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And like always, I couldn’t say no to my girl.
She’s not yours.
But she felt like she was mine. The deeper we went into this ruse, the harder and harder it got not to think of her in that way.
I retrieved the guitar I kept in the back office and settled myself on a barstool like old times, waiting until Tris sat on the edge of the stage in front of me. The second my fingers touchedthe strings, the new song I’d written began to come out. We were planning to record it later this week.
“I’m still working on this one,” I told her, “but inspiration struck, so I went with it.”
Shadows of the past, they haunt me still
Memories of your touch, a bitter pill
I built these walls, brick by lonely brick
Now you’re back, and my defenses are wearing thin
Is this a cruel joke or destiny’s design?
Can I risk it all one more time?
Second chance serenade
Playing with a heart that’s afraid
Missed opportunities and wasted years
Can we rewrite our story, face our fears?
Is this our moment to ignite?
Or just another lonely night?
I’ve been down this road, I know how it ends
Heartbreak and regret, unwelcome friends?—
I strummed a few more notes and ended the song. “I’m still figuring out the rest of it.” I let the little white lie roll off my tongue. I’d finished the song, but the ending verse made it impossible to hide that the song was about Tris.
Not that I’d done a smashing job of hiding my feelings with what I’d already sung. Tris was smart. She’d probably figure it out.
I dared not look up and meet her eyes. This was an epically bad idea. I should’ve shut my mouth and refused to play. Now, I’d have to see her look at me with pity over my broken heart.
A soft sniffle echoed in the quiet space.
I chanced a glance up, exposing my vulnerable heart to what I might see.
Tears streamed down her face.
Could she know? Or did my words describe how she felt for Peter?
“That was beautiful, Killian.” She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
“Tris … ” I snapped my mouth shut.
My insides were raw, like someone had tried to scoop everything out from my heart, smash it, and was attempting to stuff it all back in.
Fuck.