Chapter Sixteen
Sixteen
The next afternoon, Aubrey leaned against a countertop in the kitchen of The Naked Moose, thrumming with excitement as she discussed the new lunch menu with Chef Miguel. “I think the jalapeno poppers will be a hit,” Aubrey said. “It’s the perfect blend of spicy and creamy.”
Miguel nodded, his salt-and-pepper beard twitching with a smile. “Sí, senora. It will bring the heat that cowboys crave.”
Aubrey glanced at the clock on the wall, its face showing just half an hour until the lunch rush. Her heart quickened with anticipation. “I’ll leave you to it,” she murmured. “Please let me know if you need my help.”
“I will, thank you,” Miguel said.
As she pushed through the swinging kitchen doors into the main bar area, a wave of warmth washed over her.
Charly and Willow stood behind the polished oak bar, their familiar faces a balm to Aubrey’s soul.
The sight of her friends brought a genuine smile to her lips, chasing away some of the lingering doubts that had plagued her since her talk with Gunner.
“Hey, girls,” Aubrey called out, her steps light as she approached them. The bar hummed with the quiet chatter of early patrons, a few tables already occupied by regulars nursing their drinks.
Willow’s eyes lit up as she spotted Aubrey. “There’s our culinary genius,” she teased, as she moved to pour a drink.
Charly chimed in, “How’s the new menu coming along? Got any tasty surprises for us?”
Aubrey felt a surge of affection for her friends, grateful for their unwavering support. She leaned against the bar, facing them. “Oh, you bet. Miguel will wow us, as always,” she replied. “But you’ll have to wait and see like everyone else.”
Charly’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned across the bar, her voice lowered. “Have you seen it yet? Gunner’s video with Emily is absolutely everywhere!”
Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Gunner’s name. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her fingers tightened into fists.
“It’s incredible,” Charly continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. “He’s getting so much recognition again. It’s like watching a star being reborn.”
Willow nodded in agreement, but her eyes, sharp and observant, never left Aubrey’s face. “It’s great to see him back in the spotlight,” she added softly, her tone measured.
Aubrey felt a storm of emotions brewing inside her. Pride warred with anxiety, joy with uncertainty. She leaned against the bar, trying to appear casual, but her knuckles were white where they gripped the edge.
“Yeah, it’s something,” she managed, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears.
She took a deep breath, the scent of polished wood and lingering coffee grounding her.
The clink of glasses and murmur of conversation from the few occupied tables seemed to fade away as she struggled to find the right words.
I should be happy for him, Aubrey thought, her chest tight. So why does it feel like I’m losing him already? She looked up at her friends, seeing concern and support reflected in their faces. The words she’d been holding back threatened to spill out, a dam about to break.
“What is it?” Willow asked. “And no lying.”
Her eyes glistened as she finally let her guard down. “I’m terrified,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if this is it? What if he takes off and leaves everything—leaves me—behind?” The words tumbled out in a rush.
Charly reached across the bar, her warm hand covering Aubrey’s trembling one. “Oh, honey,” she said softly, her eyes filled with empathy. “Gunner’s not just some passing fling. What you two have is real.”
Willow nodded, her hair catching the soft bar light. “And don’t forget,” she added, her voice steady and reassuring, “he would never leave you and not look back. Not now. I don’t doubt that for a minute.”
Aubrey’s gaze flicked between her friends, wanting desperately to believe them. “But what if it’s not enough?” she asked, her voice cracking. “What if I can’t handle being with someone who comes and goes?”
Charly squeezed her hand. “You’re selling yourself short, Aubs. You’ve faced worse and come out on top. Remember how you rebuilt your life here?”
“Charly’s right,” Willow chimed in. “And don’t forget, communication is key. Have you talked to Gunner about this?”
Aubrey shook her head, feeling a pang of guilt.
“I didn’t want to rain on his parade,” she admitted, biting her lower lip.
“This viral video couldn’t have come at a worse time,” she said, her voice wavering slightly.
“Things were just starting to feel…right with Gunner. And now?” She shook her head.
“I don’t know how we can make this work. ”
Her gaze darted between Charly and Willow, searching their faces for answers she knew they couldn’t provide. “He’s going to be pulled back into that world of touring. He won’t be here with me.”
She shut her eyes and breathed deep before she added, “I want to be happy for him,” her voice thick with emotion.
