Page 7 of Rocking the Trucker

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right,” Sam said before moving around to stand beside him. “Now go out there and show them that you have been redeemed.”

A moment later, the applause swelled as the minister finished introducing him and waved for Gabriel to join him onstage. Taking a deep breath, Gabriel forced his feet to carry him out onto the stage and into the spotlight where his three guitars and the church’s piano waited.

As he did, he wondered for a moment why Sam had been so supportive just now. Was this the first sign the man would forgive him for being such an asshole in the past?

****

Sam watched Gabriel’sentire show from the wings. He could not tear himself away, even though he knew he should return to the truck and get some sleep since he had not slept well in the last couple of nights.

The problem was that his heart and soul demanded he be there. He needed to see more of this new Gabriel Park, the former rock star turned inspiration singer who had enthralled both him and the audience that filled the church from his first song.

Following Sam around after parking and stabilizing the trailer that afternoon, he saw a very different man from the one he’d known in the past. That morning, Alan had texted him, asking that he keep an eye on Gabriel since Alan was stuck in Kansas City on business for the next few days.

Sam stayed in the background, but remained watchful, as Gabriel met with the pastor and the team in charge of the concert. During the break for dinner, Gabriel retreated to his trailer and ate alone. After that, he met with the group of volunteers who would serve as ushers, security, and salespeople of his merchandise.

The Gabriel he had known before would never lower himself to the meetings he’d participated in today. In the past, the self-absorbed rock star would stay hidden in the trailer. He would emerge minutes before he was to go onstage, not speak to anyone, and go straight to the stage. Afterwards, he and his band would return to the trailer for hours of drinking and partying with a handful of women chosen from the crowd.

Today, Gabriel took time to pose for selfies as well as pictures with various groups of people. He had even spent time with the church band who opened the concert, offering advice. Sam lost count of how many times the words “thank you” came out of his mouth.

The emotional ice packed around Sam’s heart and soul was thawing much faster than he thought possible.

Watching Gabriel as he sang his opening song before conversing with the audience, Sam felt the giant hole in his soul begin to heal. Later, as Gabriel shared the story behind this new solo album, a lightning bolt slammed Sam between the eyes. All at once he realized he was still in love with Gabriel Park.

The distance between hate and love was the width of wish, or the length of a dream. All this time, Sam was convinced that what he’d felt since walking out of the police station years before had been hate, but it wasn’t.

It was love. Love for the man despite the situation that had driven them apart.

Now he needed to figure out what to do about it.

As Gabriel walked off stage for a few seconds at the end of the concert, Sam stepped into the shadows. As the musician returned to the stage for an encore, he slipped around the edge of the backstage area and hurried toward the nearest exit.

For now, he would keep his feelings to himself. If he admitted his feelings and Gabriel did not feel the same, it would endanger their ability to travel together for the next six weeks.

Chapter Five

Gabriel left the stage, this time determined not to return for another encore. Three was enough. Especially for the first night of a tour. He only hoped the rest of the concerts were for as welcoming and forgiving crowds.

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