Page 65 of A Love Song for Dreamers

I fold my arms over my chest, staring at the water glass, the liquid vibrating slightly with the movement of theplane.

“So what? You think if I want to square things with my dad, I have to contacther?”

Tyler’s hand covers mine, and he tugs it toward him, threading our fingers together. Warmth spreads through me. “You don’t have to do anything. But I don’t want to see it eat atyou.”

I shift in my seat. “Did you make peace with your dad and what he did to you? The bills he left you withafter?”

Tyler’s head drops back against the headrest, but his eyes stay on me. “Yeah, I did. It took a long fucking time, but Idid.”

I turn that over the rest of the ride back toDallas.

* * *

When the plane arrives,the car drops Tyler off at his hotel, then takes me back to Dad and Haley’s. I walk in the door and immediately know something’swrong.

“Sophie, we need to go.” My dad’s voice is harsh as he stalks into thehallway.

“I don’t wannoo. I’mplaying.”

My attention goes to Haley, who’s hunched over by thestairs.

“What happened?” I demand, rushing toher.

“I’ve been having some headaches, which isn’t a big deal except I don’t normally get them,” Haley says weakly. “Today I’ve been having stomach pains, too. I’m sure it’sfine.”

“I’m not,” my dad responds. “We’re going to the hospitalnow.”

My dad and Haley take one car, and I drive Sophie in the other, following them. At the hospital, they take Haley and my dad into a room. Sophie and I waitoutside.

I debate only the briefest moment before calling Tyler to tell him whathappened.

“I’ll be right there,” he says immediately, and some of the worry ebbs away knowing he’scoming.

I try to keep Sophie occupied, but she races to the door that opens to where Haley is. I’m a beat late chasingher.

Inside, the doctor’s trying to kick out my dad. “We need to run some tests. It will be more efficient with only mehere.”

“Fuckefficient.”

“Jax, it’s fine,” Haley insists, wrapping a hand around his wrist, which seems to soothe him. He seems more worked up than she does. “Go sit outside. How would you feel if someone was in your studio telling you what todo?”

Dad finallyrelents.

The three of us walk into the waiting room just as Tyler stalks around thecorner.

“How is she?” Tyler asks, his gaze flicking betweenus.

“We’re trying to find out,” Jax answersgrimly.

“Hey, Sunshine Sophie.” Tyler’s attention lands on my sister wandering down the hallway and tracing a finger down the wall. “Let’s go find some trucksoutside.”

She runs for him, and I shoot him a gratefulsmile.

After Tyler departs, my dad lifts his hands to his face, and I frown. “Are you biting your nails rightnow?”

He rubs a hand over his neck. “Haven’t done that in a long fuckingtime.”

Beneath the grumpiness, there’s something deeper, a worry that barking at people can’tfix.

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