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Chapter 28

Penulis: Stephie Walls
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2022-10-26 14:23:32
Gray and I had never had casual sex, he'd never gotten up and left me without so much as a conversation, but something in his eyes was wild and confused. The turmoil in his features was evident as was the anxiety as he dressed. But I had no idea what was causing it. I tried to be everything he needed me to be, to give him the space he asked for, but the fact still remained, I was carrying his child. He didn't have to tell me, I already knew, that level of commitment scared the hell out of him. He refused to talk much about any of it and internalized the panic he felt at an eighteen-year commitment he couldn't get out of once the baby was here.

The first couple weeks after we decided to keep the baby, I tried to keep Gray involved. I'd made sure he knew about doctor's appointments and told him about everything I read-usually via text unless he stopped by one night after going out, which happened more often than I cared to admit. I became his last call and rued the day Leeann Womack ev
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  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 29

    My friends had been trying to get me out of the house, and I'd been successful at avoiding them, even for my birthday, but somehow, Scarlett talked me into going to De Shield's down the street from my apartment. I figured I needed to eat, and it was a casual hole-in-the-wall, so I didn't have to put on anything other than a tank top, jeans, and Docs. It took no effort, which was good because I wasn't putting forth any. Glancing in the mirror, my cheeks were pink, and my hair looked better than it ever had, thick and shiny. Gray had been right; it was much darker than it had been a couple years ago. It fell in soft, loose curls around my shoulders and down my back. I opted to pull it up into a ponytail for simplicity as my doorbell sounded.When Scarlett and I walked in the restaurant chatting, I instantly stopped speaking when we rounded the hostess stand. I couldn't have prepared myself for the sight I saw as the girl showed us to our table. Not fifteen feet inside the door sat Gray

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 30

    Seeing Gray with another woman-or girl, rather; she couldn't have been more than eighteen or nineteen-shattered what little hope I had held on to. Scarlett and I didn't stay long after running into Gray and Erin. I couldn't handle it. I sat at the table letting the tears streak my face before she finally asked the waiter for our check. Food uneaten, we had left. I kept reminding myself we weren't together, although we had never officially broken up. He did whatever he wanted to do. Yet, I convinced myself that only meant hanging out with his friends, not dating other people-it was all a demented lie I chose to believe. The cushion on the couch had formed around my butt as I sat alone in my apartment. I rested my hand on my little bump and talked to Cole as though he could hear me. I reassured him I loved him, and that he had been conceived in that same emotion. But it was me I was trying to persuade to believe the words. Over the next few days, I didn't do much. I had called my teac

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  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 31

    My phone was so loud it could have woken the dead. I had no idea why the damn thing wasn't on vibrate or why people insisted on calling me in the middle of the fucking night. Gray's name on the caller ID didn't bring me any joy. Normally, I'd answer, and he'd come over after leaving whatever bar he stumbled out of, probably the one near my apartment, but not tonight. I switched it to vibrate before I threw it back on the coffee table and went back to sleep. Right after I'd fallen asleep, the home phone rang. Gray and his ex-wife were the only people who even knew the number, and it was a safe bet it wasn't Abby. Stumbling to the wall, I pulled the base down and unplugged the phone, silencing the relentless noise. And hopefully, eliminated any further interruptions. Irritated as hell, I laid back down on the couch, covered up with a blanket, and let sleep envelop me. Time had escaped me, and I wasn't sure how much later it was when the beating on the door jolted me from a pain-pill-s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 32

    I sat on the floor and struggled to believe I hadn't let him in. He had known I was here, inches away. I'd heard him talking but had chosen not to answer. I needed to let him go, but his loss would have been easier to grieve had he died. Knowing he walked the earth at the same time I did, yet he had chosen not to be with me, wasn't something I could face. I wasn't surprised when my phone rang again minutes later. He couldn't let me go-he wouldn't. As long as I breathed, he'd keep me connected to him, owning me. Regardless of how strong I was, Gray called the shots, abused my loyalty in favor of playing his version of the game of life. He wasn't pained by my absence unless he believed I'd moved on. He wanted me available on his timeline. He wanted me to remain celibate, to wait at home for him. No one could live like that. I didn't recognize the number on the phone, but there was only one person it could have been."Hello?""Hey, baby." He wanted to comfort me-to fix things long

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 33

    For all practical purposes, Gray had become a whore over the summer. Unfortunately, I still ran into him a good bit because of Topher, Scarlett, and the simple fact we lived in the same town. Every time I saw him, he was with a different girl, each one younger than the last. I talked to him occasionally, and he sent me random text messages telling me he loved me, or he wanted to hook up. Sadly, I usually responded and frequently met up with him. I hadn't dated anyone in the months since Gray. My heart was still his, but since he'd abused it, it was better to keep a distance-I satisfied my carnal needs instead of emotional ones. The sex was still amazing, but the truth was, I would take whatever part of Gray I could get. This way, outwardly, it appeared to be on my terms, that I was the one who had walked away.His friends thought I was crazy. Mine thought I was insane. They both told me all the time I needed to move on, to find someone who would love me the way I loved Gray, but I ha

