Page 207 of Perfect Pitch

“I hope you think you made the right choice.”

His lips curve. “I know I did. Now come on.” He tugs me forward. “Apparently, I need to get indigestion from ghost pepper wings from Rodeo Ralph’s to be accepted by your uncles.”

It’s on a bubble of laughter I leave my father’s music room. Since I, too, want to see Mitch try the wings, I don’t mention to him he has my uncles’ acceptance the moment we step into the family room.

Still, I hand him the milk after he epically fails the challenge after the first wing.

* * *

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED ONE

You don’t always have to fear happiness. Sometimes, you can celebrate it.

—The Fireside Psychologist

My phone buzzes long after Austyn’s family finished trying to poison me with spicy Texas food for the night. I reach for it on the nightstand. The words are simple and to the point.

Austyn:

I miss your arms around me.

I climb out of bed and make my way to her room. Nothing’s standing in the way of my holding her tonight.

Nothing.

* * *

Lazy blue eyes meet mine when I join her in bed. I call out for the lights to go off. Soon, we’re wrapped in darkness. “I notice you didn’t bother waiting for anyone to go to sleep.”

“Your uncles wanted to tackle me. Your mother was trying not to show how hopeful she was.”

“That’s my mama.” Austyn flings her arms over her head. Her head twists in my direction. “Dad?”

“Your father was resigned but didn’t try to throw his replacement Grammy at me as I walked by.”

“I still can’t believe that psycho broke into Dad’s place,” Austyn grumbles.

I still can’t believe it wasn’t her who ran you down with a car, but I keep my thoughts to myself. Rolling to my side, I prop my head on my hand and rest my other one on her stomach. “Since we’re both happy about where I’m sleeping tonight, do their opinions matter?”

I’d kill to see her smile up at me the way she is right now for the rest of my life. “Not at all.”

I smooth my hand up her rib cage and back down, acclimating her again to my touch. “You seem...”

“Happy?” I nod. “I had an appointment with Sonia today. I feel... stronger? I will never be who I was before the accident, but I’m trying to work through it.” She picks up my hand and presses a kiss to the palm. “She’d like to do a group session with both of us.”

“Whatever you need,” I reply instantly.

“No, Mitch. She wants to see how you’re doing.”

I flop to my back. “I don’t matter.”

Then to my shock, Austyn lies on top of me. Her hair cages our faces in and it drapes down. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. You matter very much to me.”

I swallow. Then I swallow again, trying to clear the knot so I can explain how she’s the one who was hurt.

She leans down and rests her ear on my heart. “Your heart is still my favorite sound in the world, but I wish you could have heard Columbia’s. Just once.”

We lie there for long minutes lost in our own thoughts, each of us contemplating the loss of our daughter. I also debate letting her know that Zandra wasn’t the person who ran her over but decide there’s time to do that tomorrow.

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