Forbidden Encore by Ashton Brooks

Author:Ashton Brooks [Brooks, Ashton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Ocean

You won’t find me until the stars come out and the sun goes down.

Until the shadows like to play around,

I won’t dance for you when you call.

“Mhmm–mmm.” I hum the melody and tap the piano keys in frustration. The plan is to work on the song all day, but I’m struggling to find the connection today. Sighing, I look over at what is left in the white to-go cup from my favorite coffee shop. My tea drink of choice is long gone, of course. The cup itself is now just a representation of the conflict between my heart and my stomach. Let me back in Ocean. I’m sorry I hurt you. I promise I will make it up to you every day, forever. I’ll ever leave you alone again.

“Ugh.” I slam my pen down on the top of the piano and push away as frustration grips my heart. I replay that day in my head over and over. Ezra said all the words I had wanted to hear in the past two years. I understand his reasons for leaving, even though I think they’re shit. I was so in love with him back then that I would have been consumed by him. Maybe he was right that eventually we would have been caught. I like to think we’re smarter than that but I also know my uncle is ruthless.

I wasn’t lying when I told him I wasn’t the same person anymore. He wants to start over, to be with me now, and all I have is a voice screaming in the back of my head that no one could ever love me. That he doesn’t know me.

“Does the scowl on your face mean the song isn’t working today?” Kyle’s voice fills the little recording studio. I glance up and see him behind the glass, holding up a take-out food bag. My stomach rumbles in response. I hurry over to the room, and he laughs at how quickly I snatch the bag from him.

“Pasta O’Malley’s?” I hold up the carton of my absolute favorite chicken parmesan in the entire city.

Kyle shifts his eyes and runs his hands together. “You’ve been pulling double practices and then long evenings here. You can’t live on salads and air. You need a full meal and a little carbload.”

My brow lifts. “Does he pay you to say these things verbatim? I swear it was like he was just here right now.”

Kyle sighs and shifts on his feet, fully aware that I know he’s been conspiring with the enemy. “Be that as it may, he isn’t wrong, Ms. Heart. With your current schedule and performances coming up, you need substance. Plus, I think the lady at the deli thinks I’m flirting with her because I’m there every day.”

I laugh at the last part, imagining poor Kyle getting hit on by the deli ladies. I take the carton of food and sit at the table. The minute the cheesy, tomato marinara sauce and chicken hits my tongue, I think I actually groan out loud with how delicious it is.

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