Page 115 of Sweetheart

"I thought that's what we've been doing."

"Scarlett." My sister gave me a look, and even though she was miles away, it felt like she was right there in the room with me. "Meeting online might not have been the best way togo.My video keeps freezing."

Aurora sighed. "Mine too."

"Let's call it a night," Charlotte said.

"But…" I frowned. "Don't you want to play some more?"

No one said anything.

"Well, I do," I said, lifting Yami Yami to my shoulder with a sniff and starting the piece we'd been working on from the beginning.

"Then you go right ahead," Freya said, reappearing, a glass of water in hand. "By all means, play until your fingers bleed. It won't help though."

"Freya," Viola said, "come on."

"What? We all know there's somethingshe's not telling us."

I stopped playing and shook my head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Charlotte was the one who answered.

"You're stressed," she said. "Who knows about what, but this music session is definitely full of stress."

Viola nodded. "And bad juju."

"And restless energy," Aurora said.

"And know-it-all-ness," Freya put in.

"That's not a thing. Is it?"

"It is, Ror. Just ask Scarlett."

"Ha ha," I said. But when everyonejust stared at me, I paused. "Have I really been that bad?"

Freya nodded. "You keep correcting every little mistake—not that I made any, but Aurora almost cried."

"I did not," Aurora said.

"Could've sworn I saw a tear."

"Sorry," I mumbled, "I was just trying to be helpful, make us better."

"We know," Viola said.

"I love playing with you guys. It's one of my favorite things in the world."

It really was.

"Now that Viola and Charlotte are in college," I continued, feeling my emotions pulling me down, down, down, "who knows how many more times we'll get to practice like this, let alone perform together?"

Freya gave me a half-smile. "We'll always have the Kent family reunion."

"I know, but…I want us to be ready in case we ever land something big."I tried to laugh it off like it was nothing, but it felt like I was betraying myself somehow. "Not that it'll happen, but a girl can dream."

"You can, and you should," Charlotte said.

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