Table of Contents
Prologue
Title Page
Torn (Tattered Heart Duet, #1)
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Coming Next
Books by Brooke
Playlist
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About Brooke
Connect with Brooke
Torn
By Brooke O’Brien
Table of Contents
Title Page
Torn (Tattered Heart Duet, #1)
Dedication
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Coming Next
Books by Brooke
Playlist
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About Brooke
Connect with Brooke
Torn: Tattered Heart Duet (#1)
Copyright © 2018 by Brooke O’Brien
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permissions of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which has been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Visit Brooke’s website at www.authorbrookeobrien.com.
Cover Art © Najla Qamber, Najla Qamber Designs
Cover Photo © Shutterstock
Edited by Rox LeBlanc, Roxs Reads
Proofread by Julie Deaton, Deaton Author Services
Dedication
This book is dedicated to anyone struggling to find their worth and to the brave souls who love them enough to stick around to help them see it.
Prologue
MAVERICK
It was never my intention to fall in love with my best friend’s sister. I was thirteen when I moved down the street from Dean Blake. He had come into my life at a time I struggled to cope with the world around me. Our friendship came without any pressures, it was easy. He didn’t ask questions, but I think he knew what would happen if he did.
I closed off the door to my heart a long time ago. I didn’t want to feel. The pain that comes with letting the emotions in is more than I could ever bear. Even through it all, I still remember the way I felt when I met his twin sister, Ryan. It was like a jolt to my heart, forcing it to beat out of rhythm.
Ryan was all legs, chocolate brown hair flowing in the breeze covered by her backward snapback. The first thing I noticed was the intricate detail of the designs covering her skin, like vines wrapping around her arm.
If the sweet and innocent look on her face was any indication, she was too young to have tattoos of her own. I was drawn to the outward shell she presented to the world because I recognized it for what it was. A distraction from all the parts you want to keep buried deep. She was like a mirage of walking contradictions, which I knew to be true the moment she opened her smart mouth.
The passion she withheld under the surface was like a beacon of light shining in the dark night. Her fiery personality was the first thing to trigger a spark in the hollows of my heart.
All these years I’ve spent keeping my distance from her, out of fear of facing my feelings and the consequences that could follow. The hard part is, I know she feels the connection between us, too. The pull that keeps us tethered to each other, despite never allowing her to get close enough.
She’s turning eighteen in two days and the resistance I’ve been struggling to keep hold of is starting to wear thin. Nothing good can come from going down this path because no matter how much my heart aches for her, it’s inevitable I’ll leave her heart torn in two.
One
RYAN
“Roll the window down, it smells like sex in here!” I shout, waving my hand in front of my face. Sticking my head outside, I take a deep breath and turn my head toward my best friend with a shit eating grin on my face.
“Says the virgin,” she mutters, rolling her eyes as she turns up the music to drown out any smart-ass reply I could fire back. I know she can hear me as I tell her to fuck off, which prompts her to wave her middle finger in the air at me while keeping her eyes on the road.
Papa Roach blares through the speakers, as I slide back into my seat adjusting my hat as I do. I can feel the energy from the music run through my body as I nod my head to the lyrics.
Nadia is my best friend, my A1 since day one. There’s not much I wouldn’t do for her and I knew it to be true from the day we first met.
We were in eighth grade, riding the bus to school, when Kara Parker thought it would be fucking funny to pick shit out of the garbage and throw it at me from where she sat in the back. She only messed with me on the days my twin brother, Dean, would opt to walk to school with his friends.
She knew better than to pull that shit around Dean.
Nadia had been sitting in the seat across from me. It was the first day we had ever talked to each other. After watching a pop bottle cap whiz past our heads, she turned toward me with her face hard as stone as she said, “You ready to put this bitch down?”
My response mirrored the same devilish grin she flashed me. She’s been my ride or die ever since.
“Did you talk to your mom about staying over at my place tomorrow?” she asks, shouting over the music. Nadia’s parents take on the role of parenting from a distance. They leave her money on the counter and make sure there’s always food in the cabinets. Otherwise, they’re hardly home, which makes it the perfect place to crash when we plan to hit up a party or two on the weekends.
"She hasn’t responded to my text message yet,” I mutter, clicking the button on the side of my phone to check for a response. “I’m going to call her and see.” Leaning over, I turn down the radio as I click the call button.
“Big Papa’s Pizzeria.”
My brother’s immature greeting has me rolling my eyes so hard I’m surprised they didn’t pop out of my head and roll across the floor. The worst part is the annoying laugh that follows finding his lame joke funny.
“Put Mom on the phone,” I snap, cutting off his obnoxious laughter, running my fingers over the frayed hole in my jeans.
