CHAPTER NINETY

Anders wondered what changed as he took a slow sip, the heat from the scotch burning its way down his throat. He stared into the night, watching it go by at its own pace, while three friends, sharing the bond of grief, remained trapped in the past.

“Camila had always known I enjoyed music,” Amanda disrupted the silence, answering Anders’ unspoken question. “She thought it was silly that I bashed musicians out in public, while in the comfort of my room, I sang my heart out like I was in a concert.”

“It's pretty hard to see you in that light,” Anders muttered, spurring laughter from Lucas.

He good-naturedly raised his shoulders in a shrug when Amanda sneered at him. “I thought so too. You can imagine how surprised I was when I walked into a bar downtown and saw her singing with a band. It was a rude shock.”

“That led to something beautiful,” Amanda completed, looking into his eyes. They seemed to gravitate towards each other, like the north and south poles. Anders could be in the room,