Free Love Resisted (Entwined Hearts #2) by Maria Macdonald

don’t think so. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to play you Tink. I hope you know that’s not me?” he asks softly while pulling me back so he can look into my eyes.
    “No, of course not. I think we’re both trying to look for something that doesn’t exist without them being a part of it,” I say sadly.
    He cups my face and strokes my cheek. “Saul will come around, he has to. If he doesn’t, then he’s letting the best thing that will ever happen to him slip through his fingers. He will never be full, complete. He will always be missing something. You.”
    “Thanks, Dane, you really are a good friend.”
    We sit in silence for long moments, both in our own world of thought, huddled together, holding onto one another like the other is our saviour. Slowly we pull apart and relax back into the sofa.
    Dane is the first to speak. “So Soph, I was thinking. Now we have this cleared up…as painful as that crap was…” He grins, but it’s shadowed by sadness. “You have been complaining about your living situation. If you want, I have room?”
    I widen my eyes and stare at him. “Are you asking me to move in Mr. Matthews?” I say fluttering my eyelashes in an over exaggerated way. He chuckles and this time it’s not forced or fake and I’m glad we’ve moved the conversation on.
    “If you want to? There are five bedrooms in this house. I have one, you can pick from any of the other four.”
    I gaze around the conservatory and into the beautiful garden. Even though it’s only the beginning of April, the space outside is starting to come alive.
    “I won’t do gardening,” I blurt out and Dane’s lips twitch.
    “Didn’t think you would, Tink, besides I have a gardener who does that shit.”
    “Wow!” I breathe out. “You really are like a big shot, huh! I should have snapped you up. I could’ve lived in the lap of luxury.” I say sticking my tongue out at him.
    “That’s why I was actually interested in seeing where things went with you because you’re not that person. Don’t you ever get bored being surrounded by that shit?” he asks and I think back to my last photo shoot and feeling that exact same way.
    “Yeah…maybe it’s time for a change. When can I move in?” I ask with a wink.
     
     

     
    I feel the burn chasing its course through my arm as I stretch it, then the jolt as it connects with the punching bag. I love my gym, love Murphy’s gym more, but setting up my gym at home was good because I like the quiet lately. I have three bedrooms, so I adapted one into a gym. It’s been hard…training, but not being up to scratch. Everyone thinks I’m fine now. Well, everyone except Pea, who still fusses over me.
    The truth? The truth is I’m far from fucking fine. My body aches almost daily and I have to force myself to use the gym, knowing I need to so my body can loosen up. I probably shouldn’t be pushing this hard when I’m here, but I need to focus on something, anything that keeps my mind clear instead of overthinking all the time.
    It doesn’t matter what I do though because all my fucking brain does, is overthink. Mainly about Soph…actually it’s mainly about Soph and Dane if I’m really honest. I’ve pushed her away for years, knowing she deserves better than me. I sure as shit don’t want to end up like every other parental unit I’ve seen growing up. I don’t want that for Soph. At least, if we remain friends, I can always have her back. And kick the shit out of the fuckers that hurt her. I’ve had a few run-in’s over the years. Only Con knows that though.
    Lately, I’ve realised that one day she’s going to move on and settle down.
    My latest thought? What if it’s with my new-fucking-brother?
    Shaking my head and arms out while rolling my shoulders, I aim for the bag again punching with all my frustration. But it’s not enough. My body won’t give me enough right now. I’m getting a little better every day. But while my body is moving toward the light, my