Chapter 5
Chapter Five
GAVIN
Ishould’ve never fucking agreed to this.
I didn’t have dinner before I got to the Bluebird Cafe, so the idea of grabbing a quick bite to eat with friends when the invitation presented itself sounded like a great idea.
I should have known them reassuring me that we’d be quick was a lie, even with most of them having late night studio sessions to get back to.
Two hours later, our group of four has turned into a group of ten and we’re still sitting at the restaurant.
I look around the table at everyone, trying to gauge how much longer they’re going to take to finish up so I can pay the bill and get the hell out of here to call Aly back.
Everyone is done, but most are still nursing their drinks.
I start to feel agitated at the delay, hoping this doesn’t diminish what Aly thinks of me.
I’m a man of my word, so when I tell someone I’m going to call them back, I do.
I look at my watch to see it’s midnight.
Screw this. It’s time to take matters into my own hands.
“You ready to go, Sos?” I interrupt her conversation with another person and she turns toward me. “If not, no big deal. I can Uber it home.”
“We haven’t even gotten the check yet,” she states while seeing if anyone else got theirs.
I stand up and throw two hundred-dollar bills down to cover me and Sosie, not caring that our bill was nowhere near that amount. “Here’s for me and you. I’m gonna head out. Stay and enjoy yourself.”
“No, I’ll drive you. I’m getting tired anyway.” She stands and we say our goodbyes to everyone then walk to the parking lot to Sosie’s car.
“Why are you in such a rush to get home?” she asks a couple minutes into our drive, while I’m sending Aly a text, asking if she’s still awake.
“Because it’s late and I have a long day tomorrow,” I reply, and when she glances at me, I can tell she doesn’t buy it. “I gotta be in the studio all day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, but let me guess the real reason you’re so anxious to get home.”
“Guess away.”
“Did you or did you not receive a phone call from one Miss Alyson Dawson?” I look over at her in surprise, since I didn’t tell her that she called me.
“Oh please, Gavin, don’t look so shocked.
You’ve had this goofy, Joker-esque smile on your face ever since she’s called.
You’ve also been in your own head the whole night and unusually quiet. ”
“How do you know her last name?” I ask, suddenly feeling protective of Aly and her privacy.
“It wasn’t rocket science. Everyone in that room saw your ogling her all damn night. Plus, I overheard some girls complaining about how unfair it is that all the hot guys in Nashville seem to go for her, yet she’s never been seen dating any of them.”
“Maybe she’s been hurt before and isn’t ready to date,” I offer, trying to ignore the niggle of irritation in the pit of my stomach at the news that multiple men have gone after her, but then I remind myself that Sos said Aly’s never been seen with any of them.
“Or maybe she bats for the other team.”
I laugh off Sosie’s comment, because there is no fucking way I believe that. “I don’t think so,” I say confidently. I’ve never felt such intense sexual tension with another woman, not even my ex.
“Whatever, I just don’t get it. She literally called you within ten minutes of you giving her your number. Don’t you think that’s a little… I don’t know, stalkerish? There was zero chase for you.”
“Why does there always have to be a chase when you’re interested in someone?” I question, not liking where Sosie’s line of questioning is headed. “What’s the problem? You don’t like her? You don’t even know her.”
“Exactly, Gavin! We don’t know her. She could be coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs,” she says while glaring at me. “You don’t know if she’s not completely off her rocker, and yet you’re acting like a love-sick puppy!”
“Since when does being interested in someone equal being a love-sick puppy?” I argue, confused by Sosie’s obvious anger. “Why are you getting so bent out of shape about me meeting someone?”
“Because last time you met someone, she broke your heart, and I don’t ever want to see that pain in your eyes again!
” she snaps then presses her lips together.
The car goes silent after her confession and I shift in my seat.
Shit, she’s right. Tori did fuck me up, but she didn’t shatter my soul.
Looking back, I can now recognize the warning signs for what they were, and I chose to ignore every single one of them.
Then again, Tori’s change in personality didn’t happen overnight.
It was slow at first with her kindness starting to fade.
Next, she started going out without me, not wanting to spend time with me, and would only show up when she was wasted and wanted to hook up at the end of the night.
