Page 148 of Forever To Me

“Oh, don’t look so threatened, Vi.” She tuts, crossing her arms. “Youdoremember how this goes, right? I take what I want.” She shrugs, her eyes gleaming. “And I always get what I want. But it’s cute you thought you could win.”

The room tilts. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. And suddenly, I don’t know if I can handle what happens next.

I’m still catching my breath, still floating in the electric charge of whatever we just created, when I feel it—the shift.

Not in me. Inhim.

Walker stiffens beside me, his body rigid, his easy, breath-stealing smile long-vanished like a candle snuffed out in the wind. His jaw tightens, his hands flex at his sides like he’sbracingfor something.

My stomach twists.

No.

The air leaves my lungs in a single, brutal punch.

Mack. This is Mack’smother.

Funny in all the years I knew her, she never mentioned being someone’s wife or mother. Never thought that was an important part of her.

Suddenly I can't think of anything but Mack and what she must be thinking right now. I know how badly her mother not being around has affected her, and now, for her to drop in like this and especially to be so horrible? She's got to be so upset right now. I quickly scan the crowd and see Maggie with her arm protectively around Mack as they watch all this unfold in horror.

My pulse pounds in my ears. I look at Walker, at the tension coiled so tightly in his frame, at the way his throat bobs like he’sswallowing back something ugly, somethingpainful. Somethingfamiliar.

And I know that pain. Because she did it to me, too. And now I'm fucking pissed that she was the one that did it to them. The one whobroke him.It’sher.OhGod.

I take a half-step back, my legs suddenly weak beneath me, the weight of this realization crushing the breath from my lungs. It hits me like a punch to the face.

Walkerwas marriedto Stella.

Stella, the woman who stole my music, my dreams,my future. The person who used me, took everything I ever confided in her, and ran straight for the spotlight with my songs in her damn hands.

And all this time? I had no idea. Did he know?

I whip my head toward him, my chest tight, my voice barely above a whisper. “Walker.”

His jaw ticks. His fists clench. He’sshaking. And that’s my answer, isn’t it?

He didn’t know. Just like I didn’t.

Oh,hell.

I can feel the weight of the bar pressing around us. People are still talking, still drinking, stillcelebratingthe moment we just had. The moment that now feels like a cruel joke, like something sharp waiting to slice me open.

I stare at him, trying to find words, trying tobreathe.

He turns to me then, finally, and the look in his eyes is like a blade to my ribs. Like he’s just as wrecked as I am. Like he’s wondering the same damn thing.

IfIknew.

The realization slams into me like a freight train. Does he think Iknew? That I knew he was Stella’s ex-husband? That Iletthis happen, let him fall into something real with me while I was carrying this secret?

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head, the words catching in my throat. “Walker, I didn’t—IswearI didn’t?—”

“Violet.” His voice is low and raw, his shoulders rigid. He exhales sharply, like he’s trying tocontainwhatever he’s feeling. And right now, anger radiates off of him. Like he’s barely hanging on.

I don’t get the chance to say anything else.

Because Walker is already on his feet, as he takes Stella by the arm and pulls her toward the door. He doesn’t speak.But I know this is far from over with Stella. She doesn’t leave anywhere withoutwrecking everything.

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