On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(69)

Chuckling, I tell her, “It wasn’t much. He just wanted to let me know that he’d watch Last Call for me if I wanted to go back on tour.”

“I have a confession to make,” she whispers into the phone and, for a split second, I think she might be getting ready to talk dirty to me. Which I’m totally up for, by the way.

Instead, she says, “I overheard your conversation with Brody.”

“You did?” I tease her. “Skulking in the hallway?”

“Yeah… something like that.”

My brain scrambles around to remember exactly everything Brody said, and it suddenly hits me why Gabby brought this up. “Don’t give what Brody said another thought.”

“I’m not thinking about what he said. I’m thinking about what you said. I’m not more important than your shot at this.”

“Gabby,” I say… my voice soft and reassuring. “My decision’s made. I’m staying here because it’s what I want. I want that more than I want the money and fame.”

She’s silent on the other end, and I can envision her chewing on her lip as she considers what I said. Her voice is hesitant when she says, “I’m afraid you’ll come to regret it, and then hate me for that.”

“What?” I exclaim loudly. “That’s ridiculous. Gabby… this is my decision. Mine alone. You’ve not pushed me one way or the other, so this will never blow back on you. You hear me?”

She’s silently digesting what I say, so I wait her out. When she doesn’t respond, I push at her. “Are you picking up what I’m putting down?”

I hear her giggle on the other end, and then she says, “Yeah… I’m picking it up.”

“Good, baby… Now, we can talk about this more tomorrow. I’ll see you at the bar in the morning.”

“Want me to come stay with you tonight?”

“Nah… enjoy your night out, and then get home and get some rest.”

“But, I’ll miss you,” she whispers into the phone, and I can tell she’s doing that so no one else hears her.

“I’ll miss you too, honey… but it’s just for tonight. Besides, sounds like you’ll be too drunk to let me take proper advantage of you.”

“Okay,” she sighs into the phone. “We’re going to be out for a while still.”

“Cabbing it home, right?”

“Right.”

“Drink lots of water before you go to bed… take some Ibuprofen.”

“Got it.”

“And Gabby?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I disconnect the call and tap the phone against my chin. Today is the start of the rest of my life with Gabby. Hundreds of thoughts and desires of all the things I want to do with her flood my mind.

I want to travel with her… take her around the world and show her all the amazing things I’ve seen so far. I want to see new things with her, so we can share them together for the first time.

I want to spend lazy afternoons lying on the couch, while I watch football and maybe she reads a book.

I want us to go grocery shopping together, and fight over whether or not to buy fat-free or skim milk. I want to make her breakfast in bed, and I want her to make me chocolate chip cookies when I’m feeling down.

I want to do all of this now, so we still have time for the important stuff. Like building a life together. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I’m guessing there is going to be a moment where we move in together, get engaged… get married… have kids.

Yeah… I see it all, and I know without a doubt I’ve made the right decision.





Slipping the key in the lock, I quietly turn it and push Hunter’s door open. I had called about ten minutes ago, first his cell phone, then his landline, but he didn’t answer either. I left a whispered message on his answering machine that I was going to swing by, hoping that if John or Sasha were up, they wouldn’t be prancing around naked or something when I walked in.

I swung by the local donut shop and picked up a dozen donuts, which I take into the kitchen and set on the table. The house is quiet, but I’m not surprised. It’s just a little after six in the morning, and I wanted to get an early start over at Last Call. I think I can get the staining finished today, tomorrow will be about tiny touch ups, and then the job will be complete.

What I’ll do after that, I have no idea, but I’ll figure it out.

The mere fact that Hunter has decided to stay, has put a lot of things in perspective. I feel like I have the fortitude now to keep pushing forward with Ward Construction, because the one thing I know for sure… Hunter believes I can do it.

I leave the kitchen and turn into the hallway that leads to Hunter’s bedroom. As soon as I make that turn, I sense something out of place, and I glance up. His bedroom door opens, and for a split second, I think he might walk out.

Then my jaw drops open as Sasha steps out, wearing a robe that hits the top of her thigh, and I’m guessing not much else. Her hair is wet, and I’m also guessing she just took a shower. She looks me directly in the eye, and doesn’t seem the least bit surprised to see me standing there.

In fact, her lips curl upward in a smirk as she quietly shuts the door behind her, and she has the brass balls to say, “Oops. Busted.”