Page 101 of The Other Side of Green

“So if she thought playing the violin would ruin my life, when hers was already a joke, what the hell chance would I stand?”

“But you did play. You carried on lessons, you still applied to come here?”

“That night, I—” I couldn’t say that Jack had pressed the first of many pieces of paper against his window asking me to play. Like he knew I needed it as much as he did. “I found a reason to play. The music teacher only lasted another couple of semesters, then he left. I never knew but I think he made Grams promise that I’d keep playing. The school funded me for a long time.”

“And applying here?”

I smiled and it taste bittersweet. “Promises I made.”

Greene blinked at me through his glasses. “Sounds to me like it’s time you made some promises to yourself.”

I couldn’t say he was wrong.

I wanted to race after Jack, but my chest felt tight, my head light. Almost unseeing I walked up the steps to Hamilton and hauled ass to the fifth floor.

The steps would never get any easier.

Turning my key in the door I longed for five minutes of respite. I just needed to think.

Breathe.

Sure I wanted to see Jack and kiss the fuck out of him for about six hours solid until my lips looked like I’d had filler—but before that I just needed to think.

Dragging up memories had never been a favorite pastime of mine. I wondered about Grams and all her secrets, what must they have cost to keep.

Maybe the best way to deal with things that weighed on your heart was to face them and tick them off one by one.

I picked up my cell and scrolled recent calls until I found the number I needed, clicking it and letting it ring.

“Lyra?”

“Hey.” My throat tightened. “How are you?” Nope, no good. Tears squeezed out of my eyes.

“Are you crying?” Luca asked.

“Mm. Maybe.” My words squeaked like the big talk of a mouse.

“I’m fine.”

“I know.”

“Jack told you…”

“Yes.” Another squeak.

“I did the right thing, Lyra. You made me see that.” He sighed while I sat there wordless. “It feels like an enormous weight has been lifted. Thank you.”

“Mm-mm.”

Luca chuckled. ‘Go and play violin or somethin’, I’ll speak to you soon.”

I gripped the cell tight in my palm. “Love you.”

“And I love you, Lyra. You’re my sister.”

“Bye, Luca.”

“Wait—” he called me back.