“What’s in it for me?”
“Staying alive. Now quit being a prick, dick licker, and put her on the phone.”
“You wanna talk to your mom with that dirty mouth?” Dean laughs. I can hear the light chuckling in the background, and if I had to guess, Maverick is there with him.
Figures.
“Seriously, D. I don’t have all night. If I don’t talk to her now, I’m going to be home late.”
“You better hope that’s not the case. After the last time, you know you’re going to end up grounded. Happy Birthday to you.”
I can picture his smug face as he sings the last part to me and I seriously want to junk punch him.
“Alright, Dad. Noted. Now put her
on the fucking phone.”
I can hear the light rustling on the other end before my mom’s overly chipper voice filters through the phone.
“Yes, Ryan,” she says with a sigh.
“Hi, Mom,” I reply, my tone extra sweet which has Nadia laughing. “Is it cool if I crash at Nadia’s this weekend?”
“Not tonight, Ryan,” she replies curtly. “You can tomorrow since it’s your birthday, but it’s not necessary to stay over two nights in a row.”
“Can I stay out a little later tonight then instead? It’s a Friday night and we were going to meet up with some friends.”
“You’ve been late once already this month, even after I extended your curfew. You have until ten o’clock to be home, Ryan. By the looks of it, that gives you seventeen minutes. I’ll see you soon.”
Nadia glances down at the clock as the line disconnects.
“Ry, we’re not going to make it in time,” she says, voicing my thoughts. I don’t say anything because she’s right. My house is at least twenty-five minutes away on a good day.
“Shit,” I groan, running my hand over my face.
Nadia does her best to get me home in time, but when we hit a train on Rockford Drive, I know it’s no use.
“Look on the bright side,” Nadia says, peering over at me out of the corner of her eye. “If Dean is home, that likely means Maverick is crashing at your house tonight.”
Maverick is one of my brother’s best friends, which is both a blessing and a curse. He and Dean never go anywhere without the other. Dean is the annoying, obnoxious jock who likes to have all the attention on him. Maverick, on the other hand, is the complete opposite and sometimes I wonder what prompted their friendship.
Don’t get me wrong, Dean’s my twin brother, and he’s a great guy. I don’t know what they have in common besides skateboarding. Whatever it is, they are nearly inseparable. Maverick usually ends up staying over at our house, which I appreciate because it means I get to see him more.
“Like that matters. He acts as if I’m not there. I swear you’d think he hated me or something.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” Nadia laughs, shaking her head. “I think he’s very much aware you’re there. He just knows Dean would lose his shit if he knew he saw you as anything but his sister.”
Which brings me to why it’s a curse. Any chance of Maverick seeing me as more than his best friend’s sister goes out the window. I know he would never do anything to put their friendship in jeopardy.
I can keep a secret and what Dean doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
Nadia whips the car into the driveway, pulling in behind Dean’s beat-up Ford truck. The thing has seen better days, but he refuses to replace it.
“Text me when you can and let me know the damage,” she mutters, clearly concerned our plans for tomorrow could be ruined.
I push the door of the car open and lean the seat forward, pulling out my skateboard from the backseat. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and readjust my hat on my head.
“Wish me luck,” I groan, as I move the seat back in place.
We say our goodbyes as I head toward the front of my house.
My mom is in the kitchen loading the dishwasher when I enter the house. She doesn’t bother to look at me, which I know can’t be good. Kicking my shoes off near the door, I prop my board against the wall.
I spot Dean and Maverick lounging in the living room. Dean has his leg draped across the coffee table and a grin on his face, knowing what’s about to come. Maverick grimaces and I know this can’t be good.
“Welcome home,” my mother says, the force of the dishwasher closing draws my attention away from him.
“Ryan, this is the second time you’ve been late this month. Before you even try to argue, I want to point out your birthday is in less than two hours, and I know you have plans with Nadia.”
Dropping my bag down on the bench near the door, I slide the hat off my head and toss it on top before facing my mom.
“I’m sorry,” I sigh, knowing nothing good will come from me saying anything more. “I’m going to bed.”
I walk through the kitchen and into the living room. The urge to junk punch Dean has returned when I see the arrogant smirk on his face.
“Keep it up, fucker,” I mutter under my breath, careful to not let my mom overhear us as I flash him the finger.
“What’s that?” he retorts, turning his head to peer over the back of the couch.
Spinning around, I find both of their eyes on me. Seeing that my mom has since made her way out of the kitchen, likely retreating to our parents’ bedroom, I don’t hold back.
