Page 125 of Forbidden Lyrics

Gibson: Pretty sure it does, Em. Or should I call you Maddie?

I gasp and cover my mouth, my entire body feeling like a bottle of shaken soda that could explode at any second.

What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On?

Blinking back tears, I reread the first batch of texts another time, convinced this is some sick, twisted joke from Fen to get back at me for screwing up the concert. But he can’t make this shit up. Which means…

No.

It’s not possible.

Madelyn can’t be Em.

My sister can’t be Em.

I choke on the lump in my throat and try to concentrate on reading the rest of the screenshots that Fen sent from Gibson’s phone, though it feels like dripping acid into my eyes. Like I’ll never be able to erase the damage caused by a few simple screenshots, no matter how damning they are.

Em: You shouldn’t call me anything. I changed my number for a reason.

Gibson: And yet, here you are. Texting me. What other lies are you hiding from your sister?

My heart cracks as I skip ahead in the conversation. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

Em: Don’t tell Dove, either.

Em: Please.

Gibson: I won’t.

A sob escapes me, and I drop my hand to my side.

They lied to me.

They both lied to me.

The room starts to spin until I’m so dizzy that I think I might puke. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to register the weight of their conversation, but it feels impossible.

This can’t be real.

There’s no way.

But no matter how hard it is to face the truth, the reality is pretty damn simple.

Gibson was sleeping with my older sister before we met. And he knew about it. But he didn’t bother to tell me. In fact, he actively kept it a secret, turning me into the fool I was terrified I’d become if I fell for him. And I did fall. Hard. The betrayal hits me like a ton of bricks before another wave of reality piles on top of it. My sister is pregnant. And if she holds this much contempt for Gibson, there’s a big possibility that the father of my unborn niece or nephew could very well be the love of my life.

Shit!

Chapter Thirty-One

Gibson

Meanwhile…

The bedroom door slams against the wall as I shove it open with all of my strength.

Where the hell is he?

My chest heaves from exertion and absolute rage before my attention lands on Fender passed out on an oversized bed with a needle in his arm.

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