Dancing with me in the living room.
Jumping into the car.
Saying I was beautiful.
I hadn't known what I was going to play, but suddenly, I did.
Resting the violin on my shoulder, it felt like something I was missing finally fell into place. My bow held at the perfect angle, I started playing. The melody was slow and sweet with hints of elation and yearning.Enchantedby Taylor Swift. It was one of my favorites, one of the first songs I'd learned to play on my own simply because I loved it, felt it in my bones. I couldn't count how many times I'd played it alone in my room. But this was the first time I fully understood what the person who wrote it must have been feeling. Tolliver inspired me to play this song, but I didn't look at him once. Instead, I allowed myself to sink into the music. To disappear into the notes. To feel every phrase. My vibrato sang, rose and fell, capturing the brightness mixed with melancholy. And as the final note softened to nothing, I looked up.
Tolliver started clapping.
"Amazing," he said.
I gave a small bow.
"You're...that was amazing, Kent."
The clapping got louder, and I noticed my cousins were standing nearby.
"We agree," Viola said.
"Gorgeous," Scarlett said.
"So pretty it made me cry," Lottie put in.
"I thought you guys were asleep," I said.
"We heard you leave and decided to be nosy."
"Plus," Viola added, "Uncle Thad texted and said to keep an eye on you and Tolliver."
"He didn't." I said.
Scarlett nodded. "He texted all three of us."
For some reason, that both impressed and made me love my dad even more.
Tolliver offered a hand to help me off the stage, and I took it.
"Thanks," I said.
"For what?" he asked.
I shook my head, not ready to tell him the extent of it,friendsrunning through my mind on repeat. "Just for being here."
He scoffed.
"I mean it, Stone. Sometimes, that's enough."
Tolliver gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "There's no place I'd rather be, Kent."
As we rejoined my cousins, I was smiling so hard it hurt.
"Again, beautiful job," Viola said. "Can we go to sleep now?"
I laughed. "Yeah, we have a long drive tomorrow."
"Don't remind me."
