He exhaled, drawing circles on her bare knee. “My grandfather’s ill. He had another stroke. Mum left for England this morning; they’re not sure how much longer he has.”
“Oh, Jameson.” She placed her hand over his. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. It’s especially hard for Mum and Uncle Charlie.”
“You should’ve told me,” she said gently. “I want to be here for you.”
“I know.” His smile was weary. “But that’s not the part I was afraid to tell you.”
Her stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going back right after school ends. To England.”
Her eyes pricked with unshed tears. Tears that she willed away. “Like forever?”
Jameson chuckled softly, squeezing her hand. “Not forever, silly girl. I’ll be back for the school year.”
Daisy let out a huge breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Oh wow, I thought… maybe I’m not as strong as I think I am!”
“You are, Daisy, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.”
She waited a few moments before saying anything. “I’ll miss you,” she whispered.
“I’ll miss you too, but we can talk every day. Nothing is going to change.”
Though she smiled and agreed, Daisy sensed the change already taking root—not an ending, but the beginning of something bigger than both of them.
Jameson and his cousins left for England the morning after the last day of school. Ky and Lenny’s mother, Rebecca, had stayed behind with the boys while they finished up.
They performed their last show at Bullets before leaving but promised to return in the fall with even better material. Their small group of fans were bummed, but when life called, you had to answer.
From across the ocean, Jameson kept his promise. Every night, Daisy fell asleep with his voice in her ear, his guitar spilling softly through the phone. Only weeks later did she realize he was waking before dawn just to serenade her before she slept.
“You don’t need to lose sleep for me,” she scolded.
“Of course I do,” he teased. “Who else would sing you to sleep?”
“I could always let David Bowie or Jimi Hendrix do it,” she joked.
“I don’t want you dreaming of other men.” His voice dropped lower, sweeter. “I want to be the last you hear at night. And the first thing you hear in the morning.”
Her body tingled at his honeyed words. She could never get enough.
“I have a new song for you tonight. I’ve been working on it for a bit. It’s still pretty rough, though.”
Daisy snuggled in her bed.
“Let’s hear it, Band Boy.”
There was silence before the light strum of his guitar filled the sound waves. His voice carried effortlessly through the phone.
Miles and miles apart we are,
A bond so strong it doesn’t seem that far,
Can’t wait til the day that I see your face,
