Soul Bound

Prologue

„It's okay, Charly. You can go." I smiled at my best friend, "I'm just going to finish up my drink and then I'm leaving, too."

Charly - or Charlotte if you wanted to annoy her - and I were sitting at the bar of our usual Irish pub, celebrating the end of the work week, when her flatmate called to tell her that he had locked himself out of the apartment.

"Are you sure? I don't want to leave you here on your own. It's getting kind of late."

"I'm fine" I assured. "Besides it's freezing outside and I don't want Emerson to get a frostbite on my behalf."

Charly still didn't look convinced. Again I smiled and tried to soothe her worrying. "Look. My glass is almost empty. I only drank juice and  am completely sober. I'll be out of here within 15 minutes. So go. And tell Emerson I said 'hi'".

Finally, Charly seemed fine with the idea of leaving me by myself. She stood up kissed my cheek and said "Text me when you are leaving and text me when you get home - I want to know you are safe."

"I will, Char." I laughed at my somewhat overbearing friend. Still - I got all warm on the inside. Feeling truly being cared for. It was great to have a friend like her.

I watched her leave in her confident stride, my gaze following her until I couldn't see her anymore.

That's when I heard a voice I knew. Making my insides hot for a whole different reason.

Anger.

The voice that had interrupted my thoughts about Charly belonged to none other, but my ex boyfriend - Adam.

"Linnea, I was hoping to run into you." Yeah, sure - I thought.

My temper tried to flare up, but I managed to layer my usual ice coat over it before it could reach my tongue.

I never really let emotions show. Charly was my only exception. Adam had been the other one, but he didn't deserve any more of my emotions or feelings for that matter.

"Adam. Why would that be?" I asked, faking curiosity whilst swirling the straw in my juice.

"After you stood me up for our weekend getaway without even a word, I genuinely thought you didn't want to see me at all. Even more so, after you didn't reply to any of my messages. You didn't even respond to the one voicemail, in which I was telling you that we were through."

My voice was calm and pleasant. I was holding his gaze - searching for any kind of reaction. I got none. Whereas I was the queen of ice - Adam was the god. I had never even seen one sign of emotion flicker across his face.

Maybe that should have been enough of an indication that he didn't really care for me.

"I told you, I was sorry." Adam reached for my arm, trying to lull me  in with soft and gentle strokes.

"Yeah, you did." I laughed" "Three days later. Three days too late."

I made an effort to pull my arm free of his stroking, but he clamped his hand around my biceps.

"Adam." I said through clenched teeth. "Let my arm go." He softened his touch, but his hand was still firm around my upper arm.

"Look, Linnie I am truly sorry. I really miss you. You know, you and I are good together - we make a great team." He leaned closer and whispered "And I really miss your tits, too".

I shot up. The anger had succeeded to burn through my ice coat.

"Adam, let my arm go now! I want to leave."

He didn't let go. In fact he reached for my other arm, too. "I'm not letting you leave until you say, that you'll give me another chance."

I laughed incredulously. "Another chance? After the what... five ? chances I've given you, already? No, I meant it Adam. You and me are done. You don't get the chance to humiliate me ever again."