Page 49 of Edge of Heaven

We’ve been working on our personal dynamic after Angus hid his real identity from us, and we all agreed to be completely honest about important things in our lives. Obviously, we’re not talking about every detail or intimate specifics, but anything that might impact the band or our relationships going forward.

I feel like this qualifies—it’s just not my story to tell.

“I can’t tell you certain things,” I say firmly. “I just can’t. She opened up about a lot of stuff… but it’s not my story to tell. I wish I could. It would make things so much easier.”

“Way to be vague as fuck,” Ryleigh mutters. “Is this stuff I know?”

“Definitely not.”

She scowls. “How are we supposed to help if we don’t know what’s going on?”

“Now you know how I feel.” I blow out a breath. “And I’m not going to bullshit you—I like her. I always have. But she’s in a relationship with someone else, and she asked me to give her time to sort that out. In the meantime, we are not sleeping together. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Youreallylike her,” Jonny says, wrinkling his nose.

As if falling in love is incredibly distasteful.

And maybe it is.

Angus doesn’t seem to think so—he and Ryleigh appear incredibly happy—but everyone is different. I’ve never truly been in love as an adult so it’s hard for me to have an opinion. All I know is how I feel right now, and my feelings for Taryn are unlike anything I’ve felt for anyone else.

Is it love?

Maybe.

But until we can spend more than a day together, it’s impossible to know for sure.

“Look, we’re not going to say anything to anyone,” Angus says firmly, “but it’s kind of tough for us to help if we don’t know what’s happening.”

“Which is why I askedRyleighto check on her,” I reply glibly. “The rest of you fuckers are just being nosy.”

Tate laughs. “Fair enough. I am officially butting out.”

“Same.” Jonny puts his headphones back on.

“If Ryleigh’s involved, I’m involved.” Angus shrugs.

“What are we involved in?” Sam sits up in his bunk and yawns. He’s been asleep through the entire conversation.

“Nothing,” I say, chuckling. “Go back to sleep, bro.”

“Cool.” He lies down again and I go back to my original seat.

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

I won’t be convinced Taryn is okay until I see her with my own two eyes. And maybe not even then.

Chapter16

Taryn

The bruiseson the backs of my thighs are still visible so I pull on a pair of leggings, a corset-style top, and boots. Callum prefers me in skirts and dresses, but this is his fault, so unless he wants to answer a lot of questions about the handprint-shaped bruise on my right thigh, I’m wearing tights.

“Still bruised?” he asks when I come out of the bathroom.

I nod curtly.

I haven’t been speaking to him since the spanking incident the other night and now he’s being contrite.

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