Page 59 of Forbidden Lyrics

“Life’s been busy,” he grunts.

“Yeah. Between River’s accident and rehab and our work schedules, it’s been crazy.”

“Yeah.”

“How’s the shop coming? Are you gonna have enough to buy it?”

He nods. “Yeah. I think so. As long as Jos doesn’t change his mind about selling it.”

Jos. Milo’s boss and mentor. Hell, he’s practically his father since Milo’s sperm donor is an abusive asshole who deserves to rot in Hell. But he’s been wishy-washy on selling. Like he can’t decide whether or not Milo’s ready when I’m pretty sure Milo’s work is the main thing keeping the tattoo parlor afloat.

“You think he’d change his mind?” I ask.

“I dunno.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “He keeps making excuses before pulling the trigger. Do you think he knows?”

I pause. “Nah, man. Besides, even if he did, he couldn’t blame you for what happened.”

“It’s Jos’ only rule. No getting arrested. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances were. I still got cuffed for assault. It’s not like he can sweep that under the rug and justify it to the other eight employees who know they’d be axed if they had any run-ins with the law.”

“Yeah, but––”

“Do you think she would’ve told anyone?” Milo wonders aloud, though there’s a bitterness in his words that makes me pause.

Em.

She was the only person Milo was able to get ahold of. Then again, part of me wonders if she’s the first person he called even though they hadn’t known each other for long. There was a real connection between them. I always felt like I was intruding. Like I was the common ground that they hoped would keep them from combusting.

Too bad it blew up in all our faces.

I shake my head and consider his question. “Nah, man. Em might’ve been a lot of things, but she understood the need for secrets.”

And she had plenty of her own.

His chin drops to his chest. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

Tongue in cheek, I clear my throat and ask, “Have you, uh, have you heard from her at all?”

Milo frowns. “Why would I have heard from her?”

Apparently not.

“Just curious. Sammie said she saw someone who looked like her at the bar,” I lie, lifting my hands in surrender. The guy is tense on a good day, but if Em’s involved, he’s ready to go balls to the wall in under a second.

“She moved,” he reminds me.

Yeah. Two doors down from her old place. Probably because she needed the second bedroom for her future kid.

“So, you haven’t heard from her?” I push.

His tone is cold and indifferent yet holds a sharpness that reminds me to tread carefully. “Have you heard from her, Sonny?”

I swallow thickly but hold his gaze as I shake my head. “No.”

“Why are you asking?”

“No reason. I know you liked her––”

“I liked what was between her legs. We both did. But now it’s over. She left.”

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