Songbird (28 page)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I
couldn’t look at anyone while I sung. My gaze fell to the floor as my eyes slid closed. I blocked everything out and just let the song flow. It wasn’t hard to remember the words or the notes, they were burned into my memory for all eternity. I wasn’t going to forget them anytime soon. Not when it was Forest’s apology.

The audience remained quiet for the duration. Because it was a new song, they couldn’t sing along. They had no choice except to pay attention and listen. It was the quietest they had been for the entire show.

I strummed the last chord and opened my eyes. Forest was staring at me, his face alight with beautiful intensity. I couldn’t read what was going on in his mind.

As our eyes locked, it felt like there was too much space between us. I shouldn’t have been standing on the stage, I needed to be standing with him.

I carefully placed my guitar on the floor, resting the neck against the stool. That was when Ryan really started panicking in my ear. I couldn’t think properly with his voice ringing in my head. I pulled out my earpiece, the relief instant.

I sat on the edge of the stage and scooted around to dangle my feet. I pushed myself off, landing on the floor. One glance to my left told me my security team was having a heart attack
too. No-one was game enough to stop me but they didn’t agree with what I was doing either. I knew my fans wouldn’t hurt me, my crew didn’t seem as trusting.

I climbed over the security barrier which
turned out to be trickier than getting off the stage. But I managed to land in the crowd, the people making a circle around me so I had some room.

Moving through the bodies, I found myself standing directly in front of Forest. We were in a bubble, the jostling people giving us some much needed space.

Everyone else faded away. It was like a spotlight shone just over us two and the rest of the world completely disappeared. We weren’t standing in the middle of an eighteen thousand strong crowd. We were standing in the middle of a field, twinkling lights above and candlelight to lead our way.

I wasn’t sure what to do and my stomach fluttered with anticipation. Forest, the man I loved and couldn’t find the heart to stop loving, was right in front of me. My body
yearned for him, my skin craved his touch. Yet something was stopping me, I couldn’t move to go get what I wanted.

He had hurt me, but I should have heard him out
before I cut him out of my life. I was stupid to believe anything could have been so black and white. I was stupid to believe he would deliberately lie to me about something that major. I should have known better.

But none of that mattered now. Forest had turned up in my audience for a reason, it wasn’t like he randomly wandered in. He wouldn’t do that if he didn’t want me too, right? My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to break a few ribs with the effort.

Why wasn’t he moving? Why was he just looking at me? His face was a mask, much more so than mine. I was certain all my emotions were running across my face. I was the vulnerable one, the desperate one, and the one that needed him urgently.

I couldn’t wait any longer. I ran at Forest, finding his arms opening wide to take me in. We collided in the middle of the floor as I linked my arms around his neck. Forest’s strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a hug that caused our bodies to melt against each other and become one.

I pulled back long enough to place my lips on his. We kissed deeply, passionately, hungrily. I had missed the feeling of his lips on mine and the kiss was a sweet relief of what I knew I needed. I had to have Forest, it was that simple. I felt whole when I was with him, complete in a way that I never felt with anyone else.

The audience erupted into a round of loud cheering and applause. I was suddenly reminded that we weren’t alone. Our faces were probably plastered on the big screens for the entire stadium to see. That was only slightly embarrassing.

“I forgot they were there,” I whispered. Forest’s eyes sparkled with amusement. God, I missed seeing that expression on his face.

“Perhaps we should go somewhere more private,” he suggested
, equally as quiet. I nodded and he released me from his embrace. I already missed the feel of his arms around me. I was adrift in an ocean without him.

I wasn’t going to let him out of my sight again. I gripped his hand and pulled Forest along with me. I headed toward the stage, scrambling over it the way I had done only minutes earlier.

But this time I had help. Forest boosted me up onto the stage before following me. Nobody knew what was going on, including me. I was working completely on instinct, the plan completely out the window.

I grabbed my microphone, Forest’s hand still firmly in the other. “Thank you for coming tonight everyone. You have all been wonderful and I appreciate every second of your attention. Have a good night.”

I gave a short bow before picking up my guitar and heading down the runway. More cheers and screaming erupted from my fans. Even though they knew it was the end of the show, they always wanted more. Every night I wished I could continue playing for another two hours but I knew I couldn’t. Ryan would have a real heart attack.

At the front of the stage, I turned around and gave one last wave before the lights started to dim. I continued backstage and hurried through the corridor
s. I purposefully ignored Demi and Ryan, they could lecture me later about looking after my own safety and staying on the plan.

I didn’t stop until Forest and I were in my dressing
room. I closed the door, finally really being alone together. Before I could even open my mouth to speak, Forest did.

“I’m so sorry, Brierly. I should have told you up front about my… situation. I just didn’t know how to start that dialogue and then it sounded so weird to come right out and say it.” He was rambling, his hand absentmindedly scratching his five o’clock shadow. “I forget sometimes that I’m technically married and then-”

I couldn’t take it any longer, I placed my finger over his lips to stop them talking. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Demi told me the whole story and I’m sorry I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt. I should have listened to you.”

He shook his head as he kissed my finger. “I should have told you.”

“Let’s just agree that it’s done and move on. We will only tell the truth from now on.”

“Agreed.”

Forest grinned and slid his hands down my back, making me shiver. His hands finally rested on my butt, cradling my cheeks and pulling me closer. I was completely at his mercy and loving every moment of it. I was back where I belonged.

He kissed my neck, my jaw, and finally back to my lips. “I missed you so much,” he whispered against my skin. The vibrations tickled, giving me goosebumps.

“I missed you too,” I replied before slapping his chest. “Don’t ever go away again, okay? I want you to stick around for a long time.”

“You replaced me in the band.” His tone was teasing, a hint of being mock-offended.

“I’ll get you a tambourine, you can play that.”

He kissed me in response, his soft lips pressing hard against mine. His warmth washed over me, flooding me with nothing but good thoughts and stardust.

“So what do we do now?” I asked, looking up into his dark brown, smoldering eyes. I loved the way he looked at me, like I was the last chocolate in the box and he was ravenous. It sent tingles down my spine.

His hands slid from my back to entwine our fingers together at his side. “We should go dancing.”

From anyone else, his suggestion might have been odd. But I knew that was how his song ended, he wanted to dance with me forever. And, my God, did I want to dance with him for eternity too. I could never get tired of Forest.

I nodded. “Dancing sounds perfect.” We headed for the door.
But I couldn’t help get in one more comment before we left. “You need to get a divorce.”

“I’ve already lodged the paperwork,” Forest replied. A smile spread across my lips, mirroring his.

Forest and I were going to be dancing together for a long time. There was no doubt in my mind anymore, we were two halves of the one whole. This songbird had a partner for life.

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J
amie Campbell grew up in the New South Wales town of Port Macquarie as the youngest of six children. A qualified Chartered Accountant, she now resides on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.

Writing since she could hold a pencil, Jamie’s passion for storytelling and wild imagination were often a cause for concern with her school teachers. Now that imagination is used for good instead of mischief.

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www.jamiecampbell.com.au
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