"They are playing better than they have in a long time. Maybe ever." Amber said, taking a drink of her beer. She wasn't wrong. This was the fourth time she had seen them perform and it was by far their best. Gabe seemed focused and more importantly, sober. He quieted the place down at the end of their first set and the lights dimmed, with a spotlight on him and Pete alone. They both sat down on barstools and Pete began to play the opening of a song she recognized.
"Childhood living... is easy to do. The things you wanted... I bought them for you." Gabe sang. It was a stripped down, acoustic version of Wild Horses. The song she and Gabe sang along to in the car and one of her favorite, if not her most favorite, song of all time. Even more than her dad's song. She loved everything about it. The melody. The lyrics. The feel of it. What it meant. Gabe's deep and raspy voice was softer on this one and it was actually really, really good. Pete harmonized the chorus and the quiet that fell over the bar was reassuring to the guys, she hoped, that they were doing the right thing by playing it.
"Wild Horses, we'll ride them someday..." Gabe sang, as the lights went down. The entire bar cheered and gave them some yells after. Gabe smiled big and Pete looked a little shocked. It was a great response to a great version of a beloved song.
Gabe and Pete came to the bar after their set.
"Gabe. That was amazing. I dig the acoustic stuff, man. You definitely need to do that more." A man said to him.
A couple of girls came up and smiled and flirted with them a little but Gabe kept his focus on Billie, grabbing his drink and walking over to her. He sat down next to her and smiled.
"Did you like it?" He asked.
"Yes. Very much." She said.
"Enough to take it seriously?" He asked, a hint of sarcasm.
She laughed a little and looked at him, still smiling. "Yes." She said. He smiled back.
People were looking at them. Wondering who this person was that captured Gabe's focus. Women were whispering and rolling their eyes. Men were watching. It made Billie uncomfortable but she tried not to let it bother her.
"Back at it. You're staying the full show, right?" Gabe asked.
"I guess I can." Billie said.
"Good." Gabe said. He finished his beer and got up, walking to the stage. He looked back at her and smiled.
The show lasted until after 2 am. Billie had to work the next afternoon so she wasn't thrilled about how late it was.
"Man! That was literally the best show we've had. Seriously guys. Let's keep this energy going." Pete said. Tommy and Ricky didn't disagree.
"Yeah man. It's nice to be taken seriously." Gabe said, looking at Billie. She looked away and shook her head.
"It was a great show. Best I've seen yet." Billie said. "I need to get going. Thanks for inviting me out."
"Wait. Wait, give me a minute to pack up my gear. Don't leave yet." Gabe said, rushing away and helping roll up wires and putting his guitars in their cases.
She was tired but she waited... Because he asked. A few minutes passed and he came up to her and grabbed her arm. "Thanks for waiting." He said.
Just then, a young woman pulled at him and said, "What's good, Gabe? Where are you going?"
"What's it to you?" He asked.
"I was hoping you'd invite me to your place." She said boldly.
He looked at Billie. "See? See what it's like for me? This is all the time." He said.
He looked at the woman. "I'm standing next to a woman that I am leaving with. Don't be rude, man." He said.
Her face became disgusted. "Whatever then." She said, walking away.
"You didn't have to do that. I'm sure she would have been a great house guest." Billie said.
"I don't want that." Gabe said, stopping at his car. "I can have that any time I want. Any girl... and I've had many. But it's getting old. And I met you and you are not like them." He said, opening his door and putting his stuff inside.
"Gabe. I don't think I understand. Meeting me? First of all, I'm like... years older than you. I don't even know how many but probably too old for you. And second, I'm not in a place to be that for you. Or anyone for that matter." Billie said. Gabe smiled and shook his head.
"You can't really control what you are to me, regardless of what place you're in." He said, walking over to where she stood. He looked into her eyes and put his hand on hers. "And I'm 28. I don't know how old you are and I don't care." He said, kissing her.
"Gabe. Wait." She said, pulling back. "What's happening between us?" She asked.
"You are making me want to be a better man." He said. "And I'm so fucking attracted to you I can't stand it." He said, leaning in again.
"I'm sorry. I can't." She said.
"Why not?" He asked, pulling her closer.
"Please stop. Stop!" She shouted.
"Ok. Ok. I'm sorry." He said, taking a step back out of her personal space. He could see that she was trembling. "Jesus, Lily. What did he do to you?" He asked. He had no idea about her past but he knew she had been damaged, badly. That kind of reaction only came from one place... Fear. Fear of men, or more likely, one man, that made her act so scared.
"I, I have to go." She said, her voice wavering slightly. She got in her car and started the engine, putting it in reverse and driving off. She felt the hot tears falling down her face.
"What's wrong with me! What's wrong with me!" She cried to herself, wiping her face and feeling anger and frustration with how she acted, how she recoiled from him and who she had now become. She pulled into her driveway and sobbed, pissed at Sean for what he had done to her. Mad at herself for letting him continue to ruin her life.
A knock on her car window brought her back to reality.
"Gabe." She said as she rolled the window down.
"I didn't come here to upset you. I came here to talk. To talk only." He said, taking a step back from her door. She wiped her face again and pulled herself together.
"Okay." She said as she opened her car door and stood up. She walked to her front door and he followed. She turned the keys in the lock and opened the door. "Come in." She said.