Page 92 of Sing For Me

“We’re getting a group together to go swimming,” I tell CeCe as I take the offered popsicle. “You want to come?”

Her eyes light up. “Yeah! Can Vega and Violet come, too?”

I look over at the older cousins, suddenly concerned that they might not want all of their little siblings and cousins tagging along. But Everly only ruffles the little girl’s hair. “We should all go.”

“All go where?” Will asks, reappearing at my side while the Can-Jam players—including Reed freaking Ransome, who I still can’t believe I’m standing this close to—all gather around CeCe to grab ice-pops.

“We’re gonna go to the creek, maybe do some tubing,” Everly says, and Will immediately shoots me a look filled with worry.

I manage to smile. “I want to go.”

“Are you sure? Because we don’t have to. We could go a different time, by ourselves.”

His obvious concern is attracting attention from his cousins. CeCe is looking back and forth between the two of us, eyebrows furrowed.

I take a fortifying breath and smile at her. “I’ve had a couple surgeries,” I tell her, knowing the rest of them can hear. I try to pretend like one of the best drummers in the world isn’t standing nearby while I spill my secrets. “I have some gross scars on my side and Will knows I don’t really like people to see them so he’s being a worry wart about it.”

CeCe laughs. “Will’s a worry wart abouteverything.”

“Yeah,” Silas agrees. “You should have seen him when I got my driver’s permit.”

“Or when I went on my first date,” Everly adds, eyes sparkling with amusement.

“If it was up to me, you still wouldn’t be dating,” Will mutters, and they all laugh.

And just like that, the topic of my scar is no big deal.

As we all break up to go get our swimming things, Will grips my arm. “You sure you’re good with this?”

I shrug. “I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines.”

His gaze shifts, something fiery and fierce growing there. I think it might be pride. I take a deep breath, letting his emotion wash over me. If letting a few more people see my scar is enough to get Will Ransome to look at me like that, I’m definitely glad I decided to give bravery a shot.