Tears pooled in the corner of Ash’s eyes. “I’m so, so sorry, Tate. I didn’t know. I promise I didn’t know. I was so embarrassed, and I just reacted. It was easier for me to direct that anger at you than myself, unfortunately, and you didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry I was so awful to you. I’ve really missed you,” she whispered as the tears came streaming down. This time, without thinking, I scooted over and put my arm around her and held her tightly. She put her forehead down on my shoulder and sobbed quietly as the Frisson played the pop cover I’d heard at band practice. It felt odd to be comforting a crying Ash during such an upbeat song.
“It’s okay. I forgive you. I missed you too. I know you didn’t know what he was going to do.” She sniffled into my shoulder. “I know this has been a bad summer—for you too, obviously.”
She lifted her head. “You have no idea. My parents have all but disowned me. And the girls at school are so mean and snobby. I don’t know how I’m going to survive a full school year.”
“Maybe you can make your case again to your dad?” When I thought about Mr. Zanotti’s choice to send Ash away, I knew I’d been the lucky one between the two of us. But I also knew that if I could be swayed to change my mind about Belén, he could certainly forgive his daughter.
She shrugged sadly. “Maybe.”
“Either way, let’s make a deal. Next time you feel a magnetic pull toward a guy that gives me the creeps, you’ll listen when I tell you he’s bad news. Okay?”
She smiled. “I think I can do that.”
“And if we get into another fight or disagreement, about anything at all, we don’t let months go by before we talk it out. And also, let’s not get the courts involved.”
“Deal.” We both laughed, and she hugged me back.
“It’s going to get better. Look at us—it already has.” I could only hope Mr. Zanotti would come around, or that Ash would figure out some way to get through to him. Like I hoped to with my dad and Belén.
Ashlyn laid her head back on my shoulder and I rested my head on top of hers. We sat that way, still and connected, through the next song.
“They’re really good.”
“Definitely. Actually, I know them. I went to one of their practices—” I stopped talking when Shay sauntered up to Hunter’s microphone and tapped it with his finger.
“Hey, everyone.” His smile was easy, and I immediately smiled back in his direction. Talk about magnetic pull.
“Thanks again for coming. Even though we’d all still play music for ourselves because we love it so much, it makes it even better when there’s someone listening who loves it too.” A lot of kids sitting in the crowd nodded. “So on that note, pun totally intended”—he laughed at his own joke—“the guys have graciously agreed to let me do something a little self-indulgent tonight. For our last song, I put together something special for someone who is here tonight and who also loves music. So much that she once said my playing wrecked her.”
I didn’t think twice about what he said until he walked to the side of the stage and brought over a cello, while Hunter brought him a chair to sit on. My mouth popped open, and all the blood rushed to my ears. As he started to play, the melody I’d listened to so many times, the one that I’d memorized through sound and through tears, came soaring out of his instrument.
I blinked several times in disbelief. SK was Shay was my hot guy? How was that possible?
I stared at him, at the bow moving so beautifully across the strings, as the emotion I’d felt so strongly in my chest played out on his handsome face. He’d closed his eyes, but his brows and lips—which I couldn’t help but notice looked like they might be soft—were expressing the same longing I’d felt when I heard his recording. I closed my eyes too and just listened. On its own, my hand found Ashlyn’s and gripped it tightly as the notes swelled.
“Do you know this song?” she whispered, concerned.
“Yes,” I whispered back. I opened my eyes in time to see SK open his, which were focused right on me. He knew it was me; he knew who I was. How had this happened? And without me realizing? I felt like I’d just been transported to some alternate universe where everything I thought I knew was wrong. Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I stared right back at him, unable to process the thoughts swirling around my head. I was grateful for Ashlyn’s hand, which must have been aching from my viselike grip.
As SK continued to play, the other band members took their places back at their instruments and joined him, mashing the classical solo piece with a Sarah Jarosz bluegrass song I’d come to love this summer thanks to SK, “Tell Me True.”
Even though it was Hunter singing, I felt in my veins it was SK asking if I thought of him, if there was a chance. Though we’d been thousands of miles apart, both in distance and situation, over the course of the summer, I couldn’t deny now that all the times I’d thought he’d been flirting with me were real. I hadn’t fooled myself into thinking his words had double meanings. My stomach knotted in the best possible way, knowing that the tiny-something-nameless feeling I’d felt had also been felt by the person on the other end. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about that possibility, it seemed so unreal, but in that moment, there was nothing else on my mind.
“This might be the best song I’ve ever heard.” Ash squeezed my hand, somehow knowing the music was affecting me more than it was her.
“Me too.”
When the song ended, all four boys stood in a line on stage and took a bow as the entire audience jumped to their feet and clapped like their lives depended on it. I did the same, pulling Ash up with me. Even though the night was warm, I shivered on my feet, musing over what, if anything, to do next. The boys exited the stage as the last and final band began tuning their instruments. Abby and Tilly finally came back, both with enormous smiles on their faces, chattering together about the music.
“So good!” Abby said. Tilly nodded her head vigorously in agreement. They both seemed to notice Ashlyn at the same time.
“Hi, Tilly,” Ash said quietly, hand in the air in greeting.
“Hello, Ashlyn.” Tilly pursed her lips primly. I didn’t know if it was out of disapproval for Ash or protection of me. I hoped the latter. I nodded slightly so Tilly would know everything was cool with me and Ash, and she visibly relaxed her jaw.
“Ashlyn, you know Abby Gold from school, right?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think we had math together freshman year.”
Abby gave her best professional smile. “I think that’s right. Thanks for coming. I know the support is appreciated. Did you all get a chance to catch up?” She looked at me pointedly.
“Yeah, we did.” I smiled and glanced at Ash, who seemed happier than she had all night.
Abby’s face suddenly broke out into a wide grin as she focused on something behind me. “Hey, Shay! Amazing show. You guys really outdid yourselves.”