Page 80 of Omega Rock

Mia wraps an arm around his shoulder. “No, that’s a fantastic idea. And we can set you up separate from the crowd. I love this so much, Noah.”

I grin wider. “Love me when it’s set.”

* * *

Three weeks later we gather with everyone who signed up to join us in Central Park near Juilliard. We managed to collect at least fifty people and there are plenty here I don’t remember signing up. The call went out far and wide across the musical scene, and I couldn’t be happier.

As we set out to get everyone placed and the recording started, I catch a glimpse of someone in the crowd who I never thought I’d see again. Neverwantedto see again.

The dean who had me kicked out to cover her own misdeeds.

She sits not far from Leo with a flute in her hands. Warming up.

Our eyes meet from across the way and I lift my chin. There’s an unmistakable apology in her eyes. Unfortunately, it’s several years too late. But honestly, I think everything that happened that night, even being kicked out of Juilliard, was for the better.

It set me on the path to meet my pack.

And my band.

It helped me exit one fate and walk right into another.

I give her a little nod and then focus on what we’re all here to do. When everyone’s settled, I grab a microphone and hop into the center of the circle we’ve created around Leo who stands beside Mia and Aiden.

“Thank you all for coming out today,” I say. Being surrounded by so many who knew me by reputation—good and bad—gives me more stage fright than any Knotty Tour crowd ever did. “This song is very special, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to make this version of it. You’ll see cameras coming around to record along with the audio. We’ll run through a few times. Thank you again.”

I step down and take my spot not far away. Aiden and Mia join me with their guitars. Sable is here with Seth and a few others. They ready their cameras to record.

And then it’s just Leo in the middle of the orchestra.

Supported by so many.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

MIA

It is actuallyinsane how viral Leo’s Song goes. And that’s what we name it, plain and simple. The orchestra video travels far and wide to the tune of 5 million views on the main social platforms, and it’s a flurry I can barely keep up with. More than a few lifestyle segments on TV reach out for interviews, and the reposts and video stitches are wild.

So wild that none of us wants to speak into existence the worry that the only person it feels like we haven’t heard from is Wes.

We decide to head out to the beach for one of the last truly warm summer days. The sun’s high above us now, hot and burning, but we’ve got more than one umbrella set up to keep Leo away from the sun and the rest of us from sunburn. Waves crash in the distance and the smell of salty ocean air soothes my frayed nerves.

Leo is doing so much better now. He’s no longer in pain and moving his hands isn’t an issue. Noah’s gotten on with old Juilliard friends he hasn’t talked to in so long. Aiden’s doing his best to get our music out there within bounds allowed by the contract with Wes and his management company. Overall, our pack and band are doing so well, you’d never know the turmoil we went through during Knotty Tour.

All we can do is pray we get a second chance.

I think I manifest it while staring at the ocean. Our album plays softly on a speaker tucked near Noah’s head where he’s sunbathing. Then Aiden’s phone rings.

“It’s Wes,” he announces, which has us all sitting up. Aiden puts the call on speaker. “Hi, Wes. We’re all here.”

“Good!” Wes actually sounds happy. It makes my heart skip a beat. “Long time, no chat. How is everyone doing?”

Aiden gives us all a nervous glance. “We’re doing really well.”

“Hi, Wes!” I call out after.

Noah’s flipped over onto his stomach now. “How are you?”

Wes chuckles into the line. “I’m feeling a little bad about giving you all the cold shoulder the last few weeks. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to say for a while, and then I wanted to see what you all created with the album. Which is fantastic, by the way. And that social media campaign was something special, too.”

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