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 34

    Moving in with Scarlett was a breath of fresh air. I hadn't realized how lonely I was without Gray around, nor how much easier it was to move on when my mind was occupied by other things. With Gray no longer in the picture, I had picked up my workload at Walton's again and taken on more than I should have, but it gave me a sense of purpose and held the darkness at bay. I was good at what I did, not to mention, I could make serious cash on larger projects, which Jack loved to send me in to score for the company. I wasn't just landing the jobs but had taken on an active role in the work itself. I still sent in implementation teams, but I was no longer a face that made appearances. I was working side by side with my teams from a management perspective, but still involved in the day-to-day grind, and it showed in the success of the projects.This was also my final semester in school-I just had to make it through May. It had taken me longer than the typical four years not being able to go

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 35

    There were definite benefits to living with Scarlett and being close to Lynn. I shouldn't have wanted to, but it enabled me to keep fairly close tabs on Gray and what he was doing in the eight months since our split without having to ask. I spent a lot of time thinking during my workdays and even more time was spent missing him. Occasionally, I was jealous of my friends who got to interact with him by default, but in the end, I knew it was better that I didn't.The downside was both Lynn and Topher didn't seem to mind sharing things about my life and me with Gray, either. I couldn't bring myself to ask them to stop without losing my Intel on him. Gray had a ton to say about me living with Scarlett-information Lynn freely shared because she agreed with him about the arrangements. Neither Gray nor Lynn believed Scarlett and I should've been roommates, but neither of them paid my bills, so their opinions didn't count for much. It all boiled down to them knowing Scarlett and I did drugs.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 36

    As promised, Gray showed up Saturday morning with his truck and a trailer. I hadn't been sure I was going with him, so I hadn't bothered to pack a thing. Scarlett had gone to work early this morning without me ever mentioning the possibility of me moving out. When I heard him pull into the driveway, my heart sank right before it jumped to my throat. I had hoped with a small portion of my being he wouldn't show, and I wouldn't have to make the decision. Lucky me. Gray was back in prime form. I met him at the door and let him in. He quickly glanced around before he groaned his exasperation. "Annie, why is none of your stuff packed?""Umm..." I stumbled for words and coherent thoughts."Baby, what's wrong?" His eyes were sweet and lovingly sought answers."I didn't talk to Scarlett," I admitted."Why not?" Stunned would be an appropriate word to describe the look on his face. I knew what he was thinking. I had always done what he told me to without question and should have t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2022-10-26

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  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 150: Epilogue

    Our story didn't stop at the courthouse. We had dinner with Brett and Annie that night and hovered around their kitchen table. My best friends allowed me to share Joshua with them and gave life to his memory. I showed them the only pictures I still had while holding Alissa in my arms. She smiled up at me as if she knew. That tiny human connected with me on a level she may never understand, but somehow, she knew-without Joshua, she wouldn't be here. Watching her run around with her friends as we celebrated her birth five years later, I couldn't help but think how foolish it would have been to walk away from all of this. Dan and I would never have children, but what we had was far better for us. Annie and Brett were more like siblings than friends, and their kids were amazing. We got to spoil them, take them anywhere we wanted, and send them home. We had family at holidays and special occasions, and we never missed out on anything either Grayson or Alissa were doing. But at the end of

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 149

    I had called repeatedly, but each try had gone straight to voicemail. Either his phone was off, or it died without being charged overnight. I didn't want to speculate about which it was. I drove as quickly as I could and slammed the SUV in park in the first spot I could find before racing into the courthouse. I followed the signs to the Justice of the Peace, but when I reached the office, completely out of breath, Dan was nowhere to be found. The clock on the wall read 10:11 am. My eyes scanned the room, making sure to identify each person as a stranger before moving on to the next face. Surely, he hadn't left after ten minutes. He had to know I'd come. A guy slammed into my shoulder in his haste to rush out of the office, not even bothering to apologize for nearly knocking me over. But standing stock-still in the middle of the doorway probably wasn't the best idea. I just couldn't believe he'd left. I waited for hours for Matt to show up at the hospital, but Dan hadn't waited ten lo

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 148

    My night had been restless, and just as quiet as the evening after Dan and I had gotten out of the bathtub. He left after dinner and went to Brett's house, but I didn't have the courage to ask him what he'd done while he was there. He returned in the same mood he'd left in, the one he was known for. To an outsider, he appeared unwavering-but I knew with time to think about it, he'd decide he couldn't stay."Did you want to get a new dress for tomorrow?" "For what?""To go to the courthouse? Or do you want to do the whole thing off the wall and wear jeans?" He kept unloading the dishwasher like he had asked what I needed from the grocery store. "I didn't think we were still doing that?" Maybe he'd taken up drinking.He turned toward me suddenly, dropping a dishtowel he'd used to dry his hands with. "What are you talking about? You said Monday. Tomorrow is Monday.""Dan...""No, don't Dan me. Has something changed that you don't want to marry me now?"Oh, for the love of God. I

