Page 16 of Hold my Reins

Rox glanced at them both as if realizing there was something going on. “Have you got something that won’t keep me up allnight?” He leaned on the counter and tilted his head at Lynck. “That’s his job.”

Thursten roared with laughter. “I like him.”

That was all he was good for, right? Keeping a human up all night. He regretted offering to buy the coffees. He needed to delete the app and forget about humans. While there weren’t other kelpies for him to date, there were other monsters. But even monsters had heard one too many stories about kelpies. Lynck forced a smile.

“What about the afternoon delight? Rich berry notes with a hint of sweetness?”

Rox lifted his eyebrows. “It’s not actually called that?”

“It is,” Lynck confirmed. “There’s also lazy morning, sinful sighs, and Sunday brunch. Sunday brunch has vanilla notes, so you may not like it.”

“Okay, then…afternoon delight sounds great.”

“Good choice. They won’t be long.” Thursten turned away to make the drinks.

“There’s all kinds of stuff in here…” Rox pointed to a gramophone up in a corner.

“I think it’s meant to have a human antique feel.” There was also a lute, some pan pipes, and other bits around the room—all out of reach from curious fingers.

“Yeah, I can see that.” He looked at the piano in the corner that had several signs on top, reminding people no food or drinks at the piano and that children must be supervised, or they’d be served to the cook out the back. Which was a joke. Monsters weren’t allowed to eat humans.

“You can play it.”

He scuffed his shoe. “I don’t think I can. Mom played, and she taught me, but…”

Lynck leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Trust me, we have all heard worse than whatever you do.”

Last night Rox had seemed confident, now he acted as though he didn’t belong and was scared of doing the wrong thing. Lynck gave him a little nudge toward the piano.

Rox took one step toward the old upright. Then another. His shoulders eased as he crossed the floor and pulled out the stool. He sat and stared at the keys for several heartbeats, then lifted his hands and placed his fingers on the keys.

He closed his eyes but didn’t play anything.

“Is he okay?” Thursten whispered as he put the takeout cups on the counter.

“I’m not sure… He said he played. I thought it would be a good idea.” He was missing something because Rox hadn’t moved.

Rox let his hands drop, playing all ten notes at once. His eyes remained closed as he lowered his head. He sniffed and stood. “I can’t.”

Lynck picked up the cups, suspecting this get-together was over before it began. “Another time?”

Rox shrugged and accepted the cup. “Thank you. I’ll buy next time…once I get paid.”

So money was a problem, and not the only one Rox had. Lynck itched to ask what was going on, but he kept his mouth closed. If he asked too many questions, Rox would do the same, and that was dangerous ground he didn’t want to cross. He held the door, and they stepped out onto the street. “Do you want to check out the lake?”

Even though he was no longer smiling, Rox nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry about back there.”

“You weren’t in the mood to play, I understand.” Music had to come from the heart.

They walked in silence, with Lynck leading the way to the lake.

“I haven’t played since Mom’s funeral. And when I sat there, that was the only song I remembered, and I don’t want to play it ever again.” He took a sip of the coffee. “I sold everything when I left…I regret selling her piano. But I couldn’t… Ah fuck, you don’t want to listen to my sad story.”

“I’m sorry you lost your mom.” But he didn’t understand why Rox had needed to sell everything. “Was your dad not around?”

“Nah, he’s a piece of shit. Left before I turned two, made himself a new family, and never paid a cent of child support. I found him when I was sixteen, a year after she had cancer the first time. I thought he might help me. I needed help…” He gave a hollow laugh. “She got better until it came back three years ago.”

Then she’d died, and Rox had sold everything. “Is that why you moved here? To start over?”

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