Chapter Three #2
As he stood there, studying the names of children he’d soon be mentoring, a surreal wave washed over him.
How had he ended up here? Just two years ago, he’d been chasing his next hit—both on stage and off.
Now he was volunteering at his hometown’s afterschool music program, his mind filled with thoughts not of fame, but of giving back.
And of Aubrey. Always Aubrey.
Margaret patted his arm. “They sure do, honey.”
Gunner squared his shoulders, pushing thoughts of his past—the highs, the lows, the stage lights and the darkness—to the back of his mind.
One step at a time, Woods, he reminded himself.
You’ve got songs to teach, a girl to win over, and a whole lot of making up to do.
He turned to Margaret again. “Alright, Margaret,” he said, flashing that trademark grin. “Where do we start?”
* * *
Later that afternoon, the bell above the door chimed as Aubrey stepped into Rustic Romance, the quaint wedding planning boutique nestled between a charming bookstore and a cozy café on Timber Falls’ Main Street.
The scent of lavender and fresh flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of vanilla candles.
Charly and Willow followed close behind, their eyes widening at the elegant displays of wedding invitations, centerpieces and delicate lace samples adorning the walls.
“Welcome, ladies.” A petite woman with curly red hair bounded toward them, her emerald eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “I’m Poppy, and you must be the bride-to-be.” She extended her hand to Charly, who blushed and nodded.
Aubrey felt a twinge of envy as she watched her friend’s face light up. She pushed the feeling aside, reminding herself that she was there to support Charly, not dwell on her own romantic shortcomings and how literally far away from getting married she was.
Those were dreams of the past. After her father’s abandonment, her failed relationships and Chef Bisset, she was just over men alltogether.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you, Poppy,” Charly said, her voice warm with excitement. “These are my best friends, Aubrey and Willow.”
Poppy clapped her hands together. “Oh, my goodness, I’m just thrilled to bits! Planning a wedding for one of Timber Falls’ famous families. It’s like a dream come true!”
Aubrey couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Famous family?”
Poppy laughed, a tinkling sound that filled the shop. “The Reed family is practically royalty around here. Everyone’s been waiting for years to see which lucky lady would finally snag Jaxon’s heart.”
Charly’s cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink.
“So, Poppy,” said Aubrey, her voice perhaps a touch too bright, “what kind of ideas did you have in mind for Charly and Jaxon’s big day?”
Poppy’s eyes lit up at Aubrey’s question.
“I’m so glad you asked. I think holding the ceremony at the Timber Falls Ranch in May like you’ve suggested would be absolutely perfect.
Can’t you just picture it?” She gestured expansively, her enthusiasm infectious.
“The wide-open sky, the rolling hills and that gorgeous old barn as a backdrop. It’s like something straight out of a Hallmark movie. ”
Charly’s eyes widened, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. “That does sound beautiful,” she admitted softly.
Poppy bustled over to a bookshelf laden with thick binders. “Let me show you some ideas,” she called over her shoulder, pulling out several books. “I’m thinking maybe a blend of rustic charm and elegant touches. String lights, mason jars—but with some glam accents to really make it pop.”
As Poppy flipped through the pages, pointing out various designs, Aubrey found her attention wandering.
Her gaze drifted to the window, the quaint Main Street of Timber Falls visible beyond.
It was so different from the bustling cityscape she’d left behind in Atlanta.
Willow and Charly had adjusted so well to small-town living, but Aubrey still felt like she’d left her dreams behind in the big city.
She missed the sounds, the people, how alive the city was.
In Timber Falls, everything was so slow—and a little boring if she was honest with herself.
Poppy’s voice cut through Aubrey’s reverie. “Oh! Speaking of Timber Falls Ranch, you all must know Gunner Woods then? Now there’s another hot commodity!” She leaned in and waggled her eyebrows. “Any of you ladies know if he’s single? I mean, a voice like that, those soulful blue eyes…”
Aubrey’s stomach clenched, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair. “I wouldn’t know,” she said, her voice tight. She could feel Willow’s questioning gaze on her, but she kept her eyes fixed on the wedding designs spread before them.
“Really?” Poppy pressed, oblivious to Aubrey’s discomfort. “I thought you’re all friends, no?”
Aubrey’s mind raced, memories of their week together threatening to overwhelm her.
