Page 199 of Love Felt Like This

“Yeah, I included that in case you want to come early. Figured Rob would love that.”

She laughs. “I told you if I ever attended your concert, I’d go with someone else.”

I almost choke on my laugh. She does, too, but her face has fallen completely.

“You can think about it,” I quickly add.

She gives a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, I’ll look at my schedule.”

We should tap the brakes echoes so loudly it hurts. But the words that truly matter tear at my chest even more.

I love you.

I can’t stop thinking about you.

I’ll figure out how to make it work.

I don’t care if we only see each other once a year.

I just want to make sure I’m seeing you.

But I’m the one who said we needed to slow down. Maybe she’s over me now. Maybe I’m just another musician who broke her heart.

Someone calls her from across the studio, and she jumps.

“Beverly, you got a second?”

“Yeah,” she calls back, then turns to me. Her exhale is shaky. “I guess I gotta go.” She gives a weak smile, then playfully bumps her shoulder against mine. “I’ll see you later.”

I love you, Beverly Lark.

I nod my chin toward the CD in her hand. “Listen to it. Come to the concert. Please.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but another call of “Beverly!” grants me only a smile before she walks off. It feels like every bit of warmth in me goes with her.

I can’t make her do anything she doesn’t want to. And I wouldn’t want to. If this is the last time I see her for a while, then so be it. A little bit of Beverly Lark is better than nothing.

Ava tugs my pant leg. “Home, Daddy?”

I sigh. “Yeah. Let’s head home.”

Except I think ours just walked away.

Chapter Forty-One

Love Felt Like This

Beverly

I sit on the floor of the guest room with my head leaning against the mattress, staring at the CD on the floor.

I’ve been going back and forth on whether I want to listen.

For twenty-four hours.

The concert is tonight.

I shouldn’t go.