Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

24

MILES

It’s so fucking hot. Sweat drips down my back as I stand around shooting the shit with the guys, lifting my beer can to press the cold aluminum to the back of my neck. This summer has been oppressively hot, and while the vibe of this parking lot party is great and all, I’d kill for some AC right about now.

My gaze drifts to Levi, who has been chatting up beer tub girl for the past fifteen minutes. He’s trying to win our little wager, but what he doesn’t know is that I hit on that same waitress on Serena’s birthday a while back and was shot down because she said she was already taken. Hey, it’s not my fault he took me up on the bet before getting all the facts.

I take a swig of my beer as I watch Levi turn around and skulk back in our direction, dragging his feet. That’s not the look of a guy who’s about to seal the deal, and from the sheepish expression on his face, I already know I’ve won.

“Struck out?” I ask as he approaches, hiding my knowing smirk behind my beer can.

He blows out a huffing breath. “She claims she’s got a boyfriend.”

I clap him on the shoulder, chuckling at his expense. “Guess drinks are on you tonight, then.”

“But I thought you had it in the bag?” Dare teases, giving Levi a playful shove.

Levi rolls his eyes, shoving him back. “Just because there’s a goalie doesn’t mean you can’t score. The night’s not over yet.”

Dare snorts. “Good luck, buddy. If her boyfriend shows up, you’d better be ready to …” he trails off as I take another sip from my can, his gaze drifting over Levi’s shoulder. A wide grin spreads across his face and he throws up a hand. “Cal!”

I choke on my beer, whipping my head around to see Cal striding in our direction,

his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans and his trademark scowl firmly in place. Then, almost instinctively, I swing my gaze around in search of Nessa. She’s nowhere to be found.

Shit.

I knew this day would come. Cal’s back, and while I’m thrilled to see my friend after so long, I’m immediately on edge, unsure of what it’ll mean for me and Nessa. Unsure of how he’ll react to the fact that I’m now dating his ex. We may be buddies, but even I know that scooping up the only girl he ever cared about is a major violation of bro code.

I just couldn’t help myself.

night that she and Vienna came to their first party at the packhouse, I noticed her right away. She’s impossible not to notice- on a scale of one to ten, the girl’s a fucking eleven. I would’ve gone right over to introduce myself, but by the time I was able to shake the chick who’d glommed onto me since the beginning of the party, Nessa and Vee were already posted up on the sectional with the rest of my boys. And for the first time in recent

but I saw the writing on the wall from that first night. She was clearly into Cal. Fate knows he wasn’t dealt a fair hand in life, so I basically stepped aside, even sweetening the deal by making that bet with him so he could finally get that junky old car of his running. He’s so damn stubborn that he refused help from me and Chase every time we’d offered to buy him the parts he needed, so I saw an opportunity

the whole fated mates thing was a

it was wrong to move in on his girl, I couldn’t stay away. She’s perfect. It’s not my fault he didn’t see that. The guy is basically programmed to self- destruct, and

and I can see it all slipping through my fingers before I could even fully grasp it. I’ve been working so hard to crack Nessa’s shell, imagining a future with a girl like her

his knuckles around Cal’s, and pulling him in to slap his back in a bro-hug. Before he can even move away, Alec and Dare crowd in, giving Cal the same treatment with warm greetings. I reach forward to give him an awkward fist-bump, and when our eyes meet,

back, man,” Chase says as Cal knocks his knuckles against mine.

up beside Cal, tossing an arm around his neck and ing from ear to ear. “Heard you guys were

away, landing a playful punch on his bicep. The guy has never been very touchy-feely, so I imagine this is a lot for him. “Someone had to step up and

enemy tonight,” Alec muses, flicking a glance past Cal toward where Logan’s posted up with a few other

was our team leader for the mission.”

“I’ve got no beef with Logan. He treated Vee well when they were together, and if

still shocks me sometimes. Angry used

how was it?” Dare asks, looking to Cal

be back.” He shuffles his feet uncomfortably, shoving his hands back into his pockets and staring down at the asphalt. “I’m

word, and as if on cue, that’s when Vienna and Nessa reappear. Vee winds her arms around Chase’s torso, attaching herself to his side, and

in close to her. ” Don’t know if you heard, but Cal’s

snap to meet mine and she gives me a curt nod, her lips pressed in a tight line. “I know.”

goes slack.

She knows?

already talked?

question’s answered when Cal makes his way back over, cracking his beer as he approaches with his eyes downcast. He lifts freezes in his tracks when h notices Nessa and Vee have joined our group. He visibly tenses, his muscles lockin up and his stare immediately fixing on the girl

them is so thick that you could cu it with a knife. The side conversations between the other guys quiet. It’s like we’re all collectively holding

his intense

whispers

closer to Nessa,

feel her flinch at the contact.