Page 202 of The Song We Lost

I huff out a laugh, a loss at what to say.

“Anyway.” She turns toward me again. “There’s interest.”

I frown. “Interest?”

“In you.” Rachel lifts one shoulder casually. “Performance offers. Collaborations. A few labels sniffing around seeing if you’re planning a comeback.”

I stare at her for a second. And the weirdest part?

I don’t feel anything. Nothing like I did before when Dave would dangle interest in my face. No rush or hunger or panic that it could all disappear… Just…nothing.

Rachel studies my face carefully. “I could take you back to Nashville with me. Handle your stuff until you decide who you want long-term.”

My eyes drift automatically toward Bailey. She’s watching me quietly now. A vulnerable look on her face, it’s enough that I understand immediately what this moment means to her. A year ago I would’ve said yes before Rachel even finished the sentence. I would’ve chased the high of it. The validation. The need to be better, just so I could feel worthy enough to stand right where I am now.

Now? The thought of leaving this place makes my chest feel physically wrong.

I shake my head slowly. “I’m not leaving Bailey.”

Rachel arches a brow. “You know this kind of interest isn’t evergreen, right?”

“I know.”

“And?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Silence settles through the kitchen. Rachel watches me for a long moment before this small knowing smile appears on her face. She looks almost relieved..

“Look at you,” she says softly. “Finally figuring your shit out.”

Bailey looks down quickly trying to hide her smile. Rachel grabs a piece of watermelon before pushing away from the counter.

“Where can I find your dad? I need someone normal to talk to before you two start making eye contact with each other again. It's cute and gross and makes me want to feel things.”

Bailey throws a dish towel at her while Rachel laughs walking toward the back door.

I watch Bailey disappear upstairs a few minutes later before heading outside again.

Only instead of going back toward my dad…

I head toward the overlook. Because I haven’t seen Cole in a while and I know where to find him. As I walk up the path I see him sitting near Sadie’s spot staring out across the valley while the sun starts sinking low behind the mountains.

He doesn’t look up when I approach.

“Want me to go?” I ask quietly.

A long pause, then a quiet, “No.”

So I sit beside him and for a while neither of us says anything. The wind moves softly through the grass while somewhere beside us the sounds of the workers drift faintly through the trees.

Cole stares out toward the mountains the whole time, then finally he blurts out, “I don’t know how people do it.”

I glance toward him even though I already know what he means.

“Do what?”

“Go on after loss.”