Love At The Bluebird Read online

  Valerie and I walk to our cars in silence, both of us deep in thought. Shane’s words repeat over and over in my brain. What do I have to lose by calling Gavin? Sure, it goes against my policy of not dating musicians, but every cell in my body is screaming that he seems different and to give him a chance. The memory of his handsome face with those intense eyes demanding I call him causes me to shiver, a smile creeping up on my lips, because I actually liked that he demanded I call him.

  Give him a chance, Aly! You’ve got nothing to lose.

  Oh sure, just my heart if he breaks it into a million pieces.

  A phone call is harmless and doesn’t mean anything.

  “You aren’t seriously going to call him, are you?” Valerie’s question interrupts my internal debate with myself. I look over at her to see she’s waiting outside of her open car door, and I realize we didn’t even say goodbye to each other, since I was lost in my own thoughts. I take a deep breath and flash her a bashful smile, knowing she isn’t going to like my decision.

  “Of course I am,” I confirm, giving her a playful wink. Feeling high with adrenaline and confidence, I pull out my phone and type in his number. While his phone rings, I blow her a kiss goodbye and get into my car to start the engine. My Bluetooth picks up the call and I start to think I’ll be leaving a voicemail when he suddenly picks up on the fourth ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Gavin? Um, hi, this is Alyson, the girl from the Bluebird Cafe,” I say, trying to sound somewhat cute and not like a complete dork. “The one you gave your card to,” I remind him, hoping he hasn’t been handing his card out like candy on Halloween night.

  “Alyson,” he repeats my name in his deep voice, and a chill slides down my spine. “Do you go by Aly?”

  “Yes,” I rasp out, my voice shaking a little at my nervousness. “Most people call me Aly.”

  “Well, all right then… Aly.” Why does my name sound so exotic coming from him? “I’m sorry if you can’t hear me very well. I’m still at the Bluebird. Can I call you when I get home?”

  “Oh right! I’m so sorry. Your assistant demanded I call you, and she’s a little scary,” I joke while I smack my hand against my head for being the dumbass I am. Of course he’s still at the Bluebird, since it hasn’t even been five minutes since I left. Why didn’t I think to wait to call him?

  Fortunately, he’s chuckling at me and I marvel at the sound. “I hope she wasn’t rude to you. Sosie’s always pretty serious.”

  “No, she wasn’t rude at all.” I grimace at the lie. “Call me whenever you get a free moment. I should be up for a while. I mean, call me another day or whenever,” I stammer, rolling my eyes at myself for how stupid I sound.

  “I’ll call you in a little bit, darlin’. Get home safe and I’ll talk to you soon,” he tells me before saying goodbye and hanging up.

  “What an idiot you are, Aly,” I groan out loud, mad at myself for calling him so soon and seeming desperate. Knowing there is nothing I can do about it now, I turn on the radio, hoping it will distract me from my thoughts of Gavin.

  I pull into my driveway fifteen minutes later and I go inside. I feed Apollo before putting on my pajamas. After I wash my face and brush my teeth, I look at my clock and see it’s only 10:00 p.m., so I decide to get into bed and continue reading the current book I’m obsessed with. Apollo joins me and curls into my side. I check to make sure my phone is on full volume and not on vibrate so that I won’t miss Gavin’s call. With my phone settled next to me on the nightstand, I lie against my pillows and start to read.

  Two hours later, the words are starting to blur together and I’m afraid that if I don’t go to bed soon, I will be jolted awake by my Kindle smacking me in the face. I put it aside and reach for my phone. Disappointment rears its ugly head as I see how late it is and he hasn’t called me back like he said he would.

  “Chin up, Aly. Don’t waste any pretty breaths on him,” I tell myself, repeating the old motto my mother used to say to me when a boy I liked didn’t like me back. I turn my light off and settle into the covers, praying that a certain green-eyed devil doesn’t occupy my dreams.

  Chapter Five

  GAVIN

  I SHOULD’VE NEVER fucking agreed to this.

