Page 25 of Forever and Ever

Interesting.

“That’s fine, I’ll sort it out.”

“You could stay with my brother maybe?” she offers.

“And interrupt the Sebastian and Cassie love fest?” I laugh. “No thanks. I’m sure I can find a temporary rental in the city.”

“A rental for what?” Noah slides up beside me with a confused look on his face.

Crud, another thing I didn’t think about. Four months in Denver also means there’s no avoiding Noah for the time being, something I think both of us were looking forward to.

We might be friends, but things have gotten awkward more than once on this tour. And avoiding the conversation he wants to have with me is becoming more and more difficult.

“Merry’s coming to Denver,” Eloise says. “Adrian’s going to help her record her demo when the studio is free, so she’s looking for a place to stay. Sebastian and I still have so much writing to do on the album, the studio will be empty a lot.”

Noah looks at me with a raised eyebrow. He’s the one I’d expect to show some kind of excitement, but he’s the exact opposite. Cold, closed off, stoic.

“Congratulations,” he says, but it’s forced.

I try not to be hurt by the fact that Noah doesn’t seem to give a crap that I’m finally going to pursue my dreams and turn back to Adrian. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be there. I’ll get a car—drive out at whatever hours you need me to. I’ll make it happen.”

Adrian gives me a cool nod.

“I’m out of here,” I say, feeling Noah’s icy chill beside me. I avoid his gaze and slip away before he can say anything else to crush my mood, weaving through the crowd to the door.

This is what I’ve been waiting for—my opportunity. So why did it feel instantly less the second Noah got that look on his face?

Dipping out of the hotel room, I’m relieved the hallway is quiet. I feel like I can finally breathe again from the jolt of excitement that just rushed through my body. I’m not generally comfortable baring my feelings, but I couldn’t help the rush of energy that shot through me when Adrian handed me this opportunity.

I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to my sister, Monica, letting her know we need to chat about my post-tour plans, before taking a deep breath.

In my head, I’m already sorting through my notebooks trying to decide which songs will be the best fit. What order they need to go in to tell the story I want them to. I’m rearranging the lyrics to fit my mood and decide what will best reflect me.

The words I’ve written will finally be making their way off the page.

“Merry.”

I jump, realizing I was zoned out with my eyes closed. Noah’s standing right in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest and his hands tucked in his armpits. That cold blue gaze of his burrowing straight into me.

“Noah,” I say, still annoyed that he couldn’t even muster a half-hearted congratulations at my news.

“So, you’re coming to Denver?”

I nod. “Guess so.”

He really doesn’t look thrilled at that statement, so I’m probably right that he was looking forward to four months away from me.

“And you need a place to stay?”

My gut suddenly gets that sinking feeling. I know what he’s about to say. And I know him well enough to tell by the look in his eyes that it’s going to pain him to say it.

“I’ll find something quick. Denver’s a big place.” I try to brush off where this is going.

“It’s an hour’s drive to Adrian’s place from the city.”

He’s not wrong. The band lives well outside of the city center. They wanted land, space, privacy. And that means the commute won’t be the most convenient.

“And fall will be here before you know it,” he says. “Then snow.”

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