Chapter Fifteen #2
Act after act followed, each showcasing a unique talent, and all of Gunner’s musical kids did their songs.
One girl twirled ribbons in mesmerizing patterns, and a pair of twins performed a comedy skit that had the audience in stitches.
Aubrey’s heart overflowed with each performance, marveling at the courage it took to bare one’s soul on stage.
Then Emily appeared, clutching the microphone stand like a lifeline. Aubrey’s breath caught in her throat.
“She looks terrified,” Aubrey murmured, fighting the urge to rush up and wrap the girl in a hug.
Gunner leaned close, his breath warm on her ear. “Watch this.”
He caught Emily’s eye and gave an almost imperceptible nod, his eyes radiating calm reassurance. The change in Emily was immediate. Her shoulders relaxed, chin lifting as she took a deep breath.
The first notes of her song wavered, barely audible. Aubrey gripped the edge of her seat, silently willing Emily to find her voice. With each passing moment, the girl’s confidence grew. Her voice soared, filling the community center with a hauntingly beautiful melody.
Aubrey blinked back tears, overwhelmed by the transformation. She glanced at Gunner, seeing her own awe mirrored in his expression.
“I had no idea she could sing like that,” Aubrey breathed.
Gunner’s eyes never left the stage, a mix of pride and something deeper, almost wistful, etched on his face. “Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in you to unlock that hidden talent.”
“Don’t go making me cry, Gunner Woods,” she said, reaching for his hand, squeezing it tightly as Emily’s song reached its peak.
As the last chord faded, the audience erupted in cheers. Aubrey found herself on her feet, clapping until her hands stung, her vision blurred by the tears that threatened to spill over.
“Attagirl!” Gunner whooped, his face split by a grin that made Aubrey’s heart skip.
She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Emily stood frozen on stage, her eyes wide with disbelief at the crowd’s reaction.
As the applause began to die down, Aubrey sank back into her seat, wiping at her eyes. “I can’t believe how brave she was up there,” she murmured, more to herself than to Gunner.
He leaned in close, his voice warm. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”
Aubrey scoffed. “Yeah, right, I would never get up there and sing.”
Gunner winked. “No, but you would move across the country, leaving everything you know.”
Aubrey’s cheeks flushed. She was still navigating this new phase of her life, striving to rediscover the strong person she used to be.
Thankfully, she was saved from explaining all that by the emcee taking the stage.
Time seemed to slow as he thanked all the participants, building suspense before announcing the winner.
“And the first prize goes to Emily Johnson!”
The crowd erupted once more. Emily’s mouth fell open in a perfect ‘O’ of surprise before her face lit up with pure, unbridled joy. She bounced on her toes, hugging her mom before accepting the trophy with trembling hands.
Gunner was out of his seat in an instant, striding toward the stage. Aubrey watched as he scooped Emily up in a bear hug, spinning her around. His deep laughter mingled with Emily’s delighted squeals, the sound wrapping around Aubrey like a warm blanket.
“You did it, kiddo!” Gunner’s voice carried over the crowd. “I knew you had it in you!”
Aubrey’s chest tightened as she observed the tenderness in Gunner’s eyes, the gentle way he set Emily down and ruffled her hair. It was a side of him she was still getting used to—this nurturing, protective presence that seemed at odds with the rebel bad-boy image he’d once embodied.
As Emily ran to show her trophy to her friends, Gunner caught Aubrey’s gaze across the room.
The pride and joy radiating from him was almost palpable, and for a moment, Aubrey allowed herself to imagine a future where moments like these were commonplace.
But she couldn’t ignore that behind his easy smile and pride for the kids, there was tension in every line of his body.
His stare stayed on her as he approached, and when he reached her, she said, “Are you okay? You just seem…off.”
“I… I need to tell you something,” he said slowly. “Come here.”
Aubrey felt Gunner’s warm hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward a quiet corner near the stage. The touch sent a familiar tremor over her, but there was something different in his demeanor, a tension that hadn’t been there moments before.
