Page 54 of Doc Rock
“That’s Steve. My neighbour,”Sie said quietly and much to Ford’s relief, she didn’t try to pull her hand away from his.
“Yes. I gathered that. He seems to be a big fan of Midnight Thunder.”
“He is. I can almost guarantee that he’ll be back in his house, Googling you and will be knocking on the door when he realises your first name is actually Graham, and he has another look at some photos of you.”
“It must be a little awkward for you.”
Sie shrugged.“Not really. No one had any reason to associate a doctor called Maisie Jones with a guitarist called Sie Harrington.”
“Until you sing. He picked up on your voice as easily as I did.”Ford didn’tknowwhat possessed him; he tugged on her hand, so she had to step closer to him.
“Yeah.”Sie wasn’t focused on him; she was looking over his shoulder at the front door.
“Sie,”his whispered voice had her gaze snapping to his.
As he stared into her eyes, he couldn’t recall anymore why she wasn’t in his arms where she belonged.
He glanced at her mouth andsawher nervously moisten her lips. That was it for him; his lips crashed into hers, and he kissed her. Yanking her into his arms as he did.
Sie fit in his arms perfectly, like she always had, and she clung onto him. The longer they kissed, the more his rational brain came back online.
What the fuck was he doing? Kissing her like they were still in love.
He shoved her away and took a step back, wiping a hand over his mouth.
Panting for breath, hewatchedSie. She was breathing as hard as him, and her trembling fingers touched her lips.
“Fuck,” Ford muttered.
Sie stepped further away from him, her eyes dropping to the floor.“What did you want, Ford?”
“Why did you leave?”He threw the words at her. His anger crashing over him like a tidal wave.
“I told you. I was a stupid kid. I thought I was doing the right thing. Then time slipped away.”
“Youcouldhave contacted me at any time. At least let meknowyou were alive.”His voice rose as his hurt welled up.
“I could have,” Sie said softly.
“I obviously didn’t mean anything to you,”Ford spat.“We should add actress to singer, as you sure fooled me while you pretended to be in love with me.”
Sie shook her head. “You know that’s not true.”
“Youcouldhave fucking fooled me. I would’ve moved heaven and earth to find you. And youknewwhere I was the wholetime.”Ford’s voice cracked.“Looks like you might be lying to yourself as well as me.”He began pacing in her small hallway, running his hand through his shaggy hair in agitation.
“No, Ford,” Sie whispered.
He scoffed and mimicked her,“No, Ford. What happened to you? When did you become this meek little mouse? Or is that who you actually were, an actress playing the rock chick, when all along the real you was a coward?”
Even as he spat the words out, hefelta twinge of regret. He didn’t want to accuse her of never loving him. He wanted everything that happened between them to have been real, even if it broke his heart.
Sie’s head snapped up, fire blazing in her eyes.“Fuck you,”she bit out.
“Ohh, boo hoo,” he sneered. “Have I upset you?”
“I was a fucking child. My whole world had shattered. I made the most stupid decision I have ever made in my life. I am fucking sorry. You can choose to believe me or not, but Iknowmy truth.”She jabbed a finger to her chest.“You were the love of my fucking life. And I threw it away. How do you think Ifelt? Do youknowwhatit waslike, seeing you everywhere? The TV, the internet, posters—everywhere?”
“It’s your fault,”he shot back.
