Page 184 of Graves

“No. There were no surveillance cameras or anything like that.”

The fact that the guy has been dead for months makes it easy to keep up the act.

“I’d move too,” Sophie agrees. “After something like that, I wouldn’t feel safe there anymore. Have you sold the apartment yet?”

“A real estate agency took care of it. I still have two weeks to clear out the rest. There are a few instruments left, but that’s it.”

“And the paparazzi?”

“They’ve gotten bored of me by now,” I say. “At least I’m no longer the nation’s asshole. After what happened, the media took my side again.”

Staring at my plate, I feel Koh watching me from the side. He knows how much the whole thing affected me.

Early in my music career, I learned that not everyone would like me. But the wave of hate that hit me after my early release caught me off guard. Ultimately, it was my own self-hatred that dragged me into the deepest pit.

Koh helped me find my way out of that dark hole. Over the last few weeks, I’ve even managed to make peace with Ben. I’m looking forward to a future I’m genuinely excited about.

With Koh by my side. Because without him, my life would have taken a very different path.

“You were a lot of things, little brother, but never boring,” Sophie comments, fighting back a smile.

“So what are you doing now?” Chris asks, taking a sip of beer. “I can’t imagine someone like you working a normal job.”

I grimace. This is exactly the question I was dreading. The silence stretches long enough that Sophie looks up.

“When he’s not painting or tinkering with his weird sounds,” Koh says, “he takes the dogs out.”

“Dogs? You only have one.” Sophie glances at Pixie, who’s still sunbathing.

“I kind of fell into it,” I explain. “Koh reopened his practice and instantly had double bookings. I ended up dog-walking while he built up his clients. It all happened so fast.”

“Dog-walking?” Chris gapes at me, bewildered. He clears his throat, trying to act like that’s a perfectly normal profession in his world.

Sophie gently bumps her shoulder against her husband’s. “That’s great! Aran has always been good with dogs.”

“Sorry, honey, but…” Chris turns back to me. “What do you actually earn doing that?”

It’s hard for either of us not to grin. Koh covers his mouth with his hand because he’s still chewing.

“Enough to invite you to this wonderful meal,” I joke.

Sophie lovingly pats her husband’s back. “Compared to Aran, we’re both total squares, babe. I made peace with that a long time ago.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassure Chris. “We’re not exactly starving. It’s almost grotesque how much money Grave Sinner made in the last four months from streaming alone.”

“It’s absurd anyway,” Sophie chimes in. “I still remember when you bought the apartment in the West Village at twenty-two. That was already insane. You guys were clearly making way too much money.”

“Yeah, and I didn’t spend any of it for five years,” I say thoughtfully. “Still didn’t keep me out of trouble.”

Koh takes my hand and gives me a warm smile. Every time he looks at me like that, I can hardly believe my luck.

The afternoon passes peacefully. We talk about everything. My sister fills me in on the latest Boston gossip while Koh bonds with Lisa. Watching how adorably awkward he is with the newborn makes me fall in love with him even more.

Late in the afternoon, our guests get ready for the three-hour drive back to Massachusetts. Sophie has taken Koh into her heart and hugs him like a brother. Chris says goodbye a bit more reservedly, shaking our hands and thanking us for the invitation, even though it was Sophie who invited herself.

“Next time you come to Boston,” she says as we hug, “Mom and Dad would love to see you.”

“I will.”