Page 22 of Verses

But it didn’t matter. I needed to be away from Kyle. It seemed that we couldn’t spend two minutes together anymore without me feeling infuriated with him. I understood he was in pain and that living was hard for him right now…but that didn’t change the fact that he was self-absorbed and uncaring.

Andthathurtme. It also made me angry.

Why did he most often respond with hostility or apathy? And why couldn’t I figure out how to work around it? It didn’t matter what I said or how it started. Maybe he didn’t trust me anymore.

And, if he didn’t, I didn’t know how we could stay together.

Finally arriving at The Apothecary in record time, I pulled on the big wooden door, and it was like walking into another dimension. The sun had been shining brightly and it was warmoutside, but when I walked indoors, it was at least two degrees cooler and so much darker that my eyes had to adjust before I could move quickly.

Until that second, I hadn’t registered that I’d actually broken a sweat in my rush to get here.

Just walking in that old bar helped me shift my mindset. Instantly, I grew calm because this was where I created, where I made music. Even though there was a lot of strife in the band lately…I had hope.

And when I saw Wolf at the bar, I just knew he was going to make it all better.Hewas what we needed.

WhatIneeded.

As I crossed to the bar, I said, “Hey, Wolf,” holding up my hand to give a little wave.

“Hey, Hayley. You’re early again. What’s up with that?”

“Always better to be early than late.”

“Well, I don’t disagree with you there—and don’t think I’m complaining. Can I get you something?”

“Just a glass of water.”

“Got it.”

Getting up on a stool and leaning over, I said, “So I gotta ask. Are you going to make me wait till everybody’s here to tell me?” Maybe that was rude so I added, “Have you made a decision?”

“Yes.” After putting two slices of lemon in my water and setting the glass on a paper napkin, he slid it across the polished surface.

As I began cooling off, I took a sip of that water—and it tasted even more delicious than usual.

I couldn’t read his face—but he looked so serious. He said, “I’ll tell you if you promise not to say anything to the guys until I can.”

My heart sank…because this already felt like a no. But I nodded and took another sip of water.

“I spent a lot of time pondering what taking your offer would mean and thinking how dumb it would be. I’m not a kid anymore, and I don’t necessarily have those kinds of dreams anymore about making it or becoming famous or being idolized for my awesome guitar playing.”

Oh, yeah. This was definitely a no…so I braced myself.

But I kept listening.

“Here’s the thing, though. I love playing guitar. I love music. And Liam was a hell of a player. So it would be an honor to do his music right.”

The full impact of what he’d said didn’t hit me right away. When it did, I said quietly, “Really? Is that…a yes?”

“Yeah. I believe it is.”

I started laughing as relief coursed through my veins. “I’m so glad.”

Understatement of the year.

“I think this calls for a shot.”

“Agreed.” I smiled at Wolf, eager now for the future, not knowing then just how much his decision was going to change the course of my life.

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