Page 93 of Between Never and Forever

He huffed in his three-piece suit but then smirked. “If I wore another singer across my chest—”

“You would never,” I cut him off immediately, but he’d made his point as I glared at the idea. “Whatever. Get me a shirt and I’ll consider adding you into the rotation.”

Our food was delivered right then, and he chuckled as I stabbed my fork into it without thanking him at all for ordering it.

“I just might do that, but it’ll have to be after we discuss this.”

And in the middle of the restaurant, Dex turned that laptop around and I stared at the email from Mitchell.

From: Mitchell Hendrickson

To: Dex Hardy

Attached you will find the last fifteen years of contracts for Keelani Hale. We are so excited to welcome you into the family and as soon as you are married, I know we will consider even bigger and greater contracts with Keelani in the future. Cheers to more endeavors.

The room felt like it was spinning as the fork I dropped clattered onto the plate. He knew then. He knew how I’d signed off on everything, how I’d let them control me, how I’d sold away my rights over and over again for money and for medical services. Nothing was written specifically about my mother, but he’d put two and two together. Money and medical bills. It was clear as day once someone started reading.

And what I’d sold. I gave them the right to print whatever they wanted all those years ago. I specified that I’d never go against their word in the media. I’d basically agreed to let them rip Dex apart.

“I haven’t read them yet, Kee,” he said softly, but I saw how his face had hardened. How his jaw was working. “At first, I thought we’d sit here and read them together. In public. Where I wouldn’t feel inclined to go insane because I’m guessing I’m going to feel the need to.”

I grabbed for the orange juice and took a big gulp before answering. I kept drinking and drinking, and he stared at me like he had all the time in the world. Fuck, the man was going to wait me out.

“We don’t have to look,” I tried.

“I’m going over your contracts, heartbreaker. It’s not a choice. I guess before I do though, I need to ask you if you want to share anything with me. Or should we just dive in? From the look of sheer panic on your face and the fact that it looks like you’ve seen a ghost, I'm guessing you’ll want to disclose something?”

He’d never forgive me. And I finally realized in all this, I wanted him to. I was an idiot to believe I would be able to avoid my feelings. Dimitri was going to say he was right. That I should have been careful. I could already hear him. Because Dex would tell Dimitri. No doubt.

“Can we…” My voice was shaky. “Can we not look today?”

“When?” His tone was hard. That he was even considering giving me time was probably more than I should have asked for.

I closed my eyes. “Never?”

“Not an option.”

When I opened my eyes and reached across the table for his hand, for some reassurance or sign we would make it through this, he pulled it back to check his watch. “You have sound check for the show tonight, and I have to get to work.” He closed the laptop and stood in front of me. His height alone was intimidating, but when he looked down at me like that, I felt so small.

I couldn’t ask him not to be hurt, couldn’t really beg him for all this extra time when he’d waited years in silence.

Then he leaned in so I was the only one who could hear him say, “I fucked you on the stage you’re going to perform on tonight. I lost complete control of my emotions there. You’re mine now and you know what that means?”

“What?”

“I will fucking destroy every single person who came between us in those contracts, you understand?”

I bit my lip and looked at those green eyes that had hardened into stone. I remembered him this way—passionate and determined. Dex had always felt everything just as much as I did. He simply executed it differently. I sang. He drove his goals forward. Fast. With effectiveness. And determination. He would ruin someone if he wanted to. I had no doubt.

“Every single person, Kee. So, tell me the day I get to start. It’s going to happen one way or another. But I’ll let you decide when.”

He walked away from me, left me with the perfect breakfast and every worst thought flying through my head. He’d destroy everyone, and that included me too.

ChapterThirty

KEELANI

I knewthat statement was truer than ever when I went to my dressing room that night and it was filled with lilacs. Like he thought we’d still make it through, like he wanted to make it through. If I broke his heart again with those contracts, I’d never forgive myself, especially when I read his note.