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"Go on," he rumbles, gently nudging me. "We can talk later."

Maybe we can, but that's not good enough for me. Not anymore. He deserves to hear the truth. And I deserve to say it.

"I love you too," I whisper fiercely, throwing my arms around him. "I love you so damn much, Bishop Hardy."

He inhales a shaky breath, as if I just gave him the entire world with that simple truth. "Callie," he whispers. "Jesus, Callie."

I let him go, hurrying toward the stage.

Chapter Eleven

Bishop

With Callie on the stage, her fierce confession still ringing in my ears, I'm at peace with my decision all the way to my fucking bones. She belongs up there…and I belong right here, watching her charm the whole crowd.

I don't take my eyes off her all night. I can't. She's a goddess up there, happier than I think she's ever been. I don't think she even notices when the record exec slips into the bar fifteen minutes into her show. She certainly wasn't expecting him. But she has him eating out of her hand in seconds.

By the time she's finished, I know she's got her record deal. Everyone in the damn bar knows it. She's perfect up there. And hell, maybe my mom was, too. Maybe I just never saw it because jealousy had my eyes shut too tightly. I don't know. I don't guess it matters anymore anyway.

It's too late to go back and redo it, to see it from a new perspective. But it's not too late to build something new, something better. A future with Callie.

She tries to come find me immediately after exiting the stage, but she doesn't get a chance. Before she even makes it three steps, the exec flags her down. She hesitates for a moment, her eyes locking with mine.

"Go," I mouth.

She bites her lip, then nods, turning to greet him with a smile.

I can't hear what he says to her, but I can read her body language. I thought she'd be happier to have her dreams coming true. It worries the fuck out of me that she's not. She's subdued. Quiet. Even after she accepts his card, thanks him, and makes her way over to me, she's too goddamn quiet. She doesn't mention him at all, in fact. That worries me, too.

"You were perfect up there, songbird," I murmur, pulling her into my arms.

She burrows into me like she's seeking shelter.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just tired." She offers me a weak smile. "Do you mind if I wrap up here so we can go?"

I plant a kiss on her forehead before releasing her. "Do what you gotta do, baby. I'll wait for you."

She touches my cheek, giving me a sweet smile before she pulls away. I stand rooted in place, watching her hurry away. Something is seriously wrong. What the fuck happened?

Part of me wants to go after the record exec to find out what the fuck he said to her. I'm not afraid to shove my boot up his ass if necessary. But I'm guessing that's the last thing she needs right now.

Fuck.

I pace backstage instead, keeping one eye on her while she whispers with Rita, then speaks briefly with Bender. Her conversation with her sister is a little more animated, but her sister leaves it looking pissed. Callie looks anxious.

What the fuck?

"I'm ready," she says a few minutes later, making her way over to me.

I wrap an arm around her waist, ushering her toward the back exit. She leans against me, not saying anything. By the time we reach my truck, I'm ready to lose it.

"I need you to talk to me, songbird," I murmur.

"Can we talk when we get to your place?" she asks.

I hesitate, then sigh. "Yeah, we can talk at my place."