Page 156 of Forever To Me

This isn’t just about me. It’s about fighting for the things that matter. And I’ll be damned if I let Stella take anything from anyone I love ever again.

Mack stretches out, then sighs dramatically. “Is this a good time to confess my sins?”

Maggie eyes her warily. “What did you do now?”

Mack winces. “So… I may have taken a video of you and Dad singing at the bar before all hell broke loose.”

Maggie groans. “Makayla Leigh Walker, I am too old for this nonsense.”

Mack holds up her hands. “In my defense, I was proud of you guys! It’s not every day you have famous parents!”

I freeze. She’s not talking about Stella. She’s talking about me. And her referring to me like that melts my heart.

Poppy whistles as she scrolls through her phone. “Damn. This thing went VIRAL viral.”

Cami shakes her head, grinning as she leans over and looks. “Like, actual internet-breaking viral.”

Maggie fans herself. “Lord, Walker is going to lose his damn mind.”

"I mean, he kind of already has, so what's one more thing, right?" Poppy asks as she scrolls through the comments. There are thousands.

Holy shit. I blink at Mack, who now holds onto the rocking chair for dear life.

“So, your dad doesn't know about this?” I ask, my voice wavering with nervousness.

Mack stares at me, completely deadpan. “No.”

I tilt my head. “He will soon.”

Mack swallows. “And I’m going to be grounded for life.”

Cami laughs. “I give you one to two business days of freedom, tops.”

Poppy nudges her. “Say your goodbyes now, Mack.”

I exhale. “I should be panicking.”

Cami grins. “But you’re not.”

I shake my head.I know I shouldn’t watch it. But the secondCami shoves her phone in front of my face, I watch it anyway. And damn it, I’m wrecked all over again.

The video starts with me and Walker on stage atThe Black Dog, sitting knee to knee, his guitar balanced on his thigh, my fingers strumming mine, and our mouths at the mic. The lighting is low, warm, golden, the kind that makes everything look softer, dreamier. Like something out of a movie.

Then, I hearhis voice.That deep, rich, slightly rough tone that melts my insides like butter on a hot biscuit. My throat tightens as I watch.Because it’s not just the way he sings.It’s the way he watches me.

The slow, focused way his whiskey-colored eyes track my every move, the almost imperceptible hitch of his breath when I hit a high note, the way his fingers tighten just a little on the guitar when I lean in.

He’s looking at me like I’m the only thing that exists.Like I’m something precious. Like he’s completely, utterly gone for me.And it hurts.

Because right now? Things are broken between us. And I don't know if we can ever be like that again.

He’s holed up in his damn cabin, working through his issues, while I’m out here trying to pretend like my heart isn’t currently being drop-kicked.

I swallow, forcing down the lump in my throat. "Mack, this is a great video."

“Wow,” Poppy mutters, still staring at the screen. “This is obscene.”

Cami whistles, fanning herself. “I mean… damn, Violet. Watching it in person was just as hot for the record. But that's a great video. I can see why it went viral."

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