Page 58 of Heartbreaker

It can’t be.

I quietly open the door and tiptoe down the hall.

Holy guacamole.

Royal is sitting on the chair by the fireplace, head bent over my acoustic guitar. The fingers of his left hand seem to be working the frets expertly but I can’t see his right hand since he’s turned away from me.

But God, what a sight.

Royal freakin’ Ewing.

Basically in my living room,playing guitar.

It’s soft, and there’s no doubt he’s not doing much with his right hand.

But he’s doing it.

And my steely resolve goes right out the darn window.

His head is down, hair falling forward, so his face is shrouded, but I see the concentration. The struggle. Thefrustration.

And there’s nothing I want more than to make that go away. To do something—anything really—to make it better.

I pad quietly into the room and before I realize what I’m doing, I’m standing behind him. His right hand is curved, pressed against the strings, and he’s using his arm more than the hand to strum as best he can.

“Motherfu—” He starts to mutter more curses under his breath, and I bend over him.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, covering his right hand with mine and lightly squeezing.

I feel him stiffen but refuse to let him pull away.

“Just play. I can follow your lead.” I drop my chin to his shoulder and move our hands in tandem. It’s a simple motion, my hand guiding his on the strings.

But it works.

As if by magic, I feel the tension drain from his body. Feel him relax back against me. Feel him letting me in.

Letting me do this for him.

Neither of us say a word.

His eyes are closed now, and he’s swaying slightly, practically becoming one with the guitar.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

“Let’s play it from the beginning,” he says in a raspy voice. “Midnight Snow.”

I already know the changes he’s made are perfect.

“Yes.” I stay right where I am, letting him guide the music while I move his hand.

And it’s like we’ve done it a million times.

It’s so easy to play together, sing together…do almost everything together.

Which is why it hurt my feelings so much when he made me feel like my contributions weren’t valid.

Yet now we’re playing it almost like we did before…and it’s?—

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