Page 192 of Perfect Pitch

“That might be never.”

“I left for a reason, Charlie. I paid an enormous price for love.”

“There is never too great a price to pay for love.”

Sadly, I meet his bright blue eyes. “Isn’t there?”

He challenges me. “So, what are you going to do, Austyn. Move forward with nothing? Let no one and nothing touch you?”

“Sometimes moving forward with nothing is better than standing still amid lies. After all, look what happened when I did open my heart.”

“There are things you don’t know,” he begins.

“I can only handle so much, Charlie,” I warn him. “He pushed me to the brink.”

“And you think that knowing this, knowing he loves you...”

“He doesn’t love me!” I shriek shrilly.

“How can you say that, Beats?” Comes the voice I would have given my soul for two months ago. Mitch stands in the entranceway with a suitcase at his feet.

“Everything work out okay?” Charlie asks.

“Uncomfortable, but we muddled through it.” Mitch’s eyes don’t move when he speaks to Charlie. His face is pleading with mine, devastated.

Apologetic.

Somehow, someway, he knows.

It’s all too much.

Seeing him standing there reminds me that the belief in his proclamations of love made me run, thereby losing the last tie I had to us. Without faltering, I stand and cross into the bedroom, close the door, and promptly burst into tears.

* * *

CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR

Beckett Miller and Dr. Paige Kensington were spotted getting out of an SUV at Miller’s home in New York City.

The mega star had his arm wrapped around the woman he openly declared his girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of DJ Kensington.

—@PRyanPOfficial

The sun is setting in the living room when the door to Austyn’s room creaks open. I turn from where I’ve been watching the sun lower behind the Appalachians. Wearing a pair of slouchy black cargo pants, a black T-shirt, and a black overshirt, I can’t help but remark, “You look like you’re about to try your hand at B&E.”

Her expression shows a hint of guilt for just a moment before it smooths into a blank mask. “Where’s Charlie?”

“Out. Said he needed to make a call. Why?”

“I need to go somewhere.”

“I can go get whatever...”

“You can’t,” she snaps. Then Austyn takes a stabilizing breath before she explains, “You can’t get it for me. It’s somewhere I have to go.”

“Dressed like a cat burglar?”

“If you don’t want to take me, I’ll go alone.”

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