Bonded to You

Chapter 1

Noah

“When he gets here, I’m gonna need you to get in the fucking truck,” Mom mutters through clenched teeth.

I dig my heels into the ground as she tugs, as subtle as she can, on my arm.

She’s lucky my eyes are shielded by my sunglasses, or else she would be getting a hell of a glare right now. I can think of a million things I’d rather be doing right now. The least she can do is let me take my sweet time.

“I still don’t understand why I’m being dragged into this. Marry or don’t marry the schmuck. I give zero fucks,” I mumble.

Brad will be here any minute to pick me up, and if there’s even a slight chance of getting out of this, I’m taking it.

Mom groans, dropping her head back and rolling her eyes. “Goddammit, Noah. Not everything is about you.”

“Considering he doesn’t want to get hitched until he meets me, it kind of sounds like it is about me,” I bite back.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s a pretty great way to stall. I bet he doesn’t want to go through with it and he’s using my ass as a scapegoat.

“Brad is…traditional, okay? He’s a decent man. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those in my life,” she breathes out heavily.

That makes me bite my tongue. I guess she’s not wrong about everything.

Her demeanor softens as she lifts my sunglasses off the bridge of my nose and uses them to push my hair back from my face.

“One weekend. That’s it. Do this for me and it’ll be the last thing I ever ask of you,” she pleads softly. Her eyes search mine, and for a minute, it almost feels like she’s telling the truth.

Maybe she’ll actually stay out of my life for good after this. I’ve got plans to hop on a plane and disappear to Hawaii for the rest of the year, and it’d be really nice not to get a single call from her while I’m gone.

“Fine.” I shuffle my duffel bag higher up on my shoulder. “I mean, whatever. I’m already packed anyway.”

She squeals, wrapping her arms around my neck. My whole body tenses as she embraces me.

“That’s my baby,” she coos.

I hate when she calls me that.

Suddenly, a low rumble of a heavy vehicle fills the driveway. Breaking out of her hold, I watch a big black GMC slowly make its way, crunching up the gravel.

I let out a heavy breath, already drained. It’s taking everything inside me to actually go through with this.

After all, having never met him before, this guy is a complete stranger to me.

Since I lease my own place in the city, I know close to nothing about him.

Aside from their sudden engagement being announced via a painfully high-pitched voicemail, I only know the important things—like how he’s well-off, a “really nice guy,” and thrilled to meet me.

Huh. My mother really set me up to get murdered in a forest.

So, no. I’m not looking forward to this “bonding” camping trip. Frankly, if I were Brad, I would’ve thought I hit a goldmine to propose to a divorcee with a twenty-two-year-old son who wanted nothing to do with either of them.

But, for some goddamn reason unknown, meeting me is a non-negotiable to him. What a crock of shit.

I reach into the pockets of my jeans and take out my Marlboros. Popping one in, I watch from afar as Brad makes his way out of the front seat. Mom goes running down our porch, as happy as can be, as she basically gallops into his arms.

First impressions? We have nothing in common, which is fucking fantastic.

He looks like a typical man’s man: plaid button-up, short dark brown hair, and his trimmed beard.

He flashes his deep blue eyes at me over her shoulder, and my jaw tenses before I take a long drag.

Okay, sure. Mom did well in the looks department, but something tells me the interesting traits stop there. I bet he’s boring as all hell.

“How’s my girl doing?” I hear him ask, as he cups her cheeks. To my disappointment, he’s tall and muscular. I swear, if he tries to pull the macho man act, I’ll have to pull him down a peg. Show him who the real boss is.

Might be fun.

“He’s a little grumpy today, so…don’t let him get to you…” I hear my mom say under her breath. She thinks I can’t hear her. She doesn’t know how to keep secrets, even when she tries. It’s not in her nature.

Brad’s eyes flicker over to mine, again. This time, when I pull a long drag, I let the smoke pillow in front of me, blocking his view.

“Dammit, Noah. Get down here.” My mom trudges over to me. “And what did I say about smoking?” she snaps, yanking the cigarette from my lips and tossing it to the ground.

“Nasty habit. You better not do that around Brad this weekend,” she says, stomping it under her open-toed shoe. As expected, her nails are hot pink, a clear sign she’s about to get herself into trouble on her girls’ weekend. All of this will be for nothing once he discovers who she really is.

Whatever. Not my problem.

She looks over at Brad, who’s observing us, and waves her hand over at him.

His sharp eyes don’t leave mine as he makes his way over.

“Noah,” he says, calmly. Way too calmly. His gaze drops to my feet and back up again. Suddenly, I feel exposed. Judged. My teeth sting.

He puts out his hand, waiting for a handshake.

“Hey.” I shift my sunglasses back over my eyes, jaw tightening.

He glances at my mother. They exchange a look—one of her classic ‘told you so’ brow raises—as he takes a deep breath and shoves his idle hands into his jean pockets.

Silence stretches between us making my skin itch.

Refusing to sit in it any longer, I push past them both toward the truck. “Whatever. Are we doing this thing?” I swing open the door and toss my bag onto the back seat.

I pull out my phone and scroll, killing time while I wait for us to leave.

The faster we get there, the faster this weekend can be over.

***

Brad hops into the front seat not long after my exit. Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything else as he hits the road. I read on the GPS that our drive is about four hours away. Joy.

He hasn’t made a move to throw on any music yet, so we’re stuck listening to the radio music playing its top forty. This is already torture. I feel like I’ve been kidnapped…willingly. I should’ve made a run for it back at the house.

“So…” he clears his throat. He shifts in his seat, like he’s the uncomfortable one. He has no reason to be nervous. I’m the one in an awkward position here. I don’t even know him. “I’m really thankful that you’re joining me this weekend. When your mother told me you’d love to—”

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “I never said that. She basically blackmailed me.”

Brad glances over to me and then back at the road. His eyebrows pinch together. “She told me you wanted to do this.”

I laugh again. “She lied to you. She likes to do that. Better get used to it now,” I mutter, looking out the window. I admit, it’s a beautiful drive up the old country roads. Nothing but tall trees, salted rocks, mountains peaks, and glistening water. I love driving up north.

“That’s…not very nice, Noah,” he says simply.

I turn to look at him and catch the subtle clench of his jaw and the tense grip he has on the steering wheel. Oh, did I hit a nerve?

“Don’t tell me you can’t handle a little brutal honesty. I bet you call yourself a nice guy too.”

“I am a nice guy.”

I bite back a smile, leaning into my seat. “Yeah? Well, I hope it’s an act. For your sake, I mean.”

If he’s willing to be with my mom, he’s either just as bad as she is or he’s going to get eaten alive.

Either way, he’s a poor bastard.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He huffs.

I sigh, leaning my head on the headrest. “Listen. I’ve met six versions of you since my dad left.

I’m sorry, but I doubt you’ll be any different than the rest. My mom will screw you until she screws you.

You want to marry someone like that? Cool.

Be my guest. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

” I shake my head and look back out at the oncoming blur of trees.

“I don’t know you. I don’t want to know you, and frankly, I shouldn’t have to.

Let’s just get through this weekend and then stay out of each other’s way after that. ”

I feel him hesitate to say something, but I cut him off before he gets the chance.

“Can I smoke in here?” I ask, dunking my hand in my pocket for my smokes.

“I’d honestly prefer if you didn’t—”

“Thanks,” I cut him off, already rolling the window down as I flick my lighter. I take a deep inhale of the sweet taste, and blow out a big puff of smoke into the air.