Page 101 of Heartstring

As we play, he reaches up to the mic. “Thank you everyone for being here, for your donations of money and time. Thank you to our local rock stars Deliriusand thank you to the legends that are Hall of Fame.”

Bastian does an over-the-top bow.

Tyler meets my eye again and smiles. I want to shout the words on the tip of my tongue for everyone to hear, but then it’s his turn to leave the stage.

There will be plenty of time for that. I’m already planning on kidnapping him into my bedroom tonight. Guests or no guests. Kay’s room is far enough away from mine, and everyone else can use earplugs.

Fox is the next one to leave the stage, followed by Bastian. Stone winks at me, and I have my cue to end the show. With one final over-the-top solo, I’m the last one standing.

Stone throws his batons to the crowd, as usual, and I play through the scramble.

The crowd replaces Stone by clapping the beat, so I keep going, paying attention to one side of the hall and then moving on stage to the other.

When I turn to avoid tripping on the multiple wires on stage, my eye catches something by the stairs leading onto the stage.

Tyler and Seymour are locked in a tight embrace. I turn back to the audience, but from the corner of my eye, I think I see them briefly kiss.

My fingers slip, but thankfully, twenty-five years of practice kick in, and I get back on track. When I look again, neither Tyler nor Seymour are there.

Suddenly, my heart isn’t in it anymore, so I finish the solo, bowing to everyone’s applause.

I get off stage, and I’m greeted by everyone congratulating me for an excellent final solo. Their voices barely register because it’s like I’m underwater.

Around me, I see everyone but Tyler and Seymour.

When I was introduced to Porter’s brother, I immediately knew who he was. The guy who kissed Tyler on stage all those years ago when Bastian decided it was a good idea to stop at a bar close to my hometown.

The guy was good-looking enough then, but now he’s downright gorgeous. I hated him immediately, especially because he keeps looking at Tyler like he knows him better than anyone. Better than me.

No, there has to be some explanation. The adrenaline of performing again. The emotion and what it all means to both of them. That has to be it. Either way, I need to see Tyler. Touch him.

What happened on stage wasn’t a figment of my imagination. I’m not creative enough to make up something as beautiful as falling in love with Tyler and having those feelings reciprocated.

“Hey, have you seen Tyler?” I ask Bastian.

“Not for a while. He went out to the hallway with Seymour earlier.”

I check every room off the hallway but don’t see him anywhere, even in his office.

A thought crosses my mind, so I check the fire exit.

No sooner do I open the door than a bunch of flashes turn in my direction. The lights make it hard to see if Tyler is outside the building.

“Mik, why have you been hiding your daughter?”

“Do you want to make a statement?”

“Is she the fruit of your affair with that actress from the comic movies?”

“Are you seeking full custody?”

“How long have you known about your daughter?”

Someone pulls me back inside the building.

Stone.

“What the fuck was that?” he asks.