Page 148 of The Sound Between Us

We stand there in the quiet. I wonder how many times my life, my understanding of my life, can implode.

“You see, love,” Dad says, his voice almost gentle now, “when you become famous, you get put on a pedestal. Like a fucking god. But all of us—we’re just human. We’re born, we bleed, and we die. Some of us are just lucky that we get to leave a loud sound in our wake.”

And somehow, I believe him. Even if it hurts. Even if it changes everything I thought I knew.

I don’t know what to say. What to do. So I do the only thing that makes sense.

I fling my arms around him.

He hugs me back tight. Bone-deep.

“Have you spoken to your sister yet?” he asks into my hair. I stiffen but he holds me tighter.

“Dad…”

“I’m an optimist, babe. Can’t help myself. Harrison shouldn’t have lied, love, he really shouldn’t.” He pulls back slightly to meet my gaze which I want to drop to my toes, but force to look back at him. “But I do understand it, him. Before I met Kimba⁠—”

“No! Let’s just stop there.”

He gives me his megastar grin and pulls me back in, nearly squeezing the life out of my bones.

When we finally pull apart, he sniffles and steps back, brushing a hand through his too-long fringe.

“Guess what.”

I eye him warily. “More revelations?”

He grins. “Guess who got the legend slot at Glasto?”

“Haven’t you already headlined three times?”

“Yeah.” He chuckles, slinging his arm over my shoulders. “But now we’re legends, babe.”