Page 87 of Places I've Never Been

I was wrong.

I should have talked about it with all of you first.

I should have done a lot of things.

I was a selfish bitch.

If I could take it back I would.

How can I make it up to you?

Please tell me how to fix this.

I miss you. So much.

She stared at the texts,absorbing the pain and admission of guilt from her little sister. Tears filled her eyes and spilled downher cheeks.

She tapped out a response.Miss you too Dell Bell.

Three dots appeared to indicate Della was responding.

Are we okay?

Can we talk?

Mattie sighed and tapped out a reply.Not now. Heading to work.

Mattie pictured the three of them back on stage together. It was easy to do. She’d spent a good portion of her life living that way, and she knew the sounds, the smells, and the emotions that bounced from the crowd, to them, and back again.

Most of all, she knew the way music caressed the souls of everyone in the room. The way it lifted hearts and minds. The way it connected them all so tightly that the buzz lasted for hours after.

Longing for what used to be poked at her, hard.

The problem was, she knew even if they did get back together, it wouldn’t be the same. They were different now. Older. They’d navigated years apart. They weren’t the tight unit they used to be, and she didn’t think they ever would be again, even if they tried.

Della sent,Mattie? Still there?

Some conversations needed to happen face-to-face, and this was one of them.Will talk later. Promise.

She flicked to Piper’s message and read it.Hey, have you seen this?

The link Piper sent directed Mattie toLA POP, one of the seedier celebrity gossip websites. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach when she saw the grainy photo of her shaking hands with Adam at the band’s studio.

The headline read,Bellamy Babe Banished?

Mattie quickly scrolled past the photo to read the article.

Adam Brooks was last seen in the company of Mattie Bellamy, well known for her ability to snare men in her web, andnow both have vanished without a trace. Are they together? Perhaps on some island retreat where anything goes? Or has she ensnared him somewhere closer to home? You’ll know when we do!

Her gaze fixated on the words “island retreat.”LA POPwould say anything to get clicks, but the fact that it was true left her feeling cold and unsure.

“Assholes,” she muttered out loud, then texted the same to Piper for good measure.

Seconds later, a video call from Piper chimed. She accepted it, then propped the phone on the lamp. Piper was in bed but didn’t look like she’d been sleeping.

“Hey, Pipsqueak.” Mattie frowned. “What time is it there?”

“Ten at night.” Piper set the phone down on something, then lay back against her pillows. “I was about to call you. Wanted to make sure you saw the text.”

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