“Music’s the only thing that doesn’t lie to you.”

That’s what I tell myself the moment I step outside my bedroom and freeze.

There’s a guitar case on the floor. Black. Expensive-looking. It’s the soft-leather kind, the kind that costs way too much for someone like me to just have lying around. My breath stumbles as I crouch slowly and brush my fingers across the zipper.

Then I hear it.

“Thought you might want a proper one.”

Leo’s voice is gentle behind me. Softer than usual. He's leaning against the doorway, still in pajama pants and a fitted white tee. His hair's a little messy, like he didn’t care to...