Page 41 of Heart Strings

Sophie hurries inside, avoiding further interaction, and Ty’s gaze follows her, a mix of longing and regret in his eyes.

“Alright, spill it,” I prompt as I watch Sophie disappear into the house. “What’s going on between you and Sophie?”

Ty sighs, his shoulders sagging a bit as he sits on one of the picnic benches. “It’s a long story, man.”

I take a seat across from him, curious and concerned. “We’ve got nothing but time, Ty. What happened?”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking out over the lake before he starts. “Sophie and I, we were a thing, a long time ago. Fell pretty hard for each other. We kept it quiet because... I don’t know, we wanted something that was just ours, you know? Not for the band, not for anyone else.”

I nod, remembering how close they’d seemed back then, always together, always laughing. I’d suspected something, but never wanted to pry.

“Everything was great until after the band’s first big tour,” Ty continues, his voice tinged with regret. “We came back, and I guess success changed things. We fought—a lot. About stupid stuff, mostly. I still can’t even remember what started it all.”

“And then?” I prompt when he falls silent.

“And then, the last time I left town, we broke up. Viciously,” he admits, shaking his head. “I don’t even know why it got so bad so fast. Sophie hasn’t really spoken to me since. I tried reaching out a few times, but she shut me down. I left it alone after that.”

This is a big fucking shock to me, seeing as Ty is the epitome of a bad boy who has a different woman in his bed every night. How did he go from being devoted to one woman to a womanizer?

But the pain in his voice is evident, the weight of unresolved feelings clearly still a burden. “You think there’s any chance to fix things?” I ask, hoping for his sake there is.

Ty shrugs, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know, man. Maybe. If she’s willing to talk, I’d like to try. But I’ve got to respect her space, too. She’s been clear she doesn’t want me around.”

“Maybe today’s the day,” I suggest. “We’re all here, it’s neutral ground. Might be a good time to clear the air.”

Ty looks uncertain, but then nods slowly. “Maybe. I’ll see how the day goes.”

Just then, Gracie and Sophie emerge from the cabin, Gracie carrying a tray of marinated meat and Sophie with a bowl of her salad and some buns. They’re laughing, the sound light and carefree, a stark contrast to our more serious conversation.

“Hey, you two ready to eat?” Gracie calls out, setting the tray down on the table near the grill.

“Born ready,” I reply, standing up and moving to take the tray from her. I give Ty a reassuring pat on the shoulder as I pass. “We’ll figure this out, buddy.”

Ty nods, managing a grateful smile as he stands to help with the drinks. The afternoon slips into an easy rhythm of grilling, eating, and sharing stories. The laughter and camaraderie feel good, but the undercurrent of Ty’s situation with Sophie lingers in my mind.

I decide to leave them to it, focusing on giving them a moment. Maybe today won’t solve everything, but it’s a start.

Chapter 31

Gracie

As the evening winds down and the last embers of the campfire glow softly in the darkness, Ty and Sophie quietly say their goodbyes, their expressions somber and thoughtful. I give Sophie a tight hug and whisper a hopeful, “Take care, okay?” She nods, forcing a smile, her eyes flicking briefly towards Ty before she climbs into her car.

Ty offers me a brief, somewhat strained smile as he follows suit, his departure less assured. “Thanks for today, Gracie. It meant a lot,” he says, his voice low.

“Anytime, Ty. Really,” I reply, squeezing his hand. I watch as his car fades into the night, a part of me anxious about the unresolved tension between him and Sophie.

Turning back towards the cabin, I feel the chill of the night air and shiver slightly. Connor notices and wraps an arm around my shoulders, guiding me back inside. “You okay, Tink?” he asks, his voice tinged with concern.

“Yeah, just... thinking about those two,” I admit as we step inside the warm cabin. The coziness of the interior envelops us, a stark contrast to the chill outside. “Connor, could I stay the night? It feels too late to drive back, and with everything...”

“Of course you can stay. Let me get the fire going. Make yourself at home,” Connor says, already moving towards the hearth to stoke the fire.

Grateful, I head to the bathroom to take a quick shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of the day’s emotions. When I emerge, wrapped in a soft towel, the cabin is filled with the soothing crackle of the fire, and Connor has set out a bottle of wine with two glasses on the coffee table.

I quickly change into a comfy set of clothes I’d left here from my last visit and join him on the sofa, my hair still damp from the shower. Connor pours the wine, handing me a glass.

“Here’s to a day well spent,” he toasts, clinking his glass gently against mine.

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