Page 17 of Forbidden Lyrics

After setting my purse on the Formica countertop in the kitchen, my shoulders hunch from exhaustion. “Maddie––”

“No. Listen. For me, you need to stay away from him. Okay? I know we’re not close and that you don’t give a shit how I feel––”

“Excuse me?” I breathe, feeling like I’ve been slapped. “You can’t be serious right now.”

Her expression falls. “That’s not what I meant––”

“Bull crap. I moved here to be with you. I moved here because I care about you. I cut off our parents to help take care of you. Remember?”

“I never asked you to––”

“Of course, you didn’t. Heaven forbid you admit that you screwed up and need someone’s help. Am I right?”

Her hand shakes as she presses it against her mouth. But she stays quiet. Because she knows I’m right, no matter how much she hates me for voicing it out loud. She screwed up and slept with a jerk who got her pregnant and refused to step up and help her raise the kid. So it’s left to me. The perfect little sister whom she despises.

“I’m going to bed,” I grumble, my anger transforming into defeat in the blink of an eye. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

As I walk down the hall, her quiet voice stops me. “Stay away from him, Dove. He’ll break you.”

I resume walking and close the door behind me.

Chapter Five

Dove

Checking the time on my phone, I read 5:23 pm and rush to the restroom to use it as quickly as I can. The sooner I can get out to the curb, the sooner I can be at ease. After Maddie’s warning the night before, we’ve been ignoring each other. Not that it’s really anything out of the ordinary, but I’m not about to poke the pregnant bear again.

However, it hasn’t stopped me from being on edge all day. I’ve been cursing myself for not having asked Gibbs for his phone number. If I had it, I could tell him not to bother coming. Not because I actually believe Maddie’s lie, but because I don’t want a confrontation.

And if I’m out on the curb, I’ll be able to prevent Gibbs from coming to the door, which might even prevent the subsequent fallout if Mads ever meets her friend’s ex face-to-face.

But nope. I had to pee.

Stupid bladder.

As I turn off the faucet, a knock at the front door makes my anxiety spike, my attention darting to the time on my phone. He’s early.

“I got it,” I yell, wrenching open the bathroom door. But it’s too late. Madelyn is as pale as a sheet with her shoulder pressed against the door’s jamb. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s the only thing keeping her up.

“Hey!” I rush toward them, trying to keep my pace from appearing frantic, even though I’m seconds from having a panic attack as I wrench my purse from the counter and hook it over my shoulder.

“Sorry. I was finishing up with something. Gibbs, I see you’ve met my sister, Maddie. Maddie, this is my coworker, Gibbs.”

Swaying slightly on her feet, Maddie keeps staring at Gibson like he’s a ghost. In fact, I’m not even sure whether or not she heard a single word of my introduction.

“Mads?” I prod.

“Nice to meet you,” she breathes out, her voice nothing but a whisper.

Gibson’s hardened gaze bounces from Maddie, to me, and back again. The cords in his neck are tight, and his jaw looks like it’s been chiseled from granite. But he doesn’t say a word, which makes him look like a total jerk and leaves me more confused than ever.

What in the world is going on?

“Is something wrong?” I ask, my heart pounding.

Gibson’s fists tighten at his sides as he grits out, “I’ll meet you at the car.” Then he turns on his heel and disappears down the hall without bothering to see if I’ll follow.

Once he’s out of sight, I glare at Mads. “What did you say to him?”

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