Page 15 of A Love Song for Dreamers

“Good.” Her gaze narrows. “On another front, I heard about Mr. Adams’ injury. I’m sorry. He was a tremendoustalent.”

“Is,” I correct. “He can’t play yet. But he’s still the same person hewas.”

In the days since Leo’s, I haven’t slept at Tyler’shotel.

I wanted to help him. Wanted him to openup.

He did, didn’the?

He said he wished I hadn’t made him believe in somethingbigger.

“Life changes us.” Talbot’s voice brings me back. “It can happen over years or in an instant. He may never be the same person. But there’s another risk, which is that you might lose yourself in trying to findhim.”

I want to reject her words, but my throat is too tight to producesound.

“How old are you?” she goeson.

“Nineteen.”

Her clear eyes crease at the corners. “Life will change you in more ways than you can imagine, good and bad. Now, you have an opportunity. Don’t let that go towaste.”

I nod. “Thank you, Ms.Talbot.”

“Annie.”

I don’t realize the tear has streaked down my cheek until she holds out thetissue.

“Call meMiranda.”

On my way out, I make adecision.

Tyler and I need to talk. Maybe he’s wrong and maybe I am, but we’re going to figure this outtogether.

The whole subway ride over to Tyler’s hotel, I’m torn between thoughts of him and the opportunity I’ve beengiven.

When I get up to street level at the other end of the line, there’s an incoming call on myphone.

“Miss Jamieson, this is the financial aid office at Vanier. I know the last time we spoke there wasn’t anything available, but we have new funding that hadn’t been added to our online system. It would cover tuition, plus astipend.”

I pull up in the middle of the street, the backs of my eyesburning.

“Miss Jamieson? Are you stillthere?”

“Yes, I’m still here.” Iswallow.

I could stay in school and have this hugeopportunity.

“Are you interested inapplying?”

“Yes. Yes, of course. Thankyou.”

After hanging up, I bound to Tyler’shotel.

When I get to his suite, he’s gone. But a note scrawled on the hotel stationary on the counter says he went to a meeting at thestudio.

I hope they’re not kicking himout.

Although, maybe it would be for the best if he went back to his apartment. He needs to get back into his routine, hislife.

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