Then he exhales slowly and begins.
My mouth goes dry as the first notes ring out, traveling all the way to the celestial ceiling of the station above us and scattering there like bursts of shooting stars.
“This one’s different,” Ashley remarks as the song builds pace.
“I know.” Because for the first time, it isn’t a classical piece I’m hearing, but a modern one.
“What is it? I know it, I just can’t…” Ashley nods along to the tune.
“A cover ofUnstoppableby Sia,” I say, frowning as my vision blurs around the edges until all that exists in my line of sight is him, or more specifically his hands as they press down so hard on the keys it’s like he wants to break them.
His head is lowered, and I bet if I could see his eyes they’d be screwed shut. He plays the song like he both hates and loves it at the same time.
The raw emotion in it brings a lump to my throat.
“I love it.” Ashley grins and bumps shoulders with me.
But I don’t feel it.
I can’t breathe.
All I can do is stare as he finishes the song and stands abruptly from the piano.
The crowd gasps as he knocks one of the ropes to the floor and storms off toward the subway.
The sight of him striding away gets swallowed by the crowd before he disappears from view completely.
4
SULLIVAN
“Come on, lazy bones.”I grab hold of the tiny ankle that’s sticking out from underneath my duvet.
Molly squeals as I use it to slide her abruptly to the foot of the bed and sweep her into my arms.
“You have your own bed,” I tell her.
She wraps her arms around my neck, crushing herself to me. “I sleep with Daddy.”
I bury my face into her dark curls and soak her in. I thought we’d gotten over her climbing into bed with me at night. It took two whole years for her to sleep through the night. But that still isn’t a given. She sneaks in with me at least twice a week, and I’m awoken by an elbow to the face, or a tiny foot to the gut as she commands ninety percent of my California King bed for herself.
I’ve never been one who does well without sleep. But for Molly, there are lattes with double shots.
“We need to get you ready, Sweetheart. I’m dropping you at Grandad’s to spend the day with Halliday.”
“Yay.” Molly giggles at the same time she squishes my cheeks together until my lips pucker like a fish.
I lean closer to her like I’m trying to kiss her, and she shrieks with laughter, trying to get away.
I catch the time on the bedside clock and groan internally.
“Shall we get your clothes, and you can race Daddy to see who’s dressed first?”
Molly pokes out her lower lip like she’s considering my request, despite the fact we played the same game yesterday morning. And the one before that. In fact, every morning. But she humors me, carefully considering my suggestion like it’s the first time she’s heard it.
Every morning she wins the race.
But that’s what happens when you’re two and a half years old and think clothes aren’t mandatory. Molly will stand in her underwear, declare she’s the winner, and I’ll have to wrestle her into her clothes, then dress myself after.