  I didn’t have dinner before I got to the Bluebird Cafe, so the idea of grabbing a quick bite to eat with friends when the invitation presented itself sounded like a great idea. I should have known them reassuring me that we’d be quick was a lie, even with most of them having late night studio sessions to get back to. Two hours later, our group of four has turned into a group of ten and we’re still sitting at the restaurant. I look around the table at everyone, trying to gauge how much longer they’re going to take to finish up so I can pay the bill and get the hell out of here to call Aly back. Everyone is done, but most are still nursing their drinks. I start to feel agitated at the delay, hoping this doesn’t diminish what Aly thinks of me. I’m a man of my word, so when I tell someone I’m going to call them back, I do. I look at my watch to see it’s midnight.

  Screw this. It’s time to take matters into my own hands.

  “You ready to go, Sos?” I interrupt her conversation with another person and she turns toward me. “If not, no big deal. I can Uber it home.”

  “We haven’t even gotten the check yet,” she states while seeing if anyone else got theirs.

  I stand up and throw two hundred-dollar bills down to cover me and Sosie, not caring that our bill was nowhere near that amount. “Here’s for me and you. I’m gonna head out. Stay and enjoy yourself.”

  “No, I’ll drive you. I’m getting tired anyway.” She stands and we say our goodbyes to everyone then walk to the parking lot to Sosie’s car.

  “Why are you in such a rush to get home?” she asks a couple minutes into our drive, while I’m sending Aly a text, asking if she’s still awake.

  “Because it’s late and I have a long day tomorrow,” I reply, and when she glances at me, I can tell she doesn’t buy it. “I gotta be in the studio all day tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, but let me guess the real reason you’re so anxious to get home.”

  “Guess away.”

  “Did you or did you not receive a phone call from one Miss Alyson Dawson?” I look over at her in surprise, since I didn’t tell her that she called me. “Oh please, Gavin, don’t look so shocked. You’ve had this goofy, Joker-esque smile on your face ever since she’s called. You’ve also been in your own head the whole night and unusually quiet.”

  “How do you know her last name?” I ask, suddenly feeling protective of Aly and her privacy.

  “It wasn’t rocket science. Everyone in that room saw your ogling her all damn night. Plus, I overheard some girls complaining about how unfair it is that all the hot guys in Nashville seem to go for her, yet she’s never been seen dating any of them.”

  “Maybe she’s been hurt before and isn’t ready to date,” I offer, trying to ignore the niggle of irritation in the pit of my stomach at the news that multiple men have gone after her, but then I remind myself that Sos said Aly’s never been seen with any of them.

  “Or maybe she bats for the other team.”

  I laugh off Sosie’s comment, because there is no fucking way I believe that. “I don’t think so,” I say confidently. I’ve never felt such intense sexual tension with another woman, not even my ex.

  “Whatever, I just don’t get it. She literally called you within ten minutes of you giving her your number. Don’t you think that’s a little… I don’t know, stalkerish? There was zero chase for you.”

  “Why does there always have to be a chase when you’re interested in someone?” I question, not liking where Sosie’s line of questioning is headed. “What’s the problem? You don’t like her? You don’t even know her.”

  “Exactly, Gavin! We don’t know her. She could be coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs,” she says while glaring at me. “You don’t know if she’s not completely off her rocker, and yet you’re acting like a love-sick
puppy!”

  “Since when does being interested in someone equal being a love-sick puppy?” I argue, confused by Sosie’s obvious anger. “Why are you getting so bent out of shape about me meeting someone?”

  “Because last time you met someone, she broke your heart, and I don’t ever want to see that pain in your eyes again!” she snaps then presses her lips together. The car goes silent after her confession and I shift in my seat. Shit, she’s right. Tori did fuck me up, but she didn’t shatter my soul. Looking back, I can now recognize the warning signs for what they were, and I chose to ignore every single one of them.

  Then again, Tori’s change in personality didn’t happen overnight. It was slow at first with her kindness starting to fade. Next, she started going out without me, not wanting to spend time with me, and would only show up when she was wasted and wanted to hook up at the end of the night. When I realized I was only being used for my songwriting skills, it hurt, but it didn’t take long for the hurt I was feeling to morph into anger. I don’t give a fuck about Tori. I don’t even think about her anymore, and that’s how I know we weren’t truly in love. Because if we were, the end of us would’ve felt like a thousand little knives stabbing holes into my heart.

