Page 129 of Introvert

"Let's go home," he said.

On the way, we called in an order and picked up a pizza.

It was odd, but when I walked through our front door, the one I'd entered probably a million times before, it didn't feel the same. Wonderful. Coming home was amazing. It made my body feel lighter somehow. And yet, it wasn't quite the same.

I remembered what Mom said the night before about how I looked different.

Maybe she was right.

"What are you going to do?" Mom asked.

I sent her a smile over my shoulder. "Practice violin for a little bit."

"And then?"

"Hope I don't get kicked off the tour."

I sighed.

"Hope that Taylor and Izzy aren't mad at me for not telling them I was leaving."

Felix too, I thought, but he probably hadn't noticed I was gone.

Even if he had, I wasn't sure he'd care.

"And pray that by some miracle, I can make it back for the next performance."

"Where is it again?" Dad asked.

"The last one was inMiami. The next one's in West Palm Beach, not tomorrow but the next night.We have soundchecktoo."

I shrugged.

"I mapped the drive, and I'll have to leave super early to even have a chance at making it."

"I thought that rich kid's grandma let you use her plane," Dad said.

"Private jet," Mom corrected.

"Yeah, she did.But she didn't give me free reign to use itforever," I said and placed my hands on my hips as I stared down my dad. "I thought you were asleep."

He gave me a smile. "That's because I wanted you to think that."

"Dad!"

With a laugh, he patted me on the shoulder and said, "I love you, Ror. It'll work out."

I gave him a dubious look.

"You really think they'll be able to find another violinist on such short notice and with just two tour stops left?"

"Yeah, they probably can."

"But not one as good as you," he said.

Mom tugged me to her in a hug. "I'm sure they'll still want you. And if they don't, they're dumb as rocks."

I embraced her and nodded into her shoulder.

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