“I said keep it up, fucker. I should be the one laughin’ at you, sitting at home like a bum on a Friday night,” I snap, sounding bored as I lean against the wall.
There are about seven minutes separating the two of us. My parents were expecting to bring home two baby boys when I was born. What they didn’t expect was for the second child to be born a girl. My name is evidence of that.
Dean turns around, facing the TV and lets out an annoyed grunt, “Fuck off, Ry.”
My eyes bounce from Dean to Maverick and I’m surprised when I find Maverick’s are already on me. They shine bright with amusement, as he bites his lower lip in an attempt to hide the grin lining his mouth. Crossing his arms over his chest, he runs his hand over his jaw as he glances over to make sure Dean isn’t paying attention.
The thick muscles are tanned from all his days outside without his T-shirt on. His dark-brown hair is longer on top. The wayward strands give the appearance like he has ran his fingers through them one too many times.
The sleeves of my white T-shirt are cut off, giving it more of a muscle-shirt look. You can see my black sports bra from the side and a hint of my sun-kissed skin underneath.
My heart starts to pound as I relish the thought of him struggling to take his eyes off me. Taking two steps backward, I keep my eyes trained on him. I think back to my conversation with Nadia in the car when she said it’s Dean that’s holding him back.
The bold side of me wants to test her theory and see if it’s true.
Standing outside my bedroom door, I keep my eyes focused on Maverick as I grab the hem of my shirt and pull the cotton material over my head. I roll my shirt into a ball before tossing it in the direction of my dirty clothes but not bothering to check if it made it.
I watch as Maverick’s jaw clenches as his eyes travel over the length of my body, resting longer on my chest than necessary before finally bringing his eyes up to meet mine. He leans forward, pressing his elbows to his knees. Even then, he doesn’t take his eyes off me.
“D, I’m gonna use your bathroom quick and head out. I should’ve been home a little while ago.”
I can hear Dean mumble out a response, but I have no idea what he says. I’m too lost in the look on Maverick’s face to pay much attention to what is going on around me.
Bracing his palms on his knees, Maverick moves to stand. He’s so tall, standing over six feet. He’s athletic, but whereas my brother is stockier from his time in football, Maverick is lean.
I can hear my heart pounding in my ears as he stalks toward me with a slight tic in his jaw. The closer he gets to me, the more my body comes alive with his presence.
“A little bold of you. Wouldn’t you say, Rebel?”
It isn’t the first time I’ve heard him use the nickname, but the tone in his voice is deeper. I can feel the words roll through me, crashing over me like waves as he stands close leaving only an inch between us.
I’m not able to think properly as I stare up at his gray eyes. They’re so dark, it’s almost like a storm is brewing in their depths.
Raising his hand up, he runs his knuckle along the soft skin of my shoulder as I force a step away from him. I need to gain some semblance of sanity, but the move causes his lip to curl in a small grin.
“You have nothing to say now? I didn’t think that was possible.” His quiet chuckle do
es crazy things to my heart.
“Aren’t you supposed to be leaving now?” I retort, hating how he can look so unaffected knowing the way he’s making me feel.
“Yeah, I am. Are you sure it’s what you want though?”
He presses the palm of his hand against my hip as he moves to step closer in the narrow hallway. I’m standing so close to the wall, I know there’s plenty of room for him to pass by.
His thumb lightly traces my exposed skin, as he takes a step around me. His body is pressed against mine, bringing us closer than we’ve ever been.
The move forces the air out of my chest and I know he can feel my body tremble beneath his touch.
“I didn’t think so,” he whispers against the shell of my ear.
As soon as he passes by me and the bathroom, he glances back at me. His eyes travel down to where my chest heaves with every struggled breath before looking back up at me. Flashing me a wink, he turns and walks down the hallway and out the front door without another word.
Holy shit.
Two
MAVERICK
Closing the front door behind me, I sag against it. Bracing my hands on my knees, I force a deep breath.
“Damn it,” I mutter to myself.
Now I’m reminded why I’ve forced myself to stay away from her all these years. That glimpse of the way her body came alive under my touch sent my heart stuttering into a tailspin.
Once the adrenaline coursing through me slows, I grab my skateboard from where I left it leaning against the side of the stairs. Walking down the driveway and onto the sidewalk, I hold my board out in front of me. Jogging a few steps, I plant my left foot as I use my other to pick up speed. The sound of the wheels rolling over every crack in the cement distracts me from my wayward thoughts.
I know I crossed a line with Ryan tonight. I’m not blind, I’ve noticed how she watches me. She tries to keep it subtle, not wanting to draw attention. Her gaze feels like fire, burning into me. I can only tell myself to ignore it for so long before I start to give in.
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