“Aubrey, I…” His voice trailed off, his eyes clouded with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
Aubrey’s heart quickened. “What is it?”
He took a deep breath. “My agent called earlier. That song I played at The Naked Moose last week with Emily? It’s gone viral. Like, millions of views viral.”
The words hit Aubrey like a punch to the gut. She blinked, trying to process the information. “That’s amazing. Isn’t it?”
“It is.” He nodded, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “But it means the label wants me back in Nashville. They’re talking about recording the song.”
Aubrey felt the blood drain from her face. Her mind raced, images of Gunner leaving, of her being left behind once again, flashing before her eyes. She struggled to keep her voice steady. “When would you leave?”
“They want me there as soon as possible,” Gunner said quietly.
Aubrey’s world tilted on its axis. As soon as possible.
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling ice coating her veins.
“I see,” she managed. Inside, her thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind.
This is it, isn’t it? Everyone leaves eventually.
Just like Gunner did the first time. Just like my dad. Just like always.
She forced herself to meet Gunner’s gaze, searching for any sign that this was all a mistake, that he wasn’t about to walk out of her life just when she’d started to let him in. But all she saw was uncertainty that mirrored her own.
Gunner took a step closer, his gaze intense and earnest. “Darlin’,” he began, his voice a gentle rumble that sent shivers down her spine.
“I know this is sudden, but I promise you, we can make this work. I’m not leavin’ you behind.
” His hand reached out, fingers brushing her arm with a tenderness that made her heart ache.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about us, about what we have here.
It’s special. Real special. And I’m not about to let it slip away just ’cause of some record deal. ”
Aubrey wanted to believe him, wanted to sink into the warmth of his words and the sincerity shining in his eyes. But doubt gnawed at her, insidious and familiar. She turned away, arms still crossed tightly over her chest.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked, hating the tremor in her voice. “Nashville’s a long way from Timber Falls. And once you’re back in that world…”
She trailed off, unable to voice her deepest fear: that he’d forget all about her, about the quiet life they’d been building together. Her mind raced with images of Gunner on stage, surrounded by adoring fans, while she faded into nothing more than a distant memory.
He stepped into her line of sight, his presence impossible to ignore. “Look at me, Aubrey,” he pleaded softly. “I’m not the man I was before. And I’m not about to throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Her gaze flickered to his face, wanting desperately to believe him. But the walls she’d built around her heart were strong, reinforced by years of disappointment and betrayal. She bit her lip, fighting back tears.
“I want to believe you,” she whispered. “But I’ve heard promises before. They don’t always hold up when push comes to shove.”
The weight of her words hung in the air between them, heavy and suffocating.
Silence stretched out, broken only by the distant chatter of the dispersing crowd and the muffled thump of Aubrey’s heart in her chest. She stared at a scuff mark on the community center’s worn linoleum floor, unable to meet Gunner’s gaze.
He shifted his weight, the soft creak of his boots echoing in the quiet corner. She could feel his eyes on her, intense and searching. She wondered if he could see right through her, past the walls she’d so carefully constructed, to the scared little girl who’d been left behind one too many times.
“Please, please look at me.” Gunner’s voice was barely above a whisper, rough with emotion.
“I know words ain’t enough.” He reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted.
When she didn’t move, his calloused fingers gently tucked under her chin, lifting her gaze.
The tenderness of his gaze made Aubrey’s breath catch in her throat.
“I can’t promise it’ll be easy,” he continued, his touch lingering on her cheek. “But I can promise I’ll fight like hell to make this work. You’re worth fightin’ for, darlin’.”
Aubrey leaned into his touch, almost against her will. The warmth of his hand seemed to seep into her very bones, chasing away some of the chill that had settled there.
His gaze was steady. “We’ll figure it out together, okay? One step at a time.”
His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, the gesture so achingly tender that Aubrey felt something inside her begin to crack.
She wanted to believe him, wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in a long time.
But the fear still lingered, a reminder that he had promised her that before.
And he had lied. “Okay. One step at a time.”