The silence is broken by my sniffle.
“Hey, pretty girl,” we say quietly together because that’s how Papa greeted us no matter what. He was an old-school southern gentleman at heart. Always had been.
Robyn sits up a bit, allowing me to shift a little more of my weight onto her. “Remember that time he caught Dallas and Gavin trying to buy beer at the Stop-N-Shop?”
Half of a laugh escapes me. “Oh God. How could I forget? He made them sit at the kitchen table and drink that entire twelve-pack of that awful cheap junk they were trying to buy.”
“Bet they wished they’d gone for a six-pack instead.”
I nod against her shoulder. “Gavin held his own, even back then. But Dallas puked his guts up all night long.”
“And then he had to escort me to my National Honor Society Luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce the next day. He had to wear a tie and everything. He was so hungover he tried to wear his sunglasses through the entire thing.”
We both giggle a little. I’d forgotten that part. Robyn had won an award for planning a community service project that I think involved cleaning up litter or something and she’d given a speech in front of the mayor. Despite his condition, my brother had been there supporting her just as she sat through our band rehearsals and bowling alley and birthday party concerts. I remember envying the way they watched one another. It had looked like forever in their eyes to me back then. But maybe I was just young and na?ve.
“I heard him,” I say evenly. “Through the window earlier. I know he’s being kind of an ass, but you know how he is about emotional situations.”
Robyn waves her hand. “I know. And it’s your grandfather’s funeral. Like I said, y’all don’t have to entertain folks and be friendly. You just lost a loved one. It’s understandable.”
Despite her words, I can hear the wounded undercurrent flowing beneath them. Whether she’ll admit it or not, Dallas hurt her feelings. Nearly three years might have passed since they were technically a couple, but I could still hear the affection in her voice. Contemplating their issues is a welcome relief from my own.
“He never said why y’all broke up. I don’t even think Gavin knows.”
Robyn takes an audible breath that morphs into a sigh. “Some days, I don’t even remember why. But mostly we were just young and heading in different directions. I was in college, and he wanted to focus more on the band. Dallas didn’t want to leave Papa all alone so soon after your grandma died and he wanted to work until he had enough money to pay for a demo. I think he thought y’all would have some substantial plans lined up for the band before you left for Houston.”
I frown even though she can’t see my face directly. “But we didn’t. We placed third in the State Fair Sound Off, which won us a thousand bucks but only really resulted in a few congratulatory handshakes since I’d already accepted my scholarship.”
Mandy’s words about me holding the band back steal into my mind.
“But now it sounds like things are looking up. For the band, at least.” I stiffen and Robyn pulls back to look at me. “Aren’t they?”
I try to force my shoulders to shrug nonchalantly. They’re too heavy to cooperate. “Sort of. Actually our new manager is not really mine or Oz’s biggest fan.”
“Why? What do you mean, not your biggest fan?”
“She suggested I sit out the encore at the showcase.”
Robyn’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rise almost to her hairline. “Did you suggest she go fuck herself?”
I can’t help but smile at her outrage. I shake my head. “No.” A heavy breath escapes, taking some of my shame at sitting out with it. Feels good to be able to tell someone. “I was nervous and kind of jittery so she said I should sit out and let Dallas have the spotlight. And she knew some stuff . . . about me and Gavin so . . .”