Page 103 of Forbidden Lyrics

“Don’t lie, Milo.” Her lower lip quivers. “Not when it’s the truth. He’s throwing his life away because of me. Because I chose Riv.”

“I’ll handle it,” Milo promises her. “He’ll get through this.”

“Give him time,” Gibson reminds her. His gaze meets Milo’s. A silent conversation passes between them before he adds, “It takes time to get over someone you love. He’ll find someone new. And he’ll be grateful that you chose Riv. Hell, he might even thank you for it one day.”

Reese bites her lip to keep it from trembling more, but it’s no use. She dabs at the corner of her eye and releases a shaky breath. “I hope you’re right. Maybe the space will be good. You know, since Riv and I will be gone for a while. I’ll miss you guys, though.”

“Miss you too, sis.” Milo pulls her into a quick hug, and Gibson squeezes me a little tighter, his arms still firmly wrapped around my waist as if he’s afraid to let me go. Like I might disappear.

I get it, though.

Love is fragile. And even though Gibson and I aren’t there yet, I can’t imagine having to let him go.

Please don’t make me let you go.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Dove

The week goes by in a blur of practicing with the band in the mornings, waitressing at SeaBird in the evenings, and spending my nights with Gibson. We’ve fallen into our own chaotic routine while preparing for the tour, and it’s been absolutely perfect.

With one exception.

“Are you going with him?” Maddie’s tone is numb. Defeated. And it makes me feel like crap. We haven’t really spoken since our blow-up. Only a few words here and there but nothing deep. Nothing real. Nothing genuine.

She knows I’m leaving this morning, though. That she won’t see me for a couple months. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the reason she’s even talking to me right now is because of the giant elephant in the room named Gibson.

Of course, she wants to address it minutes before I’m supposed to be picked up. Heaven forbid we had a real conversation the day before.

Reining in my annoyance, I zip up my duffle bag and turn to face her. The bags under her eyes add to my guilt as I take in her baby bump from under her baggy sleepshirt.

“I’m going with the whole band,” I tell her.

“And Gibson.”

Frustrated, I grab my bag and hook the strap over my shoulder. “Why do you hate him so much, Maddie? What did he do to Em that was so bad that you can’t let it go even though it had nothing to do with you? Why can’t you let me be happy?”

“Did you sleep with him, Dove? Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to after work every night this week?”

“You’re not allowed to be disappointed with me, Mads.” I sniffle and fight back my urge to cry. I hate disappointing people. Especially my own flesh and blood. The only flesh and blood that wants me anymore. And even she doesn’t want me around. She needs me around.

I wipe my nose with the back of my hand, approaching her as she leans against the doorjamb to my bedroom.

With her chin held high, she starts, “You don’t know what you’re doing, Dove––”

“Then why don’t you tell me, Oh Wise One? What am I doing that’s so wrong in your eyes that you can’t even look at me without being let down?”

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her more frustrated in my entire life as we stand chest to chest.

But she doesn’t answer my question. Instead, she pleads, “Don’t go, Dove. For me. Don’t go.”

“You can’t ask that of me. I’ll be back before your baby’s born. I’ll still send money––”

“I don’t care about the money. I care about you––”

I shake my head. “If you cared about me, you’d want me to go. You’d want me to go and enjoy the experience of a lifetime––”

“And I do,” she rushes out. “I do want you to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. With anyone but him.”

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