Page 143 of Forbidden Lyrics

“You okay?” I ask.

“Fine. Braxton Hicks are a bitch.” Knock. Knock. “You should talk to him, Dove.”

“I’ll handle it,” I mutter.

Thump. Thump.

“Like…today?” she asks. “‘Cause I’m pretty sure he might break down the door––”

His loud knock shakes the pictures on the walls.

She waves her hand toward the rattled frames. “Case in point. Besides, if you want me to hold up my end of the deal, you need to hold up yours, remember?”

“I’ll handle it,” I repeat, forcing myself to my feet.

Chewing on my lower lip, I shift toward the door before opening it a few inches and peeking through the crack.

There he is. The man who’s been haunting me since I first laid eyes on him. The one who managed to get under my skin with a single smirk and hasn’t bothered to let me go ever since. The one who insisted he’s the bard and turned me into a fool. And now that we’re face to face, I’m not sure I can hold up my end of the bargain with Maddie. I’m not sure I can put his past aside and focus on our future. Because I have no idea what kind of future we can have or if he even still wants one with me.

I stay quiet and stare at him, waiting for him to say something that can put our relationship back together again, but I have no idea what would do the trick. Not when his potential baby is in my sister’s stomach.

When our gazes connect, he breathes out, “Dovey.” Like my name is a prayer. A plea. His eyes are bloodshot, and he looks exhausted, yet the combination only makes him look more appealing. As if I could be the one to fix the bags under his eyes or the frown etched into his handsome features.

I swallow thickly, tuck my hair behind my ear, and drop my gaze to the ground. “How’s Fen?”

A puff of air leaves his lungs, and he shrugs one shoulder. “I dunno. Okay, I guess. My dad came to the hospital.”

Shocked, I look back up at him.

“Yeah,” he mutters, reading my mind. “It went okay. He stepped in. Stepped up.”

“That’s good, Gibbs.”

“Yeah. He, uh.” Gibson squeezes the back of his neck. “He’s gonna help Fen check into a rehab place.”

“That’s good,” I repeat, my voice nothing but a whisper.

He nods, though I can still see his reservations. His fear from almost losing his brother. His need to make everything better despite it being out of his control. His hesitation to talk to me or let me in again after I abandoned him to deal with everything on his own. My arms itch to reach out and hold him, but I fold them across my chest instead.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come,” I whisper.

“It’s not your fault.”

It is, but I don’t argue with him. I pull my lips into a thin line and wait. For him to say something. For us to make up, though I have no idea how. For things to go back to the way they were, even when I know it’s impossible.

I don’t know what he expects me to say. I don’t know what he expects me to do. I feel lost. Helpless. And so damn broken without him that I’m not sure I’ll survive this conversation.

“Can I… Can I come in?” he asks, looking down at me through his dark lashes that any woman would kill for.

“My sister’s inside.”

“I need to talk to her too.”

Of course, he does.

I sniff but step aside and let him in.

“Thanks,” he murmurs as he passes me, but he stops at the entryway, unsure what to do or where to go.

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