Gillian, Alex, and the kids left next, followed by Delphine and Dorian. I watched him time it just right so he’d walk out with her. Good for him.
Irene and Robert headed out, promising brunch soon. That left Seraphina, Tyler, and Hunter.
Hunter hovered by the door, watching Tyler help Seraphina into her jacket as he pulled on his leather one.
“Are those calluses from playing guitar?” Tyler asked.
Hunter looked taken aback for a moment, then down at his right hand. “That’s right. Very observant.”
“I play guitar too. I’m not great or anything,” Tyler said. “But my mom and I love music. Especially country.”
“That right?” Hunter asked.
“It’s true,” Seraphina said, tucking her hair from her collar.
Tyler held up his phone. “The others and I looked you up tonight. You’re a songwriter. You’ve written like a thousand songs.”
“Not a thousand—more like a hundred,” Hunter said sheepishly.
“Mom, you’re not going to believe this.” Tyler turned toward Seraphina. “Guess what song he wrote—your favorite of all time.”
“‘Already Gone?’” Seraphina asked. “Is that true?”
I rarely saw my friend flustered in front of anyone, but she couldn’t stop staring at him. “That … that really is my favorite song.”
Hunter shrugged. “It’s Ivy’s voice mostly that makes it great.”
“I love her voice,” Seraphina said. “But it’s not just her voice. The song is perfect. It’s like you were in my head when you wrote it.”
“What are you doing working at a bar?” Tyler blurted.
Hunter looked down at his shoes. “Long story.”
“Tyler, it’s none of our business.” Seraphina put a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Unfortunately, he gets his nosiness from his mother.”
“You’re a writer—you’re supposed to be curious,” Hunter said, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “By the way, I read your new book. Picked it up at the bookstore a week or so ago.”
Seraphina’s mouth dropped open. “You did? You like romance?”
“It’s the first one I’ve ever read,” Hunter said. “But it reminded me of a country song. All about the heart. You’re a fantastic writer. I get it now.”
“Get what?” Tyler asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Why she’s such a success. I couldn’t put it down,” Hunter said.
Vance and I exchanged a glance.
“Anyway … I can walk you two to your car, if you’d like,” Hunter said.
“That would be great,” Seraphina said.
“Thanks again for inviting me,” he said, shaking Vance’s hand.
“We loved having you,” Vance said.
The three of them stepped out onto the porch. As the door closed, I heard Tyler ask, “How do you think of ideas for songs?”
“I’m not sure,” Hunter said. “They just come to me.”
