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Chapter 31
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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
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
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
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.
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
The Bound Collection Chapter 37
There was no doubt in my mind Gray and I were meant to be together, always. Some unseen force, a connection neither of us could define but was undeniably there, bound us. There weren't words to define my depth of emotion for him, nor were there words to define why, when I felt this way, and knew he did, that I still sensed a nagging need for distance from him.Since I'd moved back in with him two months ago, I'd done everything imaginable to please him. If he asked me to go out with him and his friends, I dropped what I was doing, including schoolwork, to go. I cooked dinner every night, although neither of us denied my culinary prowess needed some work, but I tried. I was always completely available to him, both physically and emotionally. His friends liked me; he loved me, but he didn't seem to be able to escape that feeling that gnawed at him. It was almost like a claustrophobic panic-he tried to hide it, but I knew him too well for him to keep that kind of secret. The irony was, I
The Bound Collection Chapter 38
I knew when I walked in, and he saw my bloodshot, puffy eyes, he would assume it was depression related. Anytime I'd had a bad day since he found the prescription, that's where it always went-my depression. Another reason I'd kept my secret-I could no longer have an off day without someone believing I needed to be admitted.He was sitting on the couch in deep thought when I walked in. He zoned in on my eyes and his squinted just slightly in anger-he didn't think I'd been crying-he thought I was high. I hadn't done drugs since the day I'd left Scarlett's, but that's where his mind had gone."Hey, Bird Dog. How was your day?" I shrugged before plopping down on the couch next to him. He lifted his arm, I tucked my body into his side, and the emotion poured out. We sat in silence for quite a while. He allowed me the time I needed to unload, something I rarely did. He folded his arm up to press my head against his chest and kissed me on the forehead. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" I pu
The Bound Collection Chapter 39
Gray walked into the apartment a few minutes after seven, and I was camped out in my usual spot at the kitchen table working on my computer. I glanced over at him when he opened the door but said nothing. I knew how bad I looked and his stare confirmed it. My face was completely washed out, void of any color except the dark circles that surrounded my eyes. When he closed the door, he announced, "We need to talk, Annie," before he sat down at the table. My only acknowledgment was a slight nod. I didn't speak, so he did. "Robbie, Turtle, and Topher are on their way over here to get your stuff. You might want to call Jenny and see if you can stay with her until you figure out what you're going to do. Since most of your furniture is in storage, there won't be much for you to move." I raised my eyebrows at him, my eyes watered, but I refused to let the tears fall. I would not cry over him...not in front of him. There wouldn't be an argument, and he knew I wouldn't try to plead my case
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