Page 65 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
Gunner stood alone. He seemed lost in thought, unaware of her presence. Her heart ached at the sight of him, so close yet feeling a world away.
Why does he look so…defeated?she wondered, her brow furrowing with concern.
Taking a steadying breath, she stepped forward. The grass rustled beneath her feet, breaking the stillness of the moment. She saw Gunner tense, his posture straightening as he sensed her approach.
“I thought I might find you out here,” she said softly, her voice carrying on the gentle evening breeze.
Gunner turned, his eyes meeting hers. The intensity of his gaze made her pulse quicken, as it always did. “Aubrey,” he breathed, her name a melody on his lips. “Shouldn’t you be enjoying the party?”
She shrugged, stepping closer. “It didn’t feel right without you there.”
A flicker of guilt passed over Gunner’s face. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Aubrey recognized as a sign of his inner conflict.
“I just needed some air,” he explained, his voice tinged with an emotion Aubrey couldn’t quite place. “To clear my head.”
She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face. “And did it work?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
His gaze drifted back to the mountains, a wistful expression settling on his features. “I’m not sure anything can clear this particular fog, darlin’.”
Her heart clenched at the pain evident in his voice. She closed the distance between them, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. The warmth of his skin beneath her fingers sent a familiar thrill through her, but she pushed the sensation aside, focusing on the matter at hand.
“Gunner,” she said, her voice firm but laced with vulnerability, “what’s been going on with you? You’ve been distant, troubled. I need to know what’s wrong.”
He turned to face her fully, his eyes searching hers. Weariness etched into his rugged features. For a moment, Aubrey thought he might deflect, but then his shoulders sagged slightly.
“I’ve been wrestlin’ with something,” he admitted. “Something that could change everything.”
Aubrey’s breath caught in her throat. She steeled herself, determined to be strong no matter what came next. “Tell me,” she urged. “Whatever it is, we can face it together.”
His hand came up to cup her cheek, his touch achingly tender. “You don’t know how much I want to believe that,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.
She leaned into his touch, her heart racing. “Then help me understand,” she whispered. “No more secrets. Not between us.”
He drew a deep breath, his hand falling away from her face. He turned slightly, gazing out at the Montana landscape as if drawing strength from the rugged beauty surrounding them.
“I got a call from my label,” he confessed, his words slow and deliberate. “They’re offerin’ me a chance to record a new album.”
Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat. “That’s…that’s amazing,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded, still not meeting her eyes. “It is. But it means I’d have to leave Timber Falls. They want me in Nashville for at least two months, maybe longer, to record the album.” His eyes finally locked with hers, filled with a storm of emotions. “And after that, they’re talkin’ about a tour to promote the album.”
Aubrey felt as if the ground was shifting beneath her feet. She struggled to keep her expression neutral, even as her mind raced with the implications. “How long have you known about this?” she asked, fighting to keep the tremor from her voice.
“Just a few days,” Gunner admitted, guilt flashing across his face. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, how to make this decision. It’s everything I should want, but…” He trailed off, his gaze drifting back to her.
Aubrey swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus on his needs rather than her own tumultuous emotions. “But what?” she prompted gently.
“But leaving Timber Falls for that long, leaving you…” His voice cracked slightly. “It feels like I’m giving up something just as important.”
Her heart ached at his words, even as a part of her soared at the implication. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. “Gunner, this is your dream,” she said softly, surprised by the steadiness in her voice. “You can’t give that up, not for anything or anyone.”
His fingers tightened around Aubrey’s, his touch electric even in this moment of uncertainty. He took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her heart race.
“Come with me,” he said. “Join me in Nashville. And on tour. We could make this work, together.”
Aubrey’s breath caught in her throat. The offer hung in the air between them, tempting and terrifying all at once. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine it. The excitement of life on the road, nights filled with music and passion, waking up each day in a new city with Gunner by her side.
But reality crashed in like a tidal wave. The Naked Moose. Her best friends. The life she’d painstakingly built here in Timber Falls. Her grip on Gunner’s hand loosened as she took a step back.
