Page 59 of One More Song

Raw. Filled with hope. A tenderness I have never heard in other songs by Absinthe.

When I hear the lyrics, though, tears flood my face.

Her smile is a sequence of notes, a sound.

Her laugh is a musical phrase, I’m found.

She’s a rhythm, a swing, a beat.

Her face lights up a room and I take a seat.

I could sit here all day, watchin’ her grow.

Cadence is a girl I’m glad I know.

Don’t ever change, little one, time goes fast.

So hold your mama’s hand, let this moment last.

I wipe my eyes, my emotions so clearly revealed. “Here, lass,” Dusky says, handing me a tissue.

“Thanks.” I wipe my eyes.

“I see the way ye look at him.”

I sigh. “He’s Asher Stone. I’m sure you’ve seen a million girls look at him the same way.”

“Nah.” He smirks. “They think they’re in love with us. But what they really want is to say they’ve fuc—” He coughs and glances toward where Cadence is now hanging off Saint’s arm. “That they’ve slept with a rock star. But ye...ye really care about him.”

“Yeah, I do.”

He nods. “I wish I could give ye some advice. But I’m shite when it comes to love stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. You’re all leaving. And I knew this was only temporary. At least I had the moments I did.”

“That may be the saddest fucking thing I’ve ever heard.”

Yeah. It is.

But it’s the truth.

I wouldn’t trade my time with Ash for anything.

Plus, in a way, he saved me - in more than one way.

My heart had become numb before he came here. My only love was Cadence. I’d forgotten to love myself.

And I’d fallen in love with him.

Something I’d believed I’d never do again.

It’s bittersweet in a way.

I just need to see him one last time, tell him how I really feel. I know it probably won’t change anything, but before he leaves, I need to feel his arms around me one more time, his lips against mine, and tell him...I love you.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ash

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