Page 35 of More Than a Fling

“Are you OK sitting here alone?” Cal asked.

“Of course, go have fun, this set will probably be over soon then I’ll be meeting Gabe backstage,” she said.

“If you’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

The set ended shortly after and Annie made her way to the back room. The door was partially open, so she entered without knocking. She saw a young woman embracing Gabe. When he looked up and saw Annie, he pushed the blond beauty away, but it was too late.

“Oh, I’m sorry I interrupted.” Annie said, as she quickly turned and ran from the room.

“Annie! Annie, come back!” Gabe said, as he rushed to catch up with her.

She had a head start and she ran out the door into the night, but Gabe was right on her heels.

“Stop, Annie, please, give me a chance to explain.”

She turned, her cheeks pink with humiliation, “There is nothing to explain. You’re a musician, you’re a player, I’ve been played.”

“No, no,no! Annie, I am sure it looked bad from your end but believe me there is nothing going on between me and that girl.”

“Oh really? It looked pretty intimate to me,” she said. “Who is she?”

“Her name is Robbie. We met at a gig; I had a meaningless one-night stand with her a long time ago.”

“Is that how she sees it? A meaningless one-night stand?”

“Unfortunately, no. She fancies herself in love with me, all fine and good except that she doesn’t even know me. Look I screwed up, I thought we were both on the same page. We talked about it, but after the fact she said she had developed feelings for me. There is nothing going on between us, never was. I feel bad, but that’s the truth.”

“That’s what scares me the most. You are surrounded by women who are crushing on you. What happens in a weak moment? Late night, lonely, a few beers, I’m not judging you, It’s just that I’m aware of the temptations.”

“She was the last one for me,” Gabe said. “I knew that it was a mistake almost immediately, but I couldn’t take it back.”

“Annie, look at me,” he said, and seeing the tears shimmering in her eyes said, “Baby,” as he rubbed his thumb under her cheek where a tear had escaped. “Please listen, yes, I’m in a band, yes, I’ve had my share of meaningless flings, yes it takes a lot of confidence to be with a singer in a band, I know all of that, but I want more than a fling with you, I want to know everything there is to know about you. I want intimacy. With you,” he said, his voice becoming increasingly husky.

“Gabe I’m confident, but I don’t know if I’m that self-assured,” she admitted.

“Sure, you are Annie. There is simply no one that comes even close. Please, Annie, when I was singing that tune earlier, I meant ever single word, I’m on the edge, and I’m falling, and it’s a long way down,” he said as he pulled her toward him.

Annie looked deeply into his eyes and saw that he was telling her the truth, and that he felt equally vulnerable in this moment. She pulled his head down for a kiss and said, “Alright cowboy, I guess I’m willing to see where this rodeo takes us.” And their kiss felt like a promise, a butterfly emerging from the safety of its cocoon, fragile, new, vulnerable, not yet ready to take flight, still in stasis.

18

“Sis! It’s so good to see you. I don’t have to ask how the trip went, you look radiant,” Annie said.

“It was truly magical. To unplug for a whole month was such a luxury. I wish everyone had the opportunity to do it. There would sure be less angry people in the world,” Darcy said.

“Sam, was Italy everything you remembered it to be?” Annie asked.

“And then some. It didn’t hurt to have this babe by my side.”

“I really missed you guys. I can’t wait to see all of your pictures.”

“I think we’re going to invite some folks over to my place for a cookout and show everyone the photographs and catch up,” Sam said.

“I’m in,” Annie said.

Darcy noticing a certain glow about her sister asked, “Anything new with you?”

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