Page 28 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Raven frowned as Kate stiffened at my side, but I couldn’t put us through anymore lies. At least not lies to myself. Right?

“Exactly. But we will be there tonight. I can’t wait for karaoke.” Kate smiled brightly, but I could not turn to look at her. Why couldn’t I see what was in that gaze of hers?

“Okay. I’m sorry for even blurting anything to you guys.

I was just excited and surprised. But don’t worry, I won’t text the group chat.

” She winked. “I know all about being the center of attention. I won’t do that to you.

” She reached forward and squeezed her forearms before heading back to the counter, and I let out a breath.

“I probably should have asked.”

Kate shook her head. “No. Because if you would have asked, I would not have had an answer. So this is for the best. Keeping secrets started to feel like shame. I don’t like doing that.”

But wasn’t I lying to her?

The fact I didn’t have a true answer to that worried me. But I pushed it to the side so I could at least catch my breath.

“Do you want me to pick you up?” I asked.

Her lips twitched. “I suppose we could drive together. Since the cat is out of the bag.”

“I suppose that works.” I winked, feeling as if we’d crossed a line that we couldn’t come back from. “How about I be there at seven?”

“Yes. Okay. That’s good.”

In answer, I leaned down and kissed her again, before she scurried away back to her office. I found myself no longer in need of coffee. After all, I had enough energy bouncing through my system, and I wasn’t sure when I was going to be able to get a full night of sleep again.

* * *

“Seriously, this is my favorite bridge,” Kate called out over the music.

I just grinned down at her, my arm over her shoulder.

It hadn’t taken long for everybody to realize we had come in as a couple.

People had countless questions, but after a few of our one-word answers, they had stopped asking.

I knew I was probably the asshole, but I did not care in that moment.

I just wanted to enjoy my night out with Kate.

Because I did not know how much longer this would last. How much longer it could last.

She looked so happy underneath the multicolored lights, dancing in her seat as Greer sang a popular pop song.

“I didn’t know you could have a favorite bridge?”

“I have like seven of them. And this is the top one. It’s one of the parts of the songs that you can stand up and sing and shout right along with the artist and feel like a part of it. Not everybody truly does it, but a few artists like her do it perfectly.”

“So I guess you and I truly have a thing for bridges.”

She blushed and elbowed me in the side.

“Maybe. I can’t help it. It’s fun. But I promise never to force you to sing a bridge with me while we’re on our bridge.”

Our bridge.

Because it was the first place we kissed, the first place we had made plans—the first place I knew I was in trouble.

Just like I knew I was in trouble now.

She must’ve seen something in my face, because her smile faltered. “What’s wrong?”

“Just a headache,” I lied. “We are at karaoke.”

“True. It is my turn next. Just don’t make fun of me when I go full pop princess up there.”

I pushed her hair back from her face and smiled. “I promise. I won’t.”

“Good. Because I will kick your ass.”

“That’s my Kate.”

Her face softened before she jumped up to go take the mic. She spoke with the organizer for a few moments, going over the song.

I let out a breath as someone sat next to me, and I knew exactly who it was.

My brother studied my face, a frown on his, and I was afraid of what he would say.

Because my brother knew me more than anyone.

While Kate was starting to get to know me far more than I thought possible, Gus knew all of my secrets. Or at least he knew all of them now.

“What?” I nearly barked.

“Are you okay?”

No judgment, no anger over keeping secrets. Just my brother worrying about me. And what was the kick to the chest? I nearly got up and ran out of the building so I wouldn’t have to face that question.

Because I did not have an answer for him.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Montgomerys just know all, and Kate and I wanted this to be for us.”

Gus shook his head. “I know Kate, because small town , and I figured that might be her excuse. She has enough big brothers working with her, that her wanting a moment to herself makes sense. But you? Does she know, Sawyer?”

I shook my head, my jaw tightening. “No. But it’s fine. This is just casual. We’re friends.”

“You’re welcome to keep lying to me. I know that you need to. Especially with everything that happened. But don’t lie to Kate anymore. Please, because I love you, don’t lie to yourself.”

Before I could say anything, he got up and went back to his wife, Jennifer, who was giving me a curious look. Because she didn’t know either. My brother had kept my secrets even though I didn’t have a true excuse other than my own cowardice.

But I pushed it to the back of my mind as I stared at Kate. She gave me a tentative smile, and I grinned back at her, holding up two thumbs.

“Play ‘Wonderwall’!” I called, and as she laughed, the crowd joined in, and Kate began to sing. Her perfect alto voice was soothing and catching. It wrapped around my soul, the one thing I couldn’t allow, but I ignored all of the warning signs.

And I watched the woman I was falling in love with sing a song about broken hearts and past lives.

I told myself that this would be enough for both of us. That she wouldn’t fall along with me.

Because I vowed never to love again. Never to fall fully.

And Kate would just have to understand.

And hopefully so would I.