Chapter 18
When Jayden came home after his weekly session at the am-drams, he found Rachel out, Darren in, and the piano lid up. Darren’s glasses were folded on top of the minor keys, and a sheet of hasty notes—scratchy music, like Jayden had found countless times in Darren’s schoolbag when they’d been just starting out—folded on the major.
“How’s it going?” he asked, but when Darren didn’t answer, turned to study him and forgot about the piano and the half-completed and never-heard composition. Darren was lying on the sofa, flat on his back, and though the TV was on quietly in the background, had his eyes closed. “Darren?”
“Mm?”
“You okay?” Jayden asked, going to perch on the sofa by his hip. He had gone back to work last week and been put on the day shifts. He was still dressed in th
