Page 85 of Lost Lyrebird

I dip my head and fidget with the rings on my fingers.“I know how this sounds.It sounds like I’m unreliable and can’t keep it together.I get that.”

He doesn’t say anything and the silence is heavy as I wait him out.When he finally speaks, his voice is quieter than I expected.“What was it, then?What made you lose your cool tonight?”

I lift my head, meeting his gaze head-on.“Have you ever had someone you care about lie to you?Tell you something you believed with everything you had, only to find out it was all a lie?”

His eyes flick away, his expression darkening for a beat, like my question dragged up something he’d rather not remember.When his gaze returns to mine, there’s something raw in it.“Yeah,” he says, his voice rougher than before.

My heart twists.“It makes you feel like an idiot, right?Because deep down, you knew it was too good to be true.You knew something was off.”

He nods, his eyes tracing the lines of my face.

“That’s the kind of news I got tonight,” I say quietly.

He softly sweeps a few stray strands of my hair away from my forehead and tucks them behind my ear.A simple act that makes my breath hitch.“I’m sorry.”

The words are gruff, but they land with surprising weight, like they carry more than just an apology for what happened tonight.His hand drops to his side, but his body remains close.

“It fucked me up,” I admit, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

“Next time, come to me.Tell me what’s going on.I won’t put you up there if you’re not in the right headspace.”

“I will,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

“Say it,” he presses.His tone is firm but not unkind.“Say exactly what you’ll do if this happens again.”

I roll my eyes but give in, the corner of my mouth twitching.“Next time, I’ll tell you or Raven what’s going on.”

“If I let you stay.”

My jaw drops, but then I see it—the ghost of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

I shake my head, smiling despite my chaotic emotions.“Yeah, if you let me stay.”I flutter my lashes dramatically, my voice sugary sweet.“Please, Goose.Please let me stay.I’m sooo sorry I danced on the bar and dropped the bottle at your feet.”

His eyes blaze with heat as they rake over me.“Are you?”he murmurs, his voice rougher now.“Because it sounds like you’re not sorry at all.”He comes closer and props his hands on the wall behind me, caging me in.He lowers his face to mine.

I raise an eyebrow.“I mean… the tips were pretty amazing.”I take a shaky breath, and my words come out softer, breathier.Internally, I’m screaming at myself to stop being foolish.This right here is what turned me into an emotional mess to begin with.

“And…” The words disappear because his face touches mine, his lips brush over my cheek.

“And?”He whispers the word in my ear.My entire body shudders.Butterflies do loopty loops in my stomach, as chills race down my arms.

Hoarsely, I say, “And your pissed-off face… I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

The distance between our bodies disappears.He presses his lower body against mine.My body melts against his without permission.I place a hand on his chest, trying to hold him off, but he doesn’t budge.His hot breath fans over my lips.The scent of whiskey and mint has my gaze zeroing in on his mouth.

“Lil’?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re staring?

“What?”

“You’re staring at my mouth, like it has all the answers you’re looking for.”

“I’m not.”

“Now, that’s a lie, and we both know it.”