Page 79 of Heartstring

“I’m happy for you, Thor. It’s about time someone other than Kay put a smile on your face.”

“What do you mean?”

I put the knife down and look at the screen on my iPad. His expression is one ofdon’t bullshit me.

“Don’t forget I’ve known you a long time. I’ve seen your stage-bliss face, I’ve seen your dad-bliss face, and I’ve also seen when you try to hide how much something is missing in your life that you don’t know how to get back.”

“It’s not like that, B. We’re just…enjoying each other’s company. Anyway, how’s Mr. Unbearable?”

Even on the small screen, I can see his brows narrow, but there’s some color on his cheeks.

“Dude must have a death wish, and I’m one gift away from making his wish come true.”

I laugh. “You’re gonna need to expand on that.”

“When I took the cows out to the pasture yesterday, there was a goat there.”

“And…?”

“I don’t own a fucking goat!”

I bite my lip so I don’t laugh.

“How do you know it was him?”

“The goat had a red bow around her neck with a card attached. The card read:Being a farmer isn’t easy, but you goat this.”

“That’s…thoughtful…?”

“It’s fucking inconvenient. That’s what it is. Of course my mom has gone and named the goat and thinks it’s the nicest thing someone’s ever done for me. Last week it was a fucking beehive, and the message read:To bee or not to bee a farmer, that is the question.”

Bastian would disagree, but it’s fun seeing him so rattled by someone. I wonder if there’s any history with the guy, but something tells me he’d sooner tell me to fuck off than admit anything else is going on.

We change the conversation to work, and I promise to go up to Vermont with Kay soon so we can have a full weekend of practice. Daisy’s booked us a few TV appearances closer to Christmas, so we’ll need to be ready for that. Maybe even tease new material.

The evening with Kay goes well, and for the first time in a while, she doesn’t complain about school or talk about wanting to go back to Vermont or move to California to be near my mom.

When she asks if she can stay at her friend’s tomorrow, I can’t say no. If this friend is why Kay is more settled in Stillwater, then I won’t be strict about her having sleepovers on school nights.

On my way up to my room, I text Tyler.

Mik: You free tomorrow night?

Ty: Sure, what do you have in mind?

Mik: The list is too long and hard…

Ty: Tell me more…

Mik: Kay is staying over with her friend. Can I stay the night? That way, I can make sure we go through my long and hard list thoroughly and multiple times…

Ty: Stop. You’re making me hard, and I’m at the kitchen right now.

Mik: I’ll behave. See you tomorrow. I’ll bring dinner.

Suddenly I need to move, to create. I turn around and go back down to the basement studio. Since things at home have settled, I’ve been spending a good four to five hours a day working on the music samples Bastian and the guys sent through. We’ve even had a few sessions over video-call. It’s not the same as being in the same room, but we make it work.

Besides, it’s just a four-hour drive to Bastian’s farm in Vermont, and when Kay is on school vacation, we’ll be able to stay longer than the weekend.