Page 12 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

Closing my eyes, I strummed my fingers over the strings a couple of times, to test the tuning. It had been a while since I’d played. Holding my guitar, making music, it stirred something inside me that had the power to consume me. It had always been this way, but my old man didn’t appreciate my musical talent.

Never had, never would.

So I’d all but given it up. I’d walked away from the band I’d played in with my friends—Jude, Mikey, and Travis. I’d ruined our friendship. All for him. A man who cared enough to assert his wishes for my future but didn’t care enough to consider what I wanted.

Asshole.

I slipped into the rhythm, my fingers carving out the chords with easy familiarity. It wasn’t something you forgot just because you hadn’t played in a while. No, it all came flooding back, lighting me up inside. As easy as breathing.

God, I loved to play guitar.

More than I’d ever loved anything else in the world.

But music didn’t pay the bills; it didn’t put food on the table and money in the bank. It wasn’t a solid plan for the future. It wasn’t the right career path.

To my father, music simply wasn’t an option.

And it was all I wanted.

Well, that and for Sofia to forgive me.

Fuck.

Life was a mess.

Senior year, college applications looming, a future I didn’t want awaiting me if I didn’t find a way to stand up to Curtis Kandon. Whoever said this time was the best time of your life, had clearly never walked a day in my shoes.

It could be worse, asshole.

Guilt flashed through me. Here I was overthinking my future, when Sofia was dealing with the possibility of something being wrong with her.

Fuck.

I dropped my hand, the vibration making the strings plink. Reaching behind me, I patted the bed for my cell phone. Only this time, I didn’t type out a message for Sofia.

Me:Just wanted to let you know I’m here for you if you need to talk.

Aaron: It’s all good, dude. False alarm.

My brows knitted.

Me: False alarm? What does that mean?

Aaron: Her iron levels are still too low. She might need a transfusion.

Me: So everything’s okay?

Aaron: Yeah, bro. You can relax now. I’m fine. Sofia is fine (anemia notwithstanding). Everything is fine.

Me: That’s good news.

Aaron: Damn right it is. Now I’m going to celebrate with my favorite snack.

Me: Seriously? Just because you don’t actually say the words doesn’t mean I don’t know exactly what you’re talking about.

Since he andPoppy made it official, he had been like a dog with a bone. Literally. He couldn’t keep his hands off his girlfriend and didn’t care who knew it or was around to witness it.

But I guess that’s what happened when you saved yourself for each other.

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