He leaned his shoulder against mine, just enough to be supportive but not overwhelming.
“Good,” he said.“I like when you work on it with me.”
The warmth spread deeper, settling behind my ribs.
About an hour in, Toby’s phone buzzed across the table.He grabbed it, frowned briefly, and then smiled.“Austin’s calling.”
I looked up.“Really?I didn’t think you two talked that often.”
He shrugged but answered, voice brightening.“Hey, little man!Yeah, yeah, I’m still alive.Promise.”He got up and paced as he listened, then his grin widened.“Nah, I’m not kidding, I actually got in.Yeah, that program.It’s happening.Did Mom tell you?”
There was a beat of silence and then a real, warm laugh that filled the room.“No, I didn’t bribe anyone.”His grin stretched further across his face.“Right.They’re desperate for some chaos.”
I couldn’t help smiling as I watched him.He leaned against the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck.He only did that when he was nervous and his emotions were creeping up on him.
When he finally hung up, Toby looked dazed, still half-smiling.“He said he’s proud of me.Proud.That might be a first.”
“Congrats,” I said softly.“Really.”
“Yeah.”He exhaled, letting himself sink onto the couch.“I got in.Music program at SUNY Potsdam.Close enough to drive home.”
I grinned.“That sounds great.”
“Yeah.”He paused, thoughtful.“It feels right.Like maybe all the shit we went through is actually leading somewhere good.”
I fiddled with my pencil, the tip tapping against my music notebook.“Feels like everyone’s finding their place.”
Toby studied me.“You sound like that’s a bad thing.”
“I don’t know,” I admitted.“It’s just I thought I’d feel excited for the future, but instead I just feel—”
“Scared?”he offered gently.
“Something like that.”I forced a smile.“Everything’s shifting, and I’m not sure what it’s shifting into.”
He leaned back, propping his arms behind him.“That’s kind of the deal, though.Change never gives you a heads-up.It just kicks the door open and starts rearranging your furniture.”
I laughed under my breath.“That’s an awful metaphor.”
“Yeah, but it works.”He smirked at me, all too proud of himself.
Toby picked up one of my draft sheets, scanning a few bars of melody.“This one’s new.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly.“Still figuring it out.”
He hummed the tune softly under his breath, then looked up.“You know, I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.You don’t just write music, Cadence.You build it.It’s like you leave little pieces of yourself in every note.”
My throat went tight, and I had to look away.“That’s probably why I’m so tired all the time.”
Toby’s smile was faint.“Nah.You’re just human.A tired, brilliant, emotionally wrecked human—but still human.”
I laughed, shaking my head.“Thanks, I guess.”
He reached over, bumping his shoulder against mine.“You’re gonna be fine.Even if Paxon is an idiot now.Even if everything feels like it’s shifting.You’ve survived worse.”
I swallowed hard, nodding once.“That doesn’t make it easier.”
“No,” he agreed.After a moment, he said, “You know he’s trying, right?In his own annoying Paxon way.The guy’s messed up about this, but I don’t think he’s given up.”
