Pieces and Parts (The Storyhill Musicians Book 4) by Annmarie Boyle

Author:Annmarie Boyle [Boyle, Annmarie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798986905600
Publisher: Dahlia Media
Published: 2023-07-17T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Ivy closed the lid of her laptop as the soft hum of chatter on the bus rose to an audible buzz. Ten days into the tour and she’d learned the change in dynamics signaled their approach to the next destination.

They’d wrapped the concert in DC, had what felt like minutes in Philadelphia, and were now pulling into New York City. Ivy rubbed her temples and reached her fingers skyward, stretching out her neck and shoulders after nearly two hours hunched over her computer. She hadn’t deluded herself. She knew that hours on the bus, a parade of different hotel beds, and the constant consumption of restaurant food would prove tiring. She’d even braced herself for the challenge of juggling her work and tutoring Henry. But even with all that, she’d hadn’t imagined that a little fatigue would lead to utter exhaustion.

And they still had nine days left.

Julia sat down next to Ivy. “Making progress?”

“Not as much as I’d like, but yes, a little,” Ivy said, blowing out a slow breath. She kept reminding herself that the deadline for her dissertation was her own. Her advisor wouldn’t say a thing if she took an extra week, or three. But she wanted to be done. Wanted to get on with the next phase of her life. Settled, somewhere permanent, looking for her first house.

A vision of Nick and Henry sitting in the kitchen of that house crystallized in her mind. Nick in the apron he’d worn the day she’d met Henry. Or maybe Henry was with his grandparents and Nick wasn’t wearing anything but the apron.

“Slow progress is still progress,” Julia said.

Ivy blocked out the image of the nearly naked Brawny paper towel guy cleaning her kitchen and smirked. “Is that Thomas Edison or Mark Twain?”

Julia lifted a shoulder and grinned. “Dim Sum Garden fortune cookie.”

Ivy laughed, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “Have I told you lately how much I appreciate our friendship?”

“Right back at ya, babe.” Julia slid an arm around Ivy’s shoulders and squeezed. “And speaking of fantastic female friendships, how does a girls’ night out sound?”

Ivy barked out a laugh. “Last time you offered a girls’ experience, I ended up traveling the Eastern seaboard with a group of musicians.”

“And how’s that going for you?” Julia waggled her eyebrows.

“I’m bone tired and have made little to no progress on my thesis,” Ivy answered, reiterating her earlier thoughts.

Julia started to speak, but Ivy waved her off. “That sounded whiney and ungrateful. Let me try answering that again. I’ve traveled with my best friend, heard some fantastic music, and spent time with an extraordinary kid. Despite being tired and stressed about my dissertation, it’s been pretty cool.”

“I see you didn’t mention spending time with an uncommonly good-looking baritone at world-renowned museums and posh stadium suites.”

“You mentioned a girls’ night?” Ivy said, steering Julia away from the topic while desperately trying to ignore the surge of sensation flooding her body at the mention of Nick.

Julia pointed at her as if to put her on notice that the subject of Nick was far from closed, but thankfully changed topics.

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