“No, but I could study up on it. After school and on weekends.” I swallowed hard. “And…this summer.”
Dad frowned. “This summer, you’re heading to college, to training camp for whichever school you choose. You won’t have time for something like that.”
Holden’s face floated across my mind with Mom’s words whispering beneath.
What about your heart?
I inhaled to try again, but it caught in my throat. Was this the moment? Was tonight the night I imploded my life?
“I like the idea, but it’s too much to take on,” Dad said. “Your only job is to concentrate on your college applications.”
“Dad—”
“I’m not touching the business, and that’s final. I don’t want to spend more time away on a new venture.” He reached over and took Mom’s hand. “I’m happy with how things are right now. Let’s not rock the boat.”
The light above our kitchen table was gold and warm. Mom’s smiling face had color to it, and her hair was coming back. Amelia happily scrolled through her phone, her smile easy, like it had been.
“You’re right.” I forced my own smile. “Sorry I brought it up.”
***
“Yo, River.”
Chance, Donte Mikey Grimaldi, Isaiah Martin, and a couple other guys surrounded me at my locker at school the next day, the last day before winter break.
“A bunch of us are skipping out for lunch,” Chance said. “You wanna come?”
“Nah, I was thinking about checking out the talent show.”
Donte made a face. “Thetalent show? Is he for real?”
I shrugged. “A guy from my calculus class is going to play the violin. Last week, I told him I’d watch.”
Chance gaped. “You told some math geek that you’d watch him play the violin?” He snorted a laugh. “That’s the gayest thing I ever heard.”
The back of my neck reddened. I slammed the locker. “I said I’d go, so I’m going.”
I gave Chance my best don’t-fuck-with-me glare. He and Donte exchanged looks and then shrugged.
“Whatever floats your boat, dude.”
Donte chucked me on the arm. “Catch you later?”
“Yep.”
I watched them go, wondering how they couldn’t see right through my alpha male bullshit.
Because you’ve been wearing that camouflage for years.
Except Holden had seen through it instantly.
I went to the darkened auditorium where the winter talent show was already in progress. Every chair was taken, standing room only. I got stuck in the back, but at six two, I had a clear view of the stage.
I’d just made it. Harris Reed was playing a classical piece on his violin and slaying it. The music was insanely complicated, and I watched in awe as his bow skidded up and down the strings.
When it was over, I clapped hard and whistled…then tasted smoky cloves and cedar cologne in the air. My pulse pounded as an icy-hot shiver danced down my left side as Holden moved to stand beside me.
“I didn’t realize you were a fan of the arts,” he said, his eyes on the stage. “Another layer to the enigmatic River Whitmore.”