The warmth of Gunner’s touch, the intensity in his eyes, the bitter sting of waking up alone…
She swallowed hard, forcing a neutral expression.
“We don’t exactly swap relationship stories,” she managed, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
“Well, if he’s available, maybe I’ll have to stop by The Naked Moose myself,” Poppy said with a wink. “A girl can dream, right?”
Aubrey bit the inside of her cheek, tasting blood.
She wanted to scream, to tell Poppy that Gunner wasn’t worth her time, that he’d break her heart without a second thought.
Instead—because where in hell had this jealously come from?
—she forced a tight smile. “I’m sure he’d be flattered,” she said, her voice dripping with barely concealed sarcasm.
Charly, sensing the tension, cleared her throat. “So, Poppy, about those spring wedding ideas…”
“Oh, yes,” Poppy said, and got to sharing her ideas.
After she was done, Poppy handed over the books and added, “I do think a spring wedding is totally doable. Just browse through these binders and discuss with Jaxon what theme you’re leaning toward.”
“I can do that,” Charly said, rising from her seat. “Thank you so much, Poppy.”
“Good,” Poppy said. “The most important thing at this point is choosing a caterer. Since we’re on a tight schedule, I’ll call around today and get you a few tastings. Can you do tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow morning,” Charly said.
“Goodie,” Poppy said. “I’ll send that list over to you tonight.”
As they gathered their things, Aubrey took a deep breath, reeling in her emotions. She’d have to do better if she was going to survive this wedding—and Gunner’s presence in Timber Falls.
Once they all said their goodbyes to Poppy, the bell above the door chimed as Aubrey stepped out onto the snow-covered sidewalk. She inhaled deeply, the crisp mountain air helping to clear her head. But the reprieve was short-lived.
Charly’s gentle voice broke the silence as she turned to face Aubrey. “What in the world is going on with you?” she asked. “You looked like you were about to combust in there every time Gunner’s name came up.”
Aubrey’s stomach clenched. She forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her own ears. “It’s nothing.”
Willow nibbled her lip, glancing down.
Charly’s eyes narrowed, her arms folding across her chest. “Bull. I’ve seen you handle a kitchen full of demanding customers without breaking a sweat. This is about him, isn’t it?”
Aubrey’s fingers tightened around the strap of her purse. She glanced around, relieved to see the street was relatively empty. “Can we not do this here?”
“Tell me what is going on, Aubrey,” Charly insisted. She set her gaze on Willow. “What do you two know that I don’t? Stop keeping secrets. We never do that.”
Aubrey took a deep breath, her eyes darting between her friends. There was no avoiding this anymore. The words tumbled out in a rush. “We had an incredible week together a couple years ago after one of his concerts.” Her cheeks burned with the admission.
Charly’s eyes widened, but she remained silent, waiting for Aubrey to continue.
“Willow heard Gunner and I talking about it, so that’s why she knows about it,” Aubrey explained.
“Well, to be exact,” Willow interjected quietly. “I heard Gunner talking about it, and you denying that it was you that was with him for that week.”
“I thought we had something special.” Aubrey’s voice cracked. “But then he left one morning. I woke up alone, and he was gone. No note, no explanation. Nothing.” She swallowed hard, fighting back the sting of tears. “And that’s all I need to know about Gunner Woods.”
Willow’s face darkened with anger, but Charly’s expression remained thoughtful. “Oh, Aubrey,” Charly said softly, squeezing Aubrey’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Aubrey shook her head, swallowing back the emotion. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. It happened. He showed me how he treats a woman in a relationship, and because of that, I refuse to let him in again.”
Charly nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. “Of course, I can understand that. Hell, I’m a bit surprised how nice you’ve been to him.”
Aubrey shrugged. “At this point, he’s not even sure it was me, because he likely wasn’t even sober then. It’s just better if we let this be. I can forget all about it. I’ve moved on, and I’m mature enough to be friendly with him.”
“I totally get not wanting to open that door again,” Willow said softly.
Snow began falling in big flakes as Charly cocked her head. “Would you be okay working alongside him on wedding things?”
Aubrey straightened her shoulders, forcing a smile that she was sure didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Like I said, don’t worry about me, Char. I can handle Gunner Woods. And I can certainly be just friends with him. It’s ancient history.”
But as she said the words, Aubrey couldn’t quite silence the small voice in her heart that whispered, Liar.