Page 3 of Forbidden Lyrics

“Seriously, Dove.” She grabs my wrist to keep it from shaking. “I think that was a brilliant idea.”

Again, I shake my head. “He knows him. Gibson. Supposedly, anyway.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” I give her a tight smile. “That’s not the part that was weird, though.”

“What do you mean?”

I hesitate, replaying the conversation in my head to confirm I didn’t imagine the whole thing. But it happened so fast. Honestly, I’m not even sure anymore.

“He said that if Gibson and I were a thing, then I must be having…relations with his friend, Milo, too,” I admit.

“Oh.” Reese’s lips purse as if she’s tasted something sour. “Yeah…I heard they’re into sharing.”

“That’s a thing?” I squeak.

With an awkward laugh, she shrugs. “Supposedly. Is that why you’re spooked? With your history and all, I’d get it. That probably sounds terrible. For two guys to––”

“That wasn’t it,” I mutter. Part of me hates the fact that she knows I’m a virgin and was raised in a crazy religious household with parents who never even uttered the s-word, let alone gave us the talk about the birds and the bees. Not that I don’t know what sex is, but still. That’s not the point.

I shake off my inner monologue and continue. “I mean, it sounded weird, but who am I to judge? No. He…” I pause, again, and look over at the bar where a very oblivious Gibson is mixing drinks. “H-he warned me about something.”

“Huh?”

“He just said that if I was smart, I’d stay away from Gibbs. And Milo.”

“Why?” Reese asks, just as confused as I am.

“Because their last girlfriend disappeared after they broke up, and it would be a shame if the same thing happened to me.”

“He said what?” Reese screeches.

“I know,” I rush out. “It sounds crazy, right?”

“Definitely crazy. I know Gibson, Dove. And I know Milo,” she adds. He’s her older brother. “Whatever bullshit that guy was spewing, it was exactly that. Bullshit.”

“You’re right. You’re right,” I repeat, though it does nothing to soothe my nerves. “It was just…the way he said, ya know? Like he knew something. But you’re right. He was probably just being a jerk.”

“I’m sure that’s exactly what he was being––”

“Do you know anyone named Em?” I interrupt. “Emma? Emily? Something like that?”

With a frown, Reese shakes her head. “Sorry. I don’t. But if it makes you feel better, you could always ask Gibbs.”

With a dry laugh, I roll my eyes then tuck my hair behind my ear. “No, thank you. That would be…weird. He hates me, remember? But you’re right. It doesn’t matter. We aren’t even dating,” I remind myself. “He’s my coworker. I just made that up to get that guy to leave me alone. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”

“You sure?” Reese asks.

I nod. “Yes. Definitely.”

“Okay,” she mutters, though she doesn’t look very convinced. “We still on for tomorrow night?”

“Yes. Definitely,” I repeat, a little more sure this time. I’d give anything to get out of my stifling apartment and away from my grumpy, pregnant sister for reasons other than work. The girls’ night Reese suggested earlier tonight before our boss got mad at us for slacking sounds pretty dang perfect.

“Let’s get back to work before we get yelled at again,” I add. “And thanks for saving me.”

“Anytime.”

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