breath as she sat down in a chair next to Rachel. Rachel and I both broke out in giggles at the sight of her. She looked like she’d just walked through a war zone.

“What happened to you?” I asked.

She pointed over her shoulder to the crowd of rowdy patrons. “It’s a damn mosh pit back there. I’m lucky I made it here with all my limbs intact!”

We continued to laugh as a waitress brought her a beer. Chloe gave us a dirty look as she took a sip of her drink. Her eyes instantly darted to the stage in front of us. I looked up to see Drake staring right at her. She looked away and started chugging her beer.

Adam caught my attention and gave me a questioning look. I just shrugged. It wasn’t like I could explain to him what I was doing. He wouldn’t understand. Love wasn’t something he’d ever understand.

Chloe motioned for the waitress to bring her another beer, but I shook my head.

“No way are you getting wasted and making an ass out of yourself. Just watch the band, and enjoy the music.”

She groaned as she laid her head down on the table. “You’re killing me, Amber—slowly and painfully. I hope you know that.”

I slapped her on the back as the band finished their song. “I know. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself right now. If you won’t man up and talk to him, someone has to push you into it.”

She opened her mouth and gaped at me as it finally clicked. “This was a setup, wasn’t it? You can forget about it, Amber. I’ll be long gone by the time they finish. Actually, I think I’m going to leave now before you can try anything else on me.”

She stood and turned to leave just as Drake’s amplified voice filled the bar. “Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. We’ve got one more song for you guys before we’re done. It’s another new one, and we hope you’ll like it.”

His eyes locked on hers as she stood there, staring at him in a trance.

Finally, he spoke, “This one…well, this one is for those who have had their heart ripped out, for those who thought they had found love, only to have it viciously ripped away and without any regard to their feelings.” He raised his hand above his head and shouted, “To all of us who are empty inside!”