  Love is magical, torturous, beautiful, and hard. I survived our break-up and actually came out a better man. Being with her taught me exactly what I want for myself and what I expect from any woman I end up with in the future.

  “I appreciate you having my back.”

  She peeks at me out of the corner of her eye, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. I give her shoulder an encouraging squeeze to let her know everything’s okay. “But if you don’t take risks on people, then you’ll end up alone. I’ve never looked at someone and felt something as strong as I did tonight.” I sigh, trying to find the words to describe just how I felt but coming up empty.

  Maybe my nervousness tonight was the universe trying to tell me I’m going to meet a girl who’s going to turn my world upside down or some cosmic shit like that. Hell, I don’t usually believe in that kind of stuff, but I can’t help but think that tonight was supposed to happen.

  “I love you, Sos, and I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do know I’m going to follow my gut and see where it goes.”

  “I love you too, Gav,” she says softly as she wrings her hands on the steering wheel. “And I’m sorry, but I’ll always be protective of you. You’re like my hero. You really saved my life.” My throat gets tight at her words, but I ignore it and smile at her. “And it’s because I love you that I’m asking you to go slow with this girl. Maybe just talk to her on the phone for a week, and if that goes good, then plan a date?” She looks at me with worry-filled eyes.

  “I can do that.” Maybe going slow and talking over the phone first will give me the chance to actually get to know her before we spend any time together.

  When we get to the front of my apartment complex, I tell Sosie to take tomorrow off, since my workday will consist of writing songs for other people and hours in the studio. I tell her goodbye then go inside and take the elevator up to the fourteenth floor.

  Ten minutes later, I’m pacing the floors of my apartment, questioning whether or not I should call Aly. It’s 12:30 in the morning and Aly hasn’t replied to my text. On the rest of the car ride home, Sosie filled me in on the information she learned about Aly, which was that she worked for Big Little Music in the A&R department as an assistant. Most people are sleeping at this hour, but when you work in the music business, there are lots of late nights, and oftentimes, that includes partying. If she’s a party girl, then whatever I’m feeling will fizzle quickly.

  Is that why she hasn’t returned my texts? Is she out partying?

  Curiosity and jealousy start eating at me as images of her hanging out with other men fill my mind.

  “Fuck it, I’m calling her,” I say out loud, grabbing my phone from my back pocket and dialing her number. She picks up after the second ring, and I expect to hear loud music and talking, but instead, I’m greeted with complete silence.

  “Hello?” I say into the phone, but still no response. “Aly?”

  “Hi,” she barely whispers, and guilt floods through me for waking her up.

  “Were you sleeping?” What a fucking stupid question that is, Captain Obvious! I shake my head at myself, not believing that here I am, an award-winning songwriter, and I can’t even think of something normal to say to this girl.

  “Uh-huh,” she responds back in an almost childlike voice that has me chuckling at how adorable she sounds.

  “Darlin’, I’m sorry to wake you. I just wanted to keep my promise and call you back. I should’ve waited until tomorrow. Can I make it up to you by buying you breakfast in the morning?” Shit, so much for taking Sosie’s advice on taking it slow and talking to her for a week first.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she mumbles, making me wonder if her short answers might mean she’s still asleep.

  “Why don’t we meet at Star Bagel at eight. Do you know where that is?” I question, thinking that it should be close enough to her job on Music Row that she won’t be late for work.

  “Uh-huh,” she says softly, and I make a mental note to set my alarm thirty minutes early so I can send her a text to remind her about meeting me.

  “Sleep tight, darlin’, and I’ll see you in the morning.” With nothing but silence greeting me, I laugh at her lack of response and hang up the phone. I get ready for bed, but the adrenaline coursing through me makes me feel restless. The thought of seeing her again keeps me wide awake and soon, words and sentences start filling my head. With the vision of Aly’s gorgeous face on repeat in my brain, I grab my laptop and start putting lyrics together for a new song, one filled with hope and the thought that love might really exist.

