Chapter 28
As I push open the door to The Sugar Drop, the familiar jingle of the bell doesn’t lift my spirits the way it usually does. The news that the vandals had a key to Gracie’s bookstore keeps replaying in my mind, twisting my guts with worry. Who’s targeting her, and why?
“Hey, Soph,” I call out as I approach the counter and Sophie’s face lights up.
“Hey yourself, Rockstar. Can I get you your usual to go?”
“Yes, please, but Gracie could use a bit of cheering up,” I say as I eye her display. “Maybe throw in a few of those scones she likes and some eclairs? You know how she gets when she’s stressed and I’ll be the unlucky one who gets the brunt of it.”
Sophie chuckles and flashes me a sympathetic smile as she starts prepping the order. “Back in a jiff,” she says before she walks to the back.
I’m about to pull out my phone to see if my PR team has responded yet, when the door opens again and a figure I haven’t seen in too long, steps inside. My heart literally falls into my fucking stomach when I realize who it is.
Ty.
He looks different—haggard with bags under his eyes, like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Our eyes meet, and there’s a moment of hesitation from both of us before I decide to break the ice.
“Ty?” I manage, my voice tight with surprise and a flood of old feelings.
“Con,” His voice is rough, like he hasn’t spoken in days. He approaches slowly, uncertainty in his step. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Me neither,” I reply, still processing his sudden appearance. We stand awkwardly for a moment before I extend a hand, an olive branch to bridge the distance the last few weeks and misunderstandings have built. He takes it, his grip firm but shaky.
“How have you been, man?” I ask, the concern genuine. I’ve missed him more than I’ve let myself admit. I should have bridged this gap a lot sooner and not left it to fester.
“It’s been rough,” he confesses, glancing away. “After everything, I... I needed to… to face things.”
I nod, understanding more than he knows. “What are you doing back here, though? Thought you said it would be a cold day in hell before you came back to this town,” I ask, my voice low, cautious.
He chuckles sadly. “I was actually just passing through and needed a coffee. But as I said, I needed…” He trails off and rubs the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me. “Heard about what happened to Gracie’s store. That’s rough, man.”
“Yeah, it’s a mess,” I reply, watching him carefully. Despite everything, the sight of him so visibly broken tugs at something inside me. This is my best friend, my bandmate, and someone I trusted. It’s hard to just turn those feelings off, even now.
We stand there awkwardly until I break the silence. “Listen, Ty, I’m heading back to the cabin. Gracie’s there. You should come. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
His eyes flick to mine, surprise evident. After a moment, he nods. “Are you su—“ he cuts himself off before scoffing incredulously. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, man.”
As we’re talking, Sophie returns with my order, her steps faltering slightly when she notices Ty. Her recovery is quick, but not quick enough to hide her initial reaction from me. It’s always been a mystery, the tension between those two whenever Ty’s name comes up. Now seeing them together, it clicks—there’s history here, and not the simple kind.
“Hey,” Ty says sheepishly, and I have to make sure my jaw isn’t on the floor because Ty and Sheepish don’t add up.
“Everything okay, Soph?” I ask, taking the drinks from her as she regains her composure and starts working on boxing the pastries.
“Yeah, all good. Just wasn’t expecting to see... Ty.” She gives him a nod, her smile a bit too tight.
I decide to leave it at that and pay for everything before I turn to Ty, motioning toward the door.
“Let’s head out. Gracie will be glad to see you.” Even as I say it, I’m not sure it’s entirely true, but it feels like the right thing to do. Whatever happened, Ty doesn’t need to feel more separated from his friends.
“I’m staying at Rosie’s bed-and-breakfast, so I walked over. Mind if I ride with you?” he asks, and I don’t bother to remind him that he told me he’s passing through. Why would he lie about being back here?
“Sure, man,” I concede, but I still find it all strange.
As we climb into my truck, the air between Ty and me is thick with discomfort. I start the engine, and we pull away from The Sugar Drop, the familiar hum of the vehicle filling the silence as we navigate the streets.
Ty stares out the window, his eyes distant, and I wonder how much to say. The easy camaraderie we once shared feels strained now, the space filled with the weight of his ordeal and my role in his exile.
“Where have you gone since the last gig?” I ask, keeping my tone light, trying to bridge the gap.
“Went back to LA, but things were… strained, so I just decided on a road trip,” Ty replies, turning to look at me with a half-smile. “I needed to clear my head, figure some things out.”
I nod, my grip on the steering wheel tightening. “How’s that going?”
He sighs, the sound heavy. “It’s been rough, Connor. I’m not going to fucking lie. After... everything, Leo and Maya aren’t talking to me, either. They don’t believe I was drugged.” His voice catches slightly, and he looks away, pain etched across his features.
“That sucks, man. I’m sorry,” I say, my voice low. The guilt of my own quick judgment back then gnaws at me. “I should have been there for you. I should have dug deeper, asked more questions instead of just... walking away.”
“What can I say? Everyone knows I’m an asshole who fucks anything with tits and a tight dress,” he shrugs, a gesture that’s both resigned and forgiving. “It hurts that they didn’t believe me, but I only have myself to blame. You saw what you saw, I get how it looked. Can’t blame you for reacting the way you did.”
“No, that’s not good enough,” I insist, feeling a surge annoyed at Leo and Maya’s dismissal even after Ty explained himself. “You’re my best friend, Ty. I should have had your back.”
He meets my gaze, and there’s a flicker of the old warmth we used to share. “Means a lot, hearing that now. Thanks, man.”