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 147

    I stood in the spot he left me in when he returned with towels from the dryer. He set them on the counter, turned off the water in the now full tub, and removed his clothes. I watched in a trance until he was before me with nothing on. With my hand in his, he stepped over the side of the bathtub and then helped me in. The garden tub was made for two, and I nestled myself between his legs while he leaned back. The bubbles created a cover, hiding our bodies except for the parts of us not under the water. My fingers fidgeted nervously with the white foam until he took my hand and wound his fingers between mine.He might have been waiting for me to start, but I didn't know what to say. The silence was painful, and I ran through the scenarios of how this might play out...none of which ended well."What was his name?" The words of inquiry fanned out against my skin like a warm blanket. They were gentle and softly spoken, inviting me to open up about a piece of me I hadn't shared with anyon

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 146

    We walked into the sanctuary with two minutes to spare. Brett quickly found Dan, and Annie was in a tizzy. Alissa was nestled into a cradle her dad had created with his arm completely unaffected by her father's helpless panic. "Dude, slow down. What's wrong?"I held Dan's hand in front of Brett, but Alissa had my attention. Just as Brett started to answer Dan's question, Annie came around the corner. Her face was flush, and if I had to bet, I'd say she was roughly two minutes from pulling her hair out.I hadn't heard anything Brett said to my fiancé. The moment Annie got close enough, I saw why she was distressed. Grayson had spit up all over his christening gown...and it stunk, even from here.People started to fill the pews. "What do you need me to do, Annie?"Brett stepped in, suddenly relieved and in control. "Nothing. We're good. Dan went to get stuff out of the car."My brow scrunched in confusion. I had no idea what was going on or how Dan was helping."Seriously, Lissa.

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 145

    The time on my phone couldn't be right. There was no way it was a quarter to eight. Somehow in my haste to get to sleep I either hadn't turned on my alarm or had turned it off an hour ago when it rang. I threw the covers back and practically fell out of bed. The thud of my body on the floor woke Dan whose concern, while well intended, only slowed my progress out the door."Let me go. I have fifteen minutes to get to Annie's house, and I had planned to shower before I went."He didn't relinquish his grasp on me once he got up. "Lissa, calm down. You aren't going to do anyone any good in a panic." I relaxed until I felt the tension in his arms subside and then made my break. "I'll be back. Can you get the gifts out of the closet and throw them in the bags on the kitchen counter? There's tissue paper there, too.""Sure, where are they?"I raced around tearing my pajamas off to put on a bra and some real clothes. As much as I loved Brett, I wasn't interested in him seeing any more of

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 144

    "You look like shit, Lissa. Did you have a baby that keeps you up at night, and I missed it?"I swung my attention to Annie to find her giggling to herself. "You don't look so hot yourself, heifer." The wink I shot her direction ensured she saw my playfulness. "I haven't slept all that well the last couple nights." I didn't need to tell her why."Bad dreams?" She'd become a pro at this whole parenting gig. She never missed a beat with either kid and managed to hold completely coherent, adult conversations while breastfeeding one and changing the other. Anyone else would need more hands but not Annie Ryann. "I don't know what it is. Just not getting a lot of rest."She stopped what she was doing and gave me the eye. The one that told me she didn't believe a word I said. I scooped Alissa up and ignored her."Spill it.""There's nothing to spill. I'm just not sleeping well.""Are you nervous about getting married?"Her question was natural, based on the fact that event loomed jus

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 143

    I'd spent most of the summer with Annie, Alissa, and Grayson while Dan and Brett worked. As my vacation neared its end, I got excited about returning to work. I couldn't wait to be around my students again and the music. I dreaded seeing Rob, but hopefully, he'd be somewhat human now that some time had passed. I hadn't heard from him in the time I'd been off except for the email he sent out to the department today about meetings over the next couple weeks. It would be strange being away from the kids. Annie and I were more like co-mothers, with her taking the lead and the long nights. But I'd spent several of those with her as well. I knew how exhausting one infant was...I couldn't leave her alone with two, and Brett still had to work. Maybe it was an excuse to feel like I was an important part of their lives and their team. Maybe it gave me a piece of what I'd lost years earlier. Either way, I found myself having to be pried away from them. When I told Annie to let me know if I got

  • The Bound Collection   Chapter 142

    The addition of Alissa Danielle to our tribe had been profound. I loved being able to walk across the driveway to relieve my friend in the morning so she could shower, take a nap, or whatever else she was in the mood to do. I didn't care what it was. I'd help her with laundry, cleaning, anything to keep her from experiencing the sleep deprivation that had caused the end of the world I knew. It was twice as bad for her because with each passing day, she became more pregnant and less able to move...or stay awake. I took advantage of the time she granted me with Alissa and tried to maintain the bond the two of us shared. I knew it would change over time, but I hoped as she grew older it would strengthen in different ways. I wanted to be her friend, her confidant, her second mom. In the few weeks she'd been alive, Dan and I both had fallen head over heels for her. But at the end of each day, we got to go next door, have sex as loudly as we wanted to, stay out until all hours of the night

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