Page 7 of Forever More

That I was the one he wanted.

Silly pipe dreams for a girl like me to think a guy like him would want me any time other than when he’d been drinking.

“Annes. Don’t be mad. I promise I’ll make it up to you. You know I’m good for it.”

“It’s fine. We’re fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

“You’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re leaving for Europe at the end of the week, and I’m in Chicago. We’ll just have to do a rain check.” I try to sell the lie that I’m not hurt.

I don’t think I do.

“I’m sorry, Annie. You know I don’t say those words unless I mean them.”

My smile is forced, and I hope it reflects in my voice. “I know. Apology accepted.”

“So you’ll come visit me on tour in Europe then, right?”

“You’re distracted,” Lyric says and squeezes my hand, shaking me from my thoughts.

“Just thinking about that time I visited you on tour in Europe.”

His smile is half-cocked as he remembers too. The constant travel. The constant partying. The women who would beg, borrow, or steal to get a few minutes alone with him.

“We had fun, didn’t we?”

And we did. We stayed up talking long after the show was over. We explored ancient cities and ate food we couldn’t pronounce.

We grew closer in those five days. Closer and yet we never crossed the line past friendship.

I yearned for it. I willed it to happen. And then I walked away from him in the airport in Rome, with the heat of his gaze on my back, and mourned and grieved for what I knew would never be.

I was his little sister in a sense. And he was the big brother who was looking out for me.

At least I’ve tried to sell myself that lie for the past three years. The problem is every time he calls or I see him, I still get that flutter in my belly. I still close my eyes when we hang up or part ways and sigh. I still kind of love him.

“We did have fun.” I give a slight smile as I take a sip of my margarita, my thoughts from earlier returning. “And what about you and Cassandra? I’m seeing reports—”

“Nothing there. Just friends. We went for drinks so I could introduce her to Kieran. That’s it.” He shoves my shoulder playfully. “Is that what this is about?”

“Is that what, what’s about?”

“You’re being weird tonight.” He chuckles and dips a chip into the salsa. “I assure you, if there was someone in my life, you’d be the first to know.”

And I’m not sure if I’m relieved by that statement or upset.

Maybe a bit of both.

Then again, maybe if I have a few more drinks, I’ll build up the courage to let Lyric know how I feel about him.

Maybe.

FOUR

Lyric

“It has a little balcony too?” I glance over my shoulder to where Annie stands inside her apartment and raise my eyebrows. The pride reflected in her expression is everything. “I’m impressed and a bit jealous.”