We ride in silence for a few moments, each lost in our own thoughts. I turn onto the road that leads to the cabin, the trees lining the path a blur of green. I’ve missed Ty, more than I’ve let on, more than I even admitted to myself.
As soon as I kill the engine and we step out, the front door swings open and Gracie emerges, her mouth falling open in shock and face lighting up when she sees Ty. Even after everything, I know she loves Ty as well. We all fucking grew up together, but some of us can’t even look at each other anymore.
How fucking sad is that?
Gracie doesn’t hesitate; she runs straight into Ty’s arms, wrapping him in a tight embrace that lifts some of the heaviness from his shoulders.
“Ty! I can’t believe it’s really you,” Gracie exclaims, pulling back to look at him with sparkling eyes. “It’s been too long.”
“It has,” Ty agrees, his voice rough with emotion. “Too long.”
We head inside, and I gesture for them to sit down in the living room while I grab some beers from the fridge. When I return, Ty and Gracie are deep in conversation, laughing about some old band tour mishap. The ease with which they fall back into old patterns is a relief to see.
“So where to from here?” Gracie asks, taking a bite of her scone.
“Vegas, I think. I got some family there that I haven’t seen in a while,” Ty responds flatly, and something in his reply doesn’t sit right with me because he hates his family in Vegas. “After that, maybe something abroad.”
I hand Ty a beer, watching as he takes it with a nod, his focus returning from whatever distant place his last comment had taken him. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not entirely keen on his own plans, or maybe he’s just trying to find ground in a conversation that skirts too close to topics he’s not ready to dive into.
“That sounds like quite the plan,” Gracie says, her tone curious yet gentle, knowing well Ty’s strained relationship with his family. “But are you sure about Vegas? Last time you mentioned them, it didn’t seem like...”
Damn. Trust Gracie to just lay it out there.
Ty shrugs, a shadow passing over his features. “Yeah, I know. It’s complicated. Just feels like maybe it’s time to mend some fences, you know?”
Gracie nods understandingly, her expression softening. “Well, if you ever need a break or just want to hang out, you know you’ve got a place here with us. Right, Connor?”
“Absolutely,” I chime in, handing Ty a beer. “You’re always welcome here, man. No questions asked.”
Ty cracks a half-smile, accepting the beer. “Thanks, guys. Means a lot, really.”
The conversation drifts to lighter topics—music, mutual friends, and plans for the future. As we talk, I watch Ty. There’s a weariness about him that wasn’t there before, a heaviness that doesn’t quite lift even as he laughs.
As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, Gracie stands up, stretching. “I’m going to start on some supper. Ty, you’re staying, right? I won’t take no for an answer.”
The relief on Ty’s face is palpable, and he nods gratefully. “That sounds great, Gracie. Thanks.”
As Gracie excuses herself to start on supper, I gesture to Ty, leading him out to the balcony. The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of orange and pink. I pull out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to Ty, who takes it with a slight hesitation.
We light up, and I lean against the railing, watching the smoke drift upward into the fading light. The quiet between us is comfortable, a testament to the years of friendship that, despite everything, has not entirely frayed.
I turn to him, deciding it’s time to address the elephant that’s always lurking whenever we’re together. “Listen, Ty, about everything that happened... you don’t need to apologize, man. I should have believed you, should have dug deeper before walking away.”
Ty exhales slowly, the smoke mingling with a heavy sigh. “I appreciate that, Connor. It’s been... it’s been hell, honestly. But I get it. I know how it looked.”
Before he can say more, I pull him into a quick, firm embrace. “We’re brothers, man. No matter what.”
He returns the hug, a bit of tension draining from his shoulders as he sighs. “I actually suspect Ava was behind it all,” he confesses, the words tumbling out. “I didn’t remember a thing, but memories have started coming back. Snippets. Then after that night, I found texts on my phone, one from you inviting me to the hotel room for a party. I thought everyone would be there.”
I frown, pulling back to look at him. “I never sent you that text, Ty.”
Ty’s jaw tightens. “I figured. When I got there, it was just Ava. She said I was early and that everyone would show up soon. She offered me a glass of bourbon, and after that, I don’t remember anything. Nothing at all.”
The pieces click into place, a cold realization washing over me. “She set you up,” I say slowly, anger simmering beneath my calm exterior.
“It looks like it,” Ty agrees, a bitter edge to his voice. “I just... I didn’t know how to prove it. And after everything blew up, it seemed easier to just let everyone believe what they wanted.”
“We’ll sort this out,” I assure him, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ll clear your name, get the truth out. You don’t deserve to carry this.”
Ty nods, looking out over the balcony railing. “I hope so. I don’t really care about the fame or the band getting back to what it was, but... I don’t want to lose my friends over a lie.”
“You won’t,” I say firmly. “You’ve got us, Ty. You’ve got me and Gracie, and we’ll sort this out.”
As we finish our cigarettes and head back inside, the warmth from the kitchen greets us, the scent of lasagna mingling with the promise of new beginnings. Ty seems lighter somehow, as if our conversation has lifted some of the burden he’s been carrying.
Gracie looks over from where she’s layering noodles and sauce. “Everything good out there?”
“Better than good,” I say, giving Ty a reassuring clap on the back as we join Gracie in the kitchen.
Just like me, he suspects Ava of being involved in this. And it makes sense because the more I started to know her better, the more I realized that she wasn’t the sweet girl I met at one of my shows.
I just didn’t expect her to go this far.