Page 136 of Forever To Me

For a second, he doesn’t say anything. Then his lips twitch. “I’ll help you,” he murmurs. “But only if you promise me that you won't let this horrible person ruin your career. You don't want some of the regrets that I have."

"You have regrets, Asher?" I ask softly.

He nods, "I do. I left like you did and never got to see how far I could have taken my career. Yeah, I did good here, and I have a good life. But I backed down to the bullies. What if you didn't? What if I helped you?"

"I might need a paper bag to breathe into," I admit. "This isalot."

He smirks, leaning against the railing, watching me. “You’re gonna be fine, Red.”

Something in his voice settles me.

Maybe I really can do this. Maybe I can face my fear. And maybe… just maybe…

Having Walker by my side makes it feel a little less terrifying.

I shouldn’t be this turned on over a damn guitar lesson.

And yet, here I am.

Sitting this close to Walker in his cabin, hands grazing, bodies angled toward each other like we’re about to do something much filthier than write a song. I wish we were, honestly.

He strums, slow and easy, watching me like he’s daring me to break first.

I probably will. Because holy shit, this man ishot.

“I don’t know what songs to play,” I admit, shifting on the couch.

Walker lifts an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

I exhale, frustrated. “Well, I had a brand-new album ready. So many songs. And they’regonenow. Well, technically they’re out in the world. But they aren’t mine anymore. They’re stolen.”

His eyes darken as he hears me.

I let out a dry laugh. “I guess I could just sing covers.”

Walker shakes his head. “Nah. That’s not you.”

I scoff and tease him. “Oh, andyouknow what’s me?”

His eyes flick to mine, unreadable. “I have a few you could sing,” he murmurs.

I blink. “What?”

He shrugs, setting his guitar aside. “Songs I’ve written. Stuff I never sold. Just sitting in my notebooks, gathering dust.”

I swallow hard. “You’d let me sing one of your songs?”

Walker tilts his head. “Or we could write one together.”

I stare at him, heart hammering. “You—you’d write a song with me?”

Walker smirks. “You sound surprised.”

I am. Because this is his world. This is the part of himself he’s kept locked away from everyone. And now he’s just… offering it to me?

And I’m no dummy, I’m going to take it. I’m going to learn from thebest.I know what he’s offering me here, and it’s a once in a lifetime chance to learn songwriting and performing from alegend. But doing all of this with the man I love? That feels pretty damn great, too.

Not even sure how I got this lucky. It’s not that he’s Asher Wyatt Walker, country superstar. It’s also that he’s the most incredible human being, and he’s mine. Writing a song together feels more intimate than sex somehow.

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