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Paige texts when I’m somewhere north of Ukiah.

Paige: So, are you going to take our excellent advice when you get home?

I wait until I stop for gas before answering.

Me: No promises.

Her response arrives before I put the phone away.

Paige: Coward.

I smile and toss it onto the passenger seat.

The closer I get to Humboldt, the more impatient I become. I tell myself I’m ready for my own bed, my own shower, my own kitchen.

All true.

Still not the whole truth.

I start wondering whether Zander’s truck will be in the driveway, which annoys me enough that I turn the music louder.

It doesn’t help.

By the time I turn onto our street, the late afternoon is cool and clear, one of those rare stretches where the fog has pulled back enough to leave patches of blue overhead.

I immediately notice Zander’s truck.

I pull into my side of the driveway and shut off the engine.

Before I even open the door, I hear music.

His living room window is open, and guitar drifts out into the afternoon air. He’s playing the song we worked on together the other night.

I stay in the car a little longer than I need to, just listening.

I think I missed him.

Chapter thirteen

ZANDER

Local shows are so much easier.

No flights. No buses. No unfamiliar stage with a sound guy we met twenty minutes before doors opened. I can sleep in my own bed tonight, and most of the people packed into the room have seen Hollow North play at least once before.

None of that stops the restless energy that hits me right before we go on.

I’m checking the tuning on my guitar when our drummer leans around the side of the stage. “It’s packed.”

“Good.”

“Your entire family’s here.”

“That’s less good.”

He laughs and disappears before I can ask who qualifies as entire.

The venue isn’t huge, but it’s one of the better places to play locally, with a low stage, decent sound, and enough room in front for people to crowd close without somebody knocking over a table every five minutes. We’ve played here enough times that load-in is easy. Most of the staff knows us, and the bartender had my usual beer waiting before sound check.