Page 155 of Forever To Me

Poppy leans forward. “What exactly did she do to you?”

I let out a slow breath, my chest tight. “She slept with my boyfriend. Took my album. Used me for my talent and then ruined me when she didn’t need me anymore.” I clench my jaw.

Cami leans forward, eyes dark. “When the devil couldn’t reach you, he sent an insecure, self-victimizing ‘friend’ who craved male validation, had no empathy, and used manipulation to take what she wanted. Sounds like she has a pattern with this."

Poppy whistles. “Damn. Say it again, but slower.”

Maggie blinks. “Cami, that was kinda poetic.”

Cami shrugs. “Been holding that one in for a while.”

Maggie snorts. “You’re not wrong, though.”

I stare down at my hands, exhaling. “She took everything from me.”

Cami nudges my knee. “Not everything.You still have us.”

Something sharp wedges itself in my throat.

Maggie reaches over, giving my hand a squeeze. “And I know Walker. He might be lost in his own damn head right now, but he’s not going to let her take anything else from him. And that includes you.”

I wish I could believe that. I wish I could hold onto that certainty, that trust. But right now, I don’t know. And I don’t have the energy to fight for someone who isn’t willing to fight forme back.

I chew my lip, staring at the sky. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I’m not waiting around for him to figure it out.”

Poppy tilts her head. “So, what now?”

I shift in my chair. “I don’t know.”

Cami perks up. “Yes, you do.”

I give her a look. “Oh, do I?”

She grins. “You’re going to perform at the county fair.”

I blink. “Uh?—”

Maggie slaps the table. “The show must go on, honey. Show Walker what he's missing.”

Cami nods. “It’s literally the best way to remind yourself who the hell you are.”

I hesitate.

Mack settles back into her chair with her food and raises a brow. “What? You gonna let Stella win?”

That hits me like a slap. Because no. No, I am not. I square my shoulders. “Fine.”

Poppy beams. “Hell yeah.”

Cami raises her beer. “To Violet, reclaiming her damn career and not letting that viper win.”

Everyone cheers, and I laugh, shaking my head.

I glance out over Cami’s ranch, the pastures stretching wide, the horses grazing under the Wyoming sky, the old red barn that’s stood here longer than any of us have been alive.

This place matters. It’s been in her family for generations.

Now, I can see why Cami is fighting so damn hard to save it. Why we’re doing this fundraiser in the first place. It’s more than just land—it’s history, legacy, and home. And looking at it now, I understand something I hadn’t before.

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