Page 118 of To Bring You Back
“I wanted to experience what you sang about.”
His song “If I Let Her Go” had spent weeks as one of the most-played tracks on the radio. She wasn’t tired of listening to it, and she wasn’t tired of trying to realize it in her own life, but she’d come far enough alone, hadn’t she?
“Everything is much fuller now. I’ve felt alone sometimes, but I’ve also seen God answer prayers, so I know He’s holding me even when it doesn’t seem obvious.”
At some point, couldn’t God use Gannon to hold her as she fell asleep?
He pulled her to his side and wrapped an arm around her. “When I had to trust Him with you all over again, I found out how much I’d still rather do everything myself.” He inhaled, his mouth and nose against her hair. “I have to leave in the morning.”
“Already?”
He rubbed her arm, confirming without repeating the bad news.
“I was hoping we’d have more time.”
He lifted her wrist again. His thumb on the tender skin prompted an involuntary shiver he responded to by pulling her closer. “There’s something I wasn’t sure I’d tell you, but since you got matching ink …”
She let her head rest against him, and the weight of his arm around her grounded her wild hopes. What could he say that was as brazen as her tattoo?
“I’ve been watching real estate listings. Havenridge went up for sale.”
“You bought it?” She straightened to see his face.