Page 153 of Forever To Me

“You are,” she interrupts. “You know that, right?” She throws up her hands. “Violet is our family now, Dad. And you just threw her away.”

Maggie exhales. “She’s got a point, Walker.”

I clench my jaw. “I needed to think.”

Mack scoffs. “To think? Or come up with an excuse?”

The words hit harder than I want them to. Because deep down, I know she’s right. I didn’t push Violet away because I needed to think. I pushed her away because I’m scared. Because it’s easier to shove people out before they can leave on their own. Because what if she knew? What if she’s not the person Ithought she was? And worse, what if I let myself believe in something real again, only to have it ripped away?

But Mack isn’t finished.

“You’re mad at the wrong person, Dad.” Her voice cracks. “You’re mad at Stella. Not Violet.”

I swallow hard, my chest twisting.

Maggie nods, arms crossed. “Walker, if you keep this up, you’re going to lose Violet. She stayed at Cami’s last night.”

I don’t answer. Because I don’t know what to say. Because they’re right. Because the anger is still there, boiling under my skin, but the doubt is starting to creep in, too.

And I hate it.

I exhale sharply and pull out my phone, my fingers already dialing before I can stop myself.

Maggie and Mack watch as I put the phone to my ear.

A few rings, then, “Walker?” Will Maren’s voice is groggy, like I just woke him up.

“I need help,” I grit out.

Will sighs. “If this is about the label, I already?—”

“It’s not about that.” I exhale sharply. “It’s about Stella.”

Silence. Then, “Shit.”

“Yeah.”

Another beat of silence. Then Will mutters, “Tell me everything.”

So, I do.

And as I talk, as I lay it all out, something shifts.

Because for the first time, I finally start to see how badly I might have just screwed up.

Chapter 34

Violet

Cami’s ranch is peaceful.

Or at least, itshouldbe. But I am not at peace after what has happened. I can't make sense of any of it.

Of all the bars in all the towns in all the world… how the hell did I end up falling for a man whose ex-wife is the same woman who tried to ruin me?

What kind of twisted, cosmic joke is this from the universe?

The universe had to be bored when it cooked this one up. Like it sat back with a drink, looked at me and Walker, and thought, “Let’s see how much chaos they can handle before they completely break.” Because this? This isn’t just bad luck. This is just plain cruel.

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