  Chapter Six

  ALY

  I SMACK THE snooze button on my alarm, groaning at the thought of having to get out of my warm, cozy bed. Today is going to be one of those days I’ll be sitting front row on the struggle bus due to lack of sleep. I tossed and turned for most of the night, and for those few hours I did sleep, Gavin occupied my dreams in the most vivid ways.

  I shuffle slowly into my kitchen, and I’m barely conscious as I go through my morning routine of starting a pot of coffee and feeding Apollo. Once my fat cat is fed, I get a bowl out of the cupboard for myself and dump way too much cereal in it. I add milk till it hits the brim of the bowl then lean over to sip some off the edge so it doesn’t spill when I pick it up. Once the coffee is brewed and poured, I bring my coffee and cereal over to the table, sit down, and start to eat. Just when I’m starting to feel somewhat coherent, my phone dings, alerting me to a text message. I shovel a spoonful of cereal into my mouth before grabbing my phone.

  Gavin: Good morning, darlin’! This is your friendly wake-up call to remind you that you agreed to meet me for breakfast at Star Bagel this morning at eight. See you soon!

  Cereal and milk starts spewing from my mouth as I choke. When did I agree to meet him for breakfast? As soon as I ask myself that I vaguely recall the shrill ringing of my phone in the middle of the night. That wasn’t a dream?

  Shit!

  I push back from the table and quickly pour the remainder of my cereal and coffee into the drain of the sink. I shower within five minutes, quickly apply lotion to my body, put on my bra and panties, and then blow dry my hair. I run to my closet to pick an outfit and groan. It figures I have nothing to wear, since I haven’t done laundry in over a week. I finally settled on an off-the-shoulder, light-pink mesh sweater with a white tank-top underneath, jeans, and beige-colored peep-toe booties. Once dressed, I apply a little makeup and quickly curl my hair then finalize my look with simple gold jewelry. Knowing it’s not going to get any better than this in the time I have, I text Gavin back to tell him I’m on my way then grab my purse and head out the door.

  It takes me ten minutes to get to Star Bagel and another five minutes to find parking. Once my tiny car is parked in a
spot a couple blocks away, I reapply my lip gloss one more time then take a deep breath to try to calm my shaky nerves. I get out of the car with two minutes to spare and walk down the block to the bagel shop.

  I try to think of what kinds of things we can talk about, but all thoughts suddenly vanish from my brain when I spot him waiting outside for me. He’s wearing a black shirt that clings like saran wrap to his biceps, gray denim jeans that aren’t too tight but fit nicely to his thighs, and stylish black boots. He looks like a professional model leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, and aviator sunglasses covering his eyes, waiting for his picture to be taken. Nerves start making my belly dance, and I take a couple of deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

  Calm down, Aly! He’s just a guy you’re having breakfast with.

  Yeah… a really hot guy you’d like to eat for breakfast.

  I watch him take off his sunglasses and push himself off the wall as soon as he sees me coming, his infectious smile brightening my mood. Within seconds, he’s standing in front of me, and he startles me when he grabs my hands and pulls me closer. With our bodies only mere inches from touching, I tilt my head back to look up at him. Gah, he’s gorgeous, and his green eyes capture my attention. His gaze roams my face, lingering for a moment on my lips before returning to stare into my eyes and what feels like my soul.

  “My God, you’re stunning.”

  The first words out of his mouth render me speechless for a moment and I blush from his compliment.

  “Th-thank you and… good morning,” I stutter out, not prepared for such an intense greeting. I continue smiling on the outside, but on the inside, I’m cringing at how pathetic I feel and sound.

  His mouth curves into a wicked smirk, making me forget my stupidity and my knees almost buckle. “Good morning. You ready to go eat? Because I’m starving,” he says while his eyes rake over me, making me question if he’s still referring to food when he looks at me that way. I nod and stifle a groan at the loss of his warm hands around mine. Instead, he places one hand on the small of my back to lead me into the restaurant.