Page 135 of Forbidden Lyrics

“You can tell me, Maddie,” I whisper.

Sitting up fully, she rests her head against the headboard and closes her eyes, that same defeat seeping from her bones. “I don’t know who the father is.”

“How can you not know?”

“Because I was using protection with all of them––”

“All of them?” I question, my brows furrowed. “Not both of them?”

Her mouth snaps shut, and her fingers dig into her thighs, but she doesn’t say a word.

“Talk to me,” I demand yet again. “It’s obvious this is killing you. Aren’t you sick of lying? Aren’t you sick of handling all of this on your own?” My fists tighten at my sides. “I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep trying to keep this relationship alive if you’re just going to continue shutting me down every time I try. Talk. To. Me. Or. Leave. My. Room.”

She shakes her head. “You don’t get it, Dove. It’s complicated––”

“Stop spouting that shit,” I grit out. “It’s complicated? Well, guess what, Maddie? Life is complicated. It’s kind of part of the deal, so stop using it as an excuse to keep me at arm’s length. Tell me the truth. If you wanted to slow down and make some changes, why were you sleeping with three guys at the same time? And who was the third guy?”

“Marty,” she breathes. Her upper lip curls in disgust.

Shiiiit.

I cover my mouth, convinced I’ve heard her wrong.

“Y-you were sleeping with Marty?” I clarify.

“He was jealous,” she returns, her tone numb as if lost in the memory before blinking slowly and returning to the present. “Which is ridiculous. We weren’t ever an item. I wasn’t even interested in him. We were only hanging out. But when he found out Milo, Gibbs, and I were all hooking up, he got pissed.”

“So?”

“So…he had the power to ruin Milo’s life and all he’d been working for. I couldn’t let that happen.”

Still confused, I turn and face her fully. “So you…what? Slept with him?”

“I did a lot of stuff.” Her nostrils flare, and her face floods with shame. “But I did it to protect Milo.”

Milo. The catalyst. And the asshole who broke her heart and has no idea.

Chewing on the pad of my thumb, I mull it over for another few seconds. “Is it over? Your whatever it is with Marty?”

She nods. “It’s over. As soon as I ended things with Milo and Gibson, I convinced Marty to leave Milo and his tattoo shop alone. Or at least, so far, anyway. But if Marty finds out about the baby, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“But he doesn’t know, right?”

“I’ve been laying low since I found out, so I don’t know how he would.” She rakes her fingers through her long, damp hair. “I wish he would disappear.”

“I don’t blame you,” I return, my tone softer than before. No matter how mad I am at her, having to deal with Marty isn’t exactly a walk in the park. I have no idea what he’s capable of. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know. “Did Milo or Gibbs know you were involved with a third guy?”

“Milo doesn’t. And Gibbs probably thought I was lying when we were texting and I brought up a third guy. I never said who it was, and you can’t tell them. Not about Marty.”

“The lies need to stop––”

“And I agree with you. Just not about Marty. He’s bad news, Dove––”

“I know––”

“No, you don’t get it,” she argues. “I’d rather sell my soul than let him be involved in Peanut’s life.” She caresses her round stomach. “Not because I give a shit about myself, but because I care about my baby. I’m begging you, Dove. For Peanut, don’t tell anyone I was involved with Marty..”

I’ve met Marty, and she’s right. He’s bad news. Really bad news. His involvement in Peanut’s life would probably be the worst situation possible. I can’t do that to Maddie’s baby, no matter how much it’s hurt me to be kept in the dark over the past few months. My little niece or nephew deserves more than that.

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