When I realized I was only being used for my songwriting skills, it hurt, but it didn’t take long for the hurt I was feeling to morph into anger.
I don’t give a fuck about Tori. I don’t even think about her anymore, and that’s how I know we weren’t truly in love.
Because if we were, the end of us would’ve felt like a thousand little knives stabbing holes into my heart.
Love is magical, torturous, beautiful, and hard. I survived our break-up and actually came out a better man. Being with her taught me exactly what I want for myself and what I expect from any woman I end up with in the future.
“I appreciate you having my back.”
She peeks at me out of the corner of her eye, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
I give her shoulder an encouraging squeeze to let her know everything’s okay.
“But if you don’t take risks on people, then you’ll end up alone.
I’ve never looked at someone and felt something as strong as I did tonight.
” I sigh, trying to find the words to describe just how I felt but coming up empty.
Maybe my nervousness tonight was the universe trying to tell me I’m going to meet a girl who’s going to turn my world upside down or some cosmic shit like that. Hell, I don’t usually believe in that kind of stuff, but I can’t help but think that tonight was supposed to happen.
“I love you, Sos, and I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know I’m going to follow my gut and see where it goes.”
“I love you too, Gav,” she says softly as she wrings her hands on the steering wheel.
“And I’m sorry, but I’ll always be protective of you.
You’re like my hero. You really saved my life.
” My throat gets tight at her words, but I ignore it and smile at her.
“And it’s because I love you that I’m asking you to go slow with this girl.
Maybe just talk to her on the phone for a week, and if that goes good, then plan a date?
” She looks at me with worry-filled eyes.
“I can do that.” Maybe going slow and talking over the phone first will give me the chance to actually get to know her before we spend any time together.
When we get to the front of my apartment complex, I tell Sosie to take tomorrow off, since my workday will consist of writing songs for other people and hours in the studio. I tell her goodbye then go inside and take the elevator up to the fourteenth floor.
Ten minutes later, I’m pacing the floors of my apartment, questioning whether or not I should call Aly.
It’s 12:30 in the morning and Aly hasn’t replied to my text.
On the rest of the car ride home, Sosie filled me in on the information she learned about Aly, which was that she worked for Big Little Music in the A&R department as an assistant.
Most people are sleeping at this hour, but when you work in the music business, there are lots of late nights, and oftentimes, that includes partying.
If she’s a party girl, then whatever I’m feeling will fizzle quickly.
Is that why she hasn’t returned my texts? Is she out partying?
Curiosity and jealousy start eating at me as images of her hanging out with other men fill my mind.
“Fuck it, I’m calling her,” I say out loud, grabbing my phone from my back pocket and dialing her number. She picks up after the second ring, and I expect to hear loud music and talking, but instead, I’m greeted with complete silence.
“Hello?” I say into the phone, but still no response. “Aly?”
“Hi,” she barely whispers, and guilt floods through me for waking her up.
“Were you sleeping?” What a fucking stupid question that is, Captain Obvious! I shake my head at myself, not believing that here I am, an award-winning songwriter, and I can’t even think of something normal to say to this girl.
“Uh-huh,” she responds back in an almost childlike voice that has me chuckling at how adorable she sounds.
“Darlin’, I’m sorry to wake you. I just wanted to keep my promise and call you back. I should’ve waited until tomorrow. Can I make it up to you by buying you breakfast in the morning?” Shit, so much for taking Sosie’s advice on taking it slow and talking to her for a week first.
“Mmm-hmm,” she mumbles, making me wonder if her short answers might mean she’s still asleep.
“Why don’t we meet at Star Bagel at eight. Do you know where that is?” I question, thinking that it should be close enough to her job on Music Row that she won’t be late for work.
“Uh-huh,” she says softly, and I make a mental note to set my alarm thirty minutes early so I can send her a text to remind her about meeting me.
“Sleep tight, darlin’, and I’ll see you in the morning.
” With nothing but silence greeting me, I laugh at her lack of response and hang up the phone.
I get ready for bed, but the adrenaline coursing through me makes me feel restless.
The thought of seeing her again keeps me wide awake and soon, words and sentences start filling my head.
With the vision of Aly’s gorgeous face on repeat in my brain, I grab my laptop and start putting lyrics together for a new song, one filled with hope and the thought that love might really exist.