Page 82 of Forbidden Lyrics

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not allowed.”

“And like we’ve previously discussed tonight, you’re not my mother.”

“Why would you go on tour with Broken Vows? Are you touring like…” She hesitates, her bitterness taking a backseat to her curiosity as she purses her lips and probes, “As a groupie?”

I laugh and shake my head. “No, but it’s good to know that a single hickey has managed to warp your perspective of your sweet, innocent, naive little sister so quickly.”

Shoulders hunched, she takes a step toward me, but I lift my hand and stop her.

“Dove––”

“I would get to sing. And no, I didn’t sleep my way into the gig, if that’s what you’re going to ask. It just…fell in my lap. I wasn’t going to take it. I didn’t want to leave you. But since I don’t want to ruin anything else––”

“That’s not what I meant––”

“That’s exactly what you meant, Mads.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she lets out a long, slow breath. Like she doesn’t know what to say. Heaven forbid she actually apologize. But she wouldn’t be Madelyn Walker if she didn’t let her pride get in the way of every single interaction we ever have, so why start now?

Still, even with her chin lifted in contempt and her eyes narrowed into tiny slits, I can see past her façade. Past the lies she tells herself that she needs to be strong. That she needs to protect herself from relationships. That she’ll only get hurt.

“I get it, Mads. I might be your sister, but I was also your parents’ little minion for years.” With the back of my hand, I wipe beneath my nose and release a shaky breath. “Funny how you’re so terrified of judgment yet so quick to jump to your own conclusions.”

“Dove––”

“It’s fine. I’m exhausted, and I’m going to bed.” I sniff, blinking back tears as I step around her and down the hall before murmuring, “Goodnight.”

She doesn’t chase me.

She doesn’t say a thing.

She simply lets me go.

And even though I’m not surprised, I could’ve really used my sister tonight. Someone who could’ve promised that everything would be all right. That I’m more than a good time. That Gibson’s crazy for not grabbing onto me with both hands.

But I’m a naive fool who received exactly what I asked for.

And now, I need sleep. Maybe it’ll make my future seem a little less bleak. Especially if I’m honestly going on tour with him and will have front row seats to the many conquests that will be knocking on his door. I can’t blame them. I knocked too.

Then I got knocked on my butt. And I don’t know how to get up again.

Chapter Twenty-One

Gibson

I screwed up.

I touched her.

I soiled her.

I used her.

I chewed her up and spit her out.

I did what I promised myself I never would.

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