“God knows Gunner deserves this second chance. But I can’t help feeling like I’m going to lose him before I’ve really even had the chance to…
” She trailed off, unable to voice the depth of her feelings for Gunner—who’d unexpectedly stolen her heart.
Willow’s eyes softened as she too reached across the bar to lay a reassuring hand on Aubrey’s arm.
“I know it feels overwhelming right now, but let’s take a step back.
” Her voice was gentle but firm, grounding Aubrey in the present.
“Focus on what’s in front of you today, not what might happen tomorrow. ”
Aubrey’s shoulders relaxed slightly at her friend’s touch but doubt still weighed her down. She opened her mouth to protest, but Charly cut in.
“Willow’s right,” Charly nodded, leaning in. “The future’s always uncertain, but that doesn’t mean it’s insurmountable. You and Gunner, you’ve got something special. Don’t let fear rob you of that.”
Aubrey’s mind raced, processing her friends’ words.
They made sense, but the practical side of her couldn’t help but fret.
She bit her lip, her brow furrowing. “But how am I supposed to balance everything?” she asked, gesturing around The Naked Moose.
“This place, it’s my responsibility. Our dream.
” She paused, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “But so is Gunner.”
“You don’t need that answer right now,” Charly said, her hand squeezing Aubrey’s tightly. “Just see how this all plays out.”
See how this all plays out. That seemed simple enough. “Okay, I can do that.”
“Yes, you can,” Willow said, rounding the bar and wrapping her arms around Aubrey tight.
Aubrey felt a rush of gratitude towards her two best friends as Charly joined in on the hug too. They had been there for her through thick and thin, always offering their unwavering support. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
As she exhaled, she made a silent promise to herself to take things one step at a time and trust the journey. Whatever happened, she knew she had two amazing friends by her side, and that was all she needed for now.
* * *
The quiet morning Gunner had been enjoying was swiftly ended with a single phone call.
He paced the length of his living room, boots scuffing against the hardwood floor as he pressed the phone tighter to his ear.
Outside, the Montana mountains loomed, their snow-capped peaks holding his stare.
His free hand clenched and unclenched at his side, tension coiling through his body.
When Tom couldn’t seal the deal, Hank, head of the label, had stepped in. “I’m telling you, Gunner, this is it!” Hank’s excitement crackled through the phone. “We want you in Nashville tomorrow. We saw the video and we’re ready to record.”
Gunner’s heart raced, a familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was the same feeling he used to get before stepping on stage, before…
He shook his head, pushing away the memories of sold-out arenas and screaming fans and painkillers.
But he’d done the work on himself. He had therapy if he needed it.
He’d kept up with his physical therapy and would continue to do so.
He had everything in place to ensure he stayed on the right path.
“Tomorrow?” Gunner echoed, his mind reeling. “That’s short notice. I’ve got commitments here in Timber Falls, I can’t just up and leave—”
But even as the words left his mouth, a part of him ached to say yes, to dive headfirst into the opportunity. The stage lights, the roar of the crowd—he couldn’t deny he missed it. And life was different now. He had Aubrey. He had himself.
“Listen to me, Gunner.” Hank’s voice took on an urgent edge. “This isn’t just any opportunity. We’re Blackhawk Records. We don’t wait around. If you’re not here tomorrow, we’ll move on to the next viral thing. You know how this business works.”
Gunner’s gaze drifted to the mountains again. This town was his home, the place where he’d healed and rediscovered himself. But was it enough? Could he really walk away from a second chance at his dreams?
“I hear ya, Hank,” Gunner said, his voice thick with conflicting emotions. “It’s just there’s someone here. Someone important.”
“Gunner, my boy.” Hank’s tone softened slightly. “I know you’ve been through hell and back. But this could be your ticket to redemption. Bring her, or whoever it is, with you. Don’t let fear stop you.”
Gunner flinched at the word fear. He wasn’t scared, was he? No, he was cautious. Wary of falling back into old habits, of losing himself in the whirlwind of fame and addiction that had nearly destroyed him before.
“I ain’t scared,” Gunner muttered, more to himself than to Hank. “I just need some time to think, that’s all.”
“Time is the one thing we don’t have, Gunner,” Hank pressed. “The flight leaves at 11 a.m. Be on that plane or this deal is off the table.”