Page 57 of Bound

“I know, I know, but the way you look at her,” she said, tossing me a smile. “I could see it in your eyes last night when you showed up here with her. You care, you were afraid for her, I've never seen you so worried about someone else like that. You deserve a second chance, Porter, in every way possible; with me, with Franco, with yourself. Don't let Zander's death stop you from moving forward, you deserve better than this life.”

“I don't know what to say.” His mouth was open, eyes lost and confused, happy and excited.

“Yes you do.” Smirking, his mother pushed his shoulder lightly.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“There it is.” Standing up, she kissed the top of his head. “I want you two to stay here until Emery is all better, then you can go where the wind takes you.” His mother pats his cheek, then walks out, leaving us alone.

Porter turned to face me, his lips taut. Wrapping an arm around my back, he rubbed my side tenderly. “I don't know what to think, I'm not sure what to do with this.”

“What is there to think about? She's giving you an out, why wouldn't you take it?”

“Because I'm not done here.” Massaging his temple, he pursed his lips, dropping his head into his chest. “I set out to end it, I made a promise to my brother, and I can't break it. I don't want to spend the rest of my life sleeping with one eye open, and I don't want that for you, or my mother either.”

“What I decide to do, is my choice, it doesn't fall on you.” Lifting my hand to his chin, I forced his eyes to mine. “Sometimes we have to make choices, I get that. But, this isn't a choice you have to make, it's not a promise that has to be fulfilled. You said you changed, you said you weren't that man anymore. . .”

“I know, it's just—”

Kissing him on the cheek, I ran the pad of my thumb over his bottom lip and stopped him from talking.

“So don't be that man, it won't bring your brother back.”

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