Page 126 of Dare to Hold
Harper glares at her. “You sound just like him.”
I hide my smile behind my hand. “Well, I’m glad you’re finally joining us for a service in person.”
She softens just a little. “Yeah, yeah. I guess it’s good to actually hear the message for once.”
I glance toward the stage where the band is setting up, adjusting mics and tuning guitars. My heart does a tiny flip when Gray steps up, his hand running along the edge of his guitar. But there’s something off. His movements are sharp, his eyes a little too focused.
“Everything ok?” Olivia asks, nudging me.
I blink, tearing my eyes away. “Yeah. Why?”
“You’re staring.”
Harper smirks. “I think that’s just her new normal now.”
I nudge her back, trying to laugh it off. “Shut up.”
The music starts, and Gray’s voice cuts through the noise, clear and steady. But there’s a hardness to it. A tension I don’t recognize. I watch his hands move along the guitar strings, the way his jaw tenses when the drummer misses a beat.
Something’s wrong.
“Wow,” Harper whispers, leaning in. “He’s really intense today.”
I nod, unable to tear my eyes away. “Yeah. He is.”
The songs flow one into the other, but Gray doesn’t settle. Normally, he’s so composed, so full of grace. But today, he looks like he’s holding something together by sheer willpower.
Olivia nudges me. “You should probably check on him after.”
“Yeah,” I say softly, my eyes flicking back to the stage. “I think I will.”
Harper scoffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “I still say brunch is the priority.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You and yourwaffles.”
“What? I’m not ashamed,” she says, folding her arms. “But seriously, you should check on him. He looks...I don’t know. Kinda...off.”
I nod, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “I know. I see it too.”
Harper raises an eyebrow. “Guess we’re skipping waffles.”
“Not on my account,” I protest, but Harper waves it off.
“It’s fine. You go do your check-in thing, and we’ll catch up after.”
I smile, touched by her willingness to sacrifice her brunch ritual. “You’re the best.”
Harper shrugs. “I know.”
The final chord fades, and the sanctuary settles into that familiar hum of post-service chatter. People rise from their seats, stretching, hugging, moving toward the lobby. Harper and Olivia are already halfway to the doors, talking about where to eat, but I’m distracted—my eyes searching the stage for Gray.
He’s wrapping cords, talking to someone on the tech team, but even from here, I can see the tension still wound tight in his shoulders. Olivia’s words echo in my mind.You should probably check on him after.
I take a step forward, weaving through clusters of people. He doesn’t see me yet, and I’m halfway up the side aisle when a voice calls out.
“Ivy!”
I turn, coming face to face with a blonde I’ve seenaround before. She’s always at the events—serving at the food tables, setting up chairs, organizing things with the kind of confidence that makes you think she’s been doing it forever. Her smile is bright, a little too perfect, and she loops her arm through mine before I can process what’s happening.
