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“What’s wrong?” Molloy asked, instantly noticing my discomfort.

“Nothing.”

“Joe?”

“I just…” I shook my head again and blew out a pained breath. “It’s the song.”

“What about it?”

“Reminds me of her.”

“Who?” Her green eyes softened. “Your mam?”

With my jaw clamped tight, I forced a nod. “Fucked-up, I know.”

“It’s not fucked-up.” Reaching up, she cupped my face between her hands and pulled it down to hers. “Look at me.”

It hurt to look at her. To feel how deeply I felt and know that I wasn’t good for her.

“Look at me,” she repeated, green eyes burning through me as the song played around us. “Keep your eyes on me.” Shivering, she kept me close and said, “Make this song about us instead.”

With a dull ache in my chest, I forced myself to comply. To give this girl whatever she wanted. “I love you.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

She stroked my cheek. “I know that, too.”

Exhaling a pained breath, I let my brow sag against hers. “You’re all I want, Molloy.”

“Then prove it,” she whispered, fingers gliding over my skin. “Because you can’t keep me hanging in limbo like this.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do.”

“Maybe not, but that’s what you’re doing.”

Pain struck me in the chest. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“Stop trying to protect me and start making me happy,” she countered, eyes locked on mine. “Because it’s time to pick your poison, Joey Lynch.”

10

Don’t Say It If You Don’t Mean It

AOIFE

“It’s time to pick your poison, Joey Lynch.” Trembling, I stood in front of the only boy I had ever loved, with an ultimatum hanging heavily in the air between us.

What I said was true.

I genuinely couldn’t live another day feeling like this.

I needed to know where I stood with him.

I couldn’t cope with the unknown.

It terrified me.

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