Page 45 of Poison's Promise

Each one a reminder of what we had, what we lost.

The love, the fights, the passion.

All of it wrapped up in a messy package that I can’t seem to let go of.

Maybe this will be worth the risk.

But what if it isn’t?

What if giving him another chance means setting myself up for heartbreak all over again?

The thought weighs heavy on me, making it hard to breathe.

“Okay, enough of this pity party,” I say, straightening up. “Time to focus on the here and now.”

I glance around, taking in the scene.

The tour bus, the distant lights of the city, the comforting sounds of the night.

It’s grounding, bringing me back to reality.

With a final deep breath, I push off the bus and start walking.

Each step feels like shedding a layer of uncertainty, moving toward clarity.

It’s not much, but it’s a start.

As I walk back toward the tour bus, I can’t help but glance at my phone one last time.

The screen is dark, but the memories are still there, etched into my mind.

“Whatever happens, I’ll handle it,” I say, determination filling my voice. “I always do.”

And with that, I step back onto the bus, ready to face whatever life throws me next.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Asher

I step onto Sydney’s tour bus, the warm, dim lights casting a cozy glow over the plush seats and scattered music sheets.

The hum of the engine underneath us provides a comforting background noise.

Sydney is already sprawled out on one of the couches, her guitar resting against her legs.

She looks up when I enter, a smile playing on her lips.

“Finally decided to join me, huh?” she teases, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Had to make sure you weren’t planning any crazy pop tunes without me,” I shoot back, dropping into the seat opposite her.

“Pop tunes? As if I’d let that happen,” she laughs, running a hand through her long, dark hair. “So, what kind of songs are we thinking?”

“Well,” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, “we could do love songs. Something raw and real.”

“Of course you’d suggest love songs,” she smirks, but her expression softens. “What kind of love songs, though? What’s the story?”

“Maybe about a couple drawn together but life keeps pulling them apart,” I say, watching for her reaction.

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