Tamed (Torn #5)(40)

He winced, but I could still see the anger in his eyes. “You’re right. I was way too busy doing both.”

There it was. I’d assumed that he’d f*cked other women since he left, but for him to say it…I hadn’t realized that it would actually hurt to hear him admit it. All summer, I’d thought about going out and finding someone else, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He obviously hadn’t had any problem moving on to the next chick.

Whatever he saw in my eyes made him take a step forward. I wanted to back up, but I stopped myself. I needed to hold my ground.

“We both knew the deal before we started f*cking,” he said softly. “I told you that I wouldn’t make a promise I couldn’t keep. I like being with you. You’re amazing, but I won’t limit myself to one woman.”

“I know, and I told you that I wouldn’t limit myself to just you. I’m not mad at you for sleeping with other girls. I’m mad because I thought you lied about us being friends,” I lied.

“So, you’re okay with me f*cking other chicks?”

I nodded.

“Good. I thought you might…never mind. Anyway, I’m sorry that I made you feel like I didn’t care about our friendship. I won’t make that mistake again.” He stepped closer and smiled down at me. “We good?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

That was a lie, too. I felt further away from Adam in this moment than when he’d been away from me. Whether he realized it or not, he’d put me in my place—permanently.





The next few days passed in a blur.

Chloe’s mother had been a piece of trash, but Chloe and Danny had insisted on giving her a proper funeral. Since the crazy woman had decided to end it all by getting run over by a train, a normal burial wasn’t possible. Instead, Chloe and Danny had taken her ashes and spread them out across the ocean.

Chloe was a mess, but she tried to hide it. She spent most of her time with Drake, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. Maybe that was why she didn’t notice the changes in him. I’d noticed over dinner the first night the band spent at the house. He still acted like his usual self, but something was different. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, and it drove me nuts. After watching him for a few days, I realized that his eyes were different. They looked haunted. The fire I was used to seeing in them wasn’t there. I wasn’t sure what was going on with him? but I was afraid to find out. I knew it couldn’t be good for him or Chloe.

Adam and I seemed to be at a standstill. We would still f*ck daily, but that was it. We wouldn’t talk. We’d rarely look at each other outside of my room. I knew my reasons for avoiding him, but I wasn’t sure what his problem was. Maybe he’d finally decided to cut ties with me completely. Maybe he’d thought my questions that first night were proof that I cared about him more than I wanted.

I refused to consider the fact that he might be right. I knew even thinking that way would end up with him leaving me broken. I’d gone through that once. I didn’t need to have it happen again, especially not with him.

Whether it was true or not, I told myself that I didn’t care about him at all. I’d repeat it inside my head enough times that I actually believed myself. Still, I’d find myself watching him when he wasn’t paying attention. I was drawn to him, no matter what I did.

It was the night before Adam and the rest of the band along with Chloe planned to leave to continue their tour.

Jordan and Chloe had ended up in a fight over Drake just before the band had arrived. Since then, things had been tense between them. They barely spoke. Since Chloe hadn’t been giving him a speck of attention, he’d turned his advances toward me. I wasn’t stupid. I knew he was only trying to use me to cause Chloe grief.

I’d brushed him off the first few times he tried to talk to me, but when I’d noticed Adam watching us closely one day, I decided that I could play the same game he’d played.

I smiled at Jordan as he approached me. He seemed shocked, but he kept walking toward me. He dropped down in the chair next to me and looked out at the pool. Chloe, Logan, Danny, Eric, Drake, and Jade were all floating on rafts, talking among themselves. Adam was sitting on the other side of the pool in a chair identical to mine. I glanced at him to see him staring at Jordan.

“Having fun?” Jordan asked.

I turned my attention back to him, giving him the biggest smile I could manage. “Yes. It’s so pretty out here.”

He nodded. “You been to the beach yet?”

I shook my head. “No, I haven’t had a chance with everything going on. Danny said it was okay if Logan and I stayed after the band took off. I’ll probably go then.”

“It’s nice there, but a ton of tourists are around this time of year.”

I shrugged. “I’ll be a tourist, too.”

He grinned. “That might be, but you have one thing they don’t.”

“And what would that be?” I asked.

“Me. I can take you to all the good spots. Just let me know if you want me to tag along.”

I leaned closer to him, knowing that Adam was watching us. I would’ve felt guilty for using Jordan if it wasn’t for the fact that he was using me as well. I had no doubt that he was hoping Chloe would notice our exchange as well.