Page 31 of Forbidden Lyrics

“Hey, Sam!” I greet her.

“What are you doing here? I thought it was your night off.”

“Figured I’d come listen to the band,” I tell her.

Satisfied, she returns, “What can I get you?”

“Just a Coke, please.”

“No rum?”

I shake my head. “I’m good. Thanks!”

“Coming right up.”

The familiar energy transforms from light and carefree to heavy with tension a few moments later, though I have no idea why. But I can feel it. Like some strange sixth sense. One that makes me oh so aware of my surroundings, leaving me itchy and on edge. My spine straightens as I scan the crowded space for the culprit, praying it isn’t the stranger from all those weeks ago. When my gaze lands on Gibbs and his friend Jake going head to head with one of the customers, my breath hitches.

Gibson’s face is red with anger, his jaw tight and his neck muscles more like ropes as his upper lip curls with disgust while he glares at the customer with so much wrath I’m surprised the stranger hasn’t shrunk into a ball or taken off running in the opposite direction. Next to him, Reese covers her mouth, her eyes welling with unshed tears and her entire body trembling with fear. But I can’t hear what’s being said, and it makes me feel helpless.

What’s going on?

My drink forgotten, I squeeze between sweaty bodies and sidle up next to her as the bouncers from the door drag the guy away who’d been in a pissing match with Gibbs and Jake.

“Hey, what’s going on?” I squeak, practically suffocating from all the testosterone in the room.

Reese jumps and clutches her chest. “Where the hell did you come from? I thought you weren’t working today?”

I grimace. “I wasn’t, but my sister was particularly grouchy, so I decided to give her some space and come listen to the band instead of tiptoeing around our apartment all night. I’m glad I did,” I add as I take in her pale complexion. “Is everything okay? You look spooked.”

“That’s my ex.” Her gaze darts to the exit. “He’s been…”

“Stalking her,” Gibbs finishes, his entire frame vibrating with pent-up anger. “He’s been stalking her. But the cops can’t arrest him for showing up in a bar when he hasn’t been served the restraining order yet. Ashton called a minute ago to let them know where Ian is, but other than that, there’s not much we can do right now.”

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he takes it out before giving us his back. He answers it in a hushed voice, leaving me just as clueless––just as lost––as before. I have no idea who’s calling or why I even care. We’re only friends. Heck, I’m not sure if we’re even really friends. More like acquaintances. Which is depressing considering how much space he’s taken up in my thoughts lately. But semantics don’t seem to matter right now, and it takes everything inside of me to stay in place when all I want to do is diffuse the anger radiating from every square inch of his tense frame.

There are more important things right now, though. Like the fact that Reese has a freaking stalker, and I had no idea. She’d mentioned an ex, but this? This is insane.

“What can I do, Reese?” Jake––her roommate and brother’s best friend––begs, looking about as helpless as I feel. “How can I help?”

“I just want to go home,” Reese whispers, rubbing her hands along her bare arms.

My need to protect her and make everything better is so overwhelming that I pull her into a quick hug. “I’ll cover your shift.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she replies, staring at her scuffed sneakers like they’re the most fascinating things in the world. Still numb. Still lost in whatever crappy storm she’s trying to climb out of.

“I want to,” I lie. “Besides, I might as well get paid if I’m here to listen to the band, right? Go and get some rest. It looks like you need it.”

She purses her lips. “Gee, thanks.”

Grateful to see a glimpse of my sarcastic friend instead of the ghost standing in front of me, I laugh lightly, nudging her toward the exit. “Seriously. Go.”

“I’ll take you.” Jake’s arm snakes around her shoulder, and she leans into his touch when a stoic Gibbs disconnects his call and turns to us.

“What’s wrong?” Reese asks, her voice trembling as she takes in his bleak expression.

“River’s outside.”

“River?” she rasps.

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