Binding 13

"Go on back to Cormac," I deadpa

"I was hurt, Joh

"Hurt me back?" I balked. "For what exactly? Getting injured? Being stuck on my back for weeks while you rode my friend behind my back? Messing up your chances of fancy fucking di

"For ignoring me," she hissed, cheeks turning pink. "For using me."

"Me using you?" I balked. "Yeah, because that's what was happening."

"That's how you made me feel, Joh

"Then I'm sorry!" I snapped back, striving for patience in the eye of this girl-induced, mind-fucking shitstorm.

"You have to have feelings to be sorry, Joh

Keep the head.

Take it on the chin.

And then get the hell away from her.

Inhaling a calming breath, I exhaled slowly before saying, "Bella, I am sorry if at any point I made you feel ignored or used. That was not my intention. I sincerely apologize for my lack of heart and feelings and wish you nothing but the best for all your future endeavors with my teammate. Now, if you don’t mind, I am tired of going around in circles with you and have actual shit to do."

I moved for the door, but she grabbed my hand again, pulling me back.

"Wait – are you with someone else?" she demanded, squeezing my hand. "Is that what your problem is?" Her eyes widened. "Oh my god," she exclaimed. "You are, aren’t you?"

Jesus.

What the hell had I been thinking messing around with this girl?

"No, Bella, I'm not with anyone else." Yanking my hand free, I shook my head and released a frustrated sigh. "But I'm not with you, either. And I won't ever be with you again."

"I've heard rumors, Joh

"That's none of your business," I bit out through clenched teeth as I struggled to rein in my temper.

"Come on, Joh

"None of your bleeding business," I spat, fresh out of patience. "Christ."

"Why were you fighting with McGarry over her?" she demanded. "Why did Cormac tell me you warned all the team off her?"

"I'm not doing this with you," I warned, shaking my head. "Not anymore."

"Stop dodging the question, Joh

"I already gave you a fucking answer," I snapped, done with this bullshit. "You're the one who can't seem to listen."

"You're lying! I can see it in your eyes!" she screamed, loud enough to wake the dead. "It's written all over your face, Joh

"You need to get a handle on yourself," I said, tone laced with disgust. "This is pathetic."

"Fine," Bella sneered, looking wholly enraged. "If you won't tell me, I'll ask her." Smiling darkly, she added, "Sha

Yeah, fuck that.

"You'll stay the hell away from her," I whisper-hissed, aware that we were within hearing range of the office.

While Dee wouldn’t cause any trouble for me, I didn’t fancy my chances if Mr. Twomey came out and saw I was having problems with another girl.

"Whatever shite that's going on between us has nothing to do with Sha

"What's the matter?" she taunted, pushing every one of my buttons. "Afraid I'll find out something you don’t want me to?"

"I mean it, Bella," I snarled, feeling a surge of anger rise up inside of me. "I'm not fucking around here. Keep your distance from her."

"Well," she mused, eyes narrowed. "Look who's showing emotion now."

She was absolutely right.

I was showing emotion.

Because I cared.

I cared a great deal more about a girl I barely knew than I ever did Bella.

It was warped, and confusing, and completely fucked up, but I did.

Instead of admitting this terrifying new development, I said, "Leave. Her. Alone."

And then I did what I should have done the first time I laid eyes on her.

I walked away from Bella Wilkinson.

"I'm going to make you so sorry for walking away from me," she called after me.

"Believe me, I'm already sorry," I called back. "Sorry I ever went there in the first place."

Furious, I stormed away from the girl that seemed to be hell bent on making my life a living hell.

Loaded with bitter regrets and burning anger, I rounded the corner of the main building feeling like I was two seconds away from breaking something.

Unfortunately for me, that something turned out to be a girl.

Not just any girl.

Sha