Page 53 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
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.”
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 jalapeño 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, señora. 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.
