Page 38 of Heart Strings

“Went back to LA, but things were… strained, so I just decided on a road trip,” Ty replies, turning to look at me with a half-smile. “I needed to clear my head, figure some things out.”

I nod, my grip on the steering wheel tightening. “How’s that going?”

He sighs, the sound heavy. “It’s been rough, Connor. I’m not going to fucking lie. After... everything, Leo and Maya aren’t talking to me, either. They don’t believe I was drugged.” His voice catches slightly, and he looks away, pain etched across his features.

“That sucks, man. I’m sorry,” I say, my voice low. The guilt of my own quick judgment back then gnaws at me. “I should have been there for you. I should have dug deeper, asked more questions instead of just... walking away.”

“What can I say? Everyone knows I’m an asshole who fucks anything with tits and a tight dress,” he shrugs, a gesture that’s both resigned and forgiving. “It hurts that they didn’t believe me, but I only have myself to blame. You saw what you saw, I get how it looked. Can’t blame you for reacting the way you did.”

“No, that’s not good enough,” I insist, feeling a surge annoyed at Leo and Maya’s dismissal even after Ty explained himself. “You’re my best friend, Ty. I should have had your back.”

He meets my gaze, and there’s a flicker of the old warmth we used to share. “Means a lot, hearing that now. Thanks, man.”

We ride in silence for a few moments, each lost in our own thoughts. I turn onto the road that leads to the cabin, the trees lining the path a blur of green. I’ve missed Ty, more than I’ve let on, more than I even admitted to myself.

As soon as I kill the engine and we step out, the front door swings open and Gracie emerges, her mouth falling open in shock and face lighting up when she sees Ty. Even after everything, I know she loves Ty as well. We all fucking grew up together, but some of us can’t even look at each other anymore.

How fucking sad is that?

Gracie doesn’t hesitate; she runs straight into Ty’s arms, wrapping him in a tight embrace that lifts some of the heaviness from his shoulders.

“Ty! I can’t believe it’s really you,” Gracie exclaims, pulling back to look at him with sparkling eyes. “It’s been too long.”

“It has,” Ty agrees, his voice rough with emotion. “Too long.”

We head inside, and I gesture for them to sit down in the living room while I grab some beers from the fridge. When I return, Ty and Gracie are deep in conversation, laughing about some old band tour mishap. The ease with which they fall back into old patterns is a relief to see.

“So where to from here?” Gracie asks, taking a bite of her scone.

“Vegas, I think. I got some family there that I haven’t seen in a while,” Ty responds flatly, and something in his reply doesn’t sit right with me because he hates his family in Vegas. “After that, maybe something abroad.”

I hand Ty a beer, watching as he takes it with a nod, his focus returning from whatever distant place his last comment had taken him. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not entirely keen on his own plans, or maybe he’s just trying to find ground in a conversation that skirts too close to topics he’s not ready to dive into.

“That sounds like quite the plan,” Gracie says, her tone curious yet gentle, knowing well Ty’s strained relationship with his family. “But are you sure about Vegas? Last time you mentioned them, it didn’t seem like...”

Damn. Trust Gracie to just lay it out there.

Ty shrugs, a shadow passing over his features. “Yeah, I know. It’s complicated. Just feels like maybe it’s time to mend some fences, you know?”

Gracie nods understandingly, her expression softening. “Well, if you ever need a break or just want to hang out, you know you’ve got a place here with us. Right, Connor?”

“Absolutely,” I chime in, handing Ty a beer. “You’re always welcome here, man. No questions asked.”

Ty cracks a half-smile, accepting the beer. “Thanks, guys. Means a lot, really.”

The conversation drifts to lighter topics—music, mutual friends, and plans for the future. As we talk, I watch Ty. There’s a weariness about him that wasn’t there before, a heaviness that doesn’t quite lift even as he laughs.

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Gracie stands up, stretching. “I’m going to start on some supper. Ty, you’re staying, right? I won’t take no for an answer.”

The relief on Ty’s face is palpable, and he nods gratefully. “That sounds great, Gracie. Thanks.”

As Gracie excuses herself to start on supper, I gesture to Ty, leading him out to the balcony. The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of orange and pink. I pull out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to Ty, who takes it with a slight hesitation.

We light up, and I lean against the railing, watching the smoke drift upward into the fading light. The quiet between us is comfortable, a testament to the years of friendship that, despite everything, has not entirely frayed.

I turn to him, deciding it’s time to address the elephant that’s always lurking whenever we’re together. “Listen, Ty, about everything that happened... you don’t need to apologize, man. I should have believed you, should have dug deeper before walking away.”

Ty exhales slowly, the smoke mingling with a heavy sigh. “I appreciate that, Connor. It’s been... it’s been hell, honestly. But I get it. I know how it looked.”

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