Page 162 of Forever To Me

Stella’s mouth parts before her lips press into a thin line.

Mack doesn’t blink. “He has done everything for me.” She takes another step forward, her voice turning sharp, deliberate, unwavering. “You? You have done nothing.”

The silence that follows is so thick it's alarming. My stomach clenches because this is getting serious fast.

Stella shifts and swallows, but she has nothing to say for the first time in her life. This is a narrative she can't control or put a spin on.

I take a slow, measured step forward, my eyes locked on Stella’s. “She has said her piece.” My voice is low, firm, and final. “Now, here’s mine.”

She looks up at me, something tight in her expression like she knows what’s coming next.

“You need to leave.” I take another step, voice turning to gravel and steel. “Not just my bar.” Another. “But this town.”

I tilt my head, my eyes dark, and I say it slowly. “Never come back.”

Silence.

Stella swallows, her jaw tightening. For a second, I think she might try to argue.

But then? She does the only thing she’s ever been good at.

She turns. And she walks out the door.

The second it swings shut behind her, Mack takes a deep breath, shaking her arms like she just fought a war.

I turn to her, my throat tight, my heart swelling with something I can’t even put into words. I step forward. “Honey.”

She meets my eyes, and then she’s in my arms before I can even say another word.

And for the first time in days, I feel like I can breathe again. I'm her safe space. Nothing will ever change that.

Chapter 36

Violet

Istare at my reflection in the mirror, watching as Poppy curls a perfect strand of my hair and then lets it bounce free.

“You’re gonna look so hot,” she announces, squinting at my hair like she’s sculpting a masterpiece.

In the nail chair beside me, Cami tosses a handful of peanut M&Ms into her mouth. “Yeah, and then you’re gonna get up on that stage, blow everyone’s minds, and make Walker realize what an absolute dumbass he is.”

Maggie sighs, lifting her sweet tea dramatically. “Beautiful."

I huff out a breath, trying to feel excited. I should be nervous. I should have butterflies, the same kind that nearly ate me alive before the performance at The Black Dog. But I’m not nervous.

I’m depressed.

God, this is worse than nerves. At least when I was anxious, I could work through it. But this? This weight sitting heavy in my chest? This ache? This is missing Walker so bad I can’t even stand it.

“You know,” I say, my voice too dry, “I don’t think ‘hot’ is really the goal tonight.”

Poppy raises a brow, twirling another section of my hair. “No?”

I sigh. “The goal is to raise money for Cami’s ranch, not seduce the entire town of Bridger Falls.”

Poppy smirks. “But why not both?”

Cami nods solemnly. “Exactly. Multi-tasking, babe.”

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