Page 61 of Forbidden Lyrics

Em: What I need is for you to stay away from Dove.

Me: That’s not gonna happen.

Em: Why the hell not?

Me: Because we’re friends, and she doesn’t deserve to pay for our shit by losing a friend or an opportunity like touring with Broken Vows.

Em: What the hell are you talking about?

Me: You should ask Dove that question. Why don’t you ever talk to her? She says you’re not close.

Em: That’s none of your business.

So why does it feel like it is?

Me: Fine.

Em: Fine.

Me: Don’t forget to tell Milo.

I hit send with a little more force than necessary before shoving my phone into my pocket.

This is bullshit.

Chapter Sixteen

Dove

“I’m calling for an update,” I say as soon as the call goes through. I’ve been putting off calling Reese for days, thanks to my own insecurities and anxiety, but I miss her. And even though a tiny voice inside of me is yelling that I’m a clingy burden of a friend, if I want to maintain connections, I need to cultivate them instead of expecting the other person to do the heavy lifting all of the time.

Greaaat. I’m starting to sound like a freaking self-help book.

Stupid insecurities.

It’s been a long twenty-four hours since the band meeting, and I feel as lost as ever. My attention slides toward my closed bedroom door as I lay on my bed, guilt gnawing at my lower gut. I could always try talking to Madelyn about my little predicament, but she isn’t exactly unbiased. The girl loathes Gibson like he’s the Devil himself, which only makes me more curious about what the heck happened between him and Em.

Then again, maybe I don’t want to know. Seeing him flirt with random girls at work is rough enough. I don’t need my sister to air out all of his dirty laundry about a bad breakup with her friend.

No, thank you.

Besides, she’s been acting weird ever since yesterday. She won’t talk to me. Won’t look at me. It’s like I don’t even exist. And it hurts. Which is why I’m calling Reese. I’d give anything to talk to someone who actually values me.

I can hear the smile in Reese’s voice as she returns, “Hey, Dove. River’s doing good. He has all the nurses wrapped around his finger and is healing well. It’s hard and slow, and he definitely still has a long way to go, but he’s really good.”

“And you two? Are you two good?” I prod.

She sighs wistfully. “We’re great. It’s weird that it feels so right.” Her laugh rings through the speaker. “And it’s weird that I just said that. But they aren’t kidding. When you know, you know.”

“See? I told ya he’d be worth it,” I remind her. When she opened up about her secret relationship with River, I told her to jump in with two feet and that everything would work out. And by some miracle, I was right.

“Har, har. How are things with you?” Reese asks. “Gibson mentioned that you two have been hanging out a little bit.”

“Maybe.”

“And?”

“And nothing. We’re friends. Or at least that’s what he tells me.”

---