Page 163 of Forever To Me

Maggie pats my shoulder, smiling. “They’re right, sweetheart. You deserve to shine tonight.”

I wish I felt like I deserved it. But the only thing I feel is exhausted. I’m about to perform in front of the entire damn county, and the only thing I can think about is how Walker isn’t going to be there.

I’m singing a few of my own songs, then one final one… The one we wrote together.

If I can even get through it.

Just thinking about it pricks tears in my eyes, so I blink hard, willing them away. No crying. Not today.

Mack perches in the salon chair beside me, swipes a grape lollipop across her tongue, and kicks her feet onto a footstool like she’s watching a live drama unfold. “You know, you might wanna get it together before you hit the stage, Violet. You're like a sad panda.”

I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “I’m perfectly together.”

Mack deadpans. “You just sighed so hard it altered the air pressure in the room.”

Poppy laughs.

Cami hums. “Yeah, and you keep looking at yourself like you just got dumped before prom.”

I glare. “I did not get dumped.”

Maggie sips her sweet tea. “So, you’re saying there’s still hope?”

I open my mouth and then shut it again. Because I don’t know. Because Walker and I haven’t spoken since everything happened. Because maybe I was dumped. I just didn’t get the official text message.

Mack senses my spiral and pops her lollipop out of her mouth with a dramatic smack. “Alright, sad girl, let me distract you with some piping hot tea.”

Poppy lifts a brow. “Oh?”

Mack grins. “Stella came to the bar.”

Silence. Then, collectively, all of us turn to stare at her.

“She what?” Cami says, nearly choking on her M&Ms.

Maggie presses a hand to her chest like she needs a second to prepare for this emotional burden. “Oh, Lord. What did she want?”

Mack grins, licking her lollipop again like this is the greatest story she’s ever told. “She told my dad that she saw the video and then said she wanted to talk to me.”

I stiffen, feeling protective. “Mack…”

Mack waves me off. “Don’t worry. I handled it.”

Cami leans forward. “Define handled it.”

Mack shrugs. “I told her she’s a DNA donor, andthat she needs to crawl back to wherever she came from.”

Silence. Poppy cacklesso loud that I jump.

Maggie gasps, then clutches Mack’s face in her hands like she’s just witnessed a miracle. “Sugar, you didnot.”

Cami throws a fist in the air. “MVP. MVP.”

I choke out a laugh, shaking my head. “I'm glad you told her how you feel.”

Mack beams. “Oh, I wasn’t done.”

Poppy leans forward in herchair. “Oh my God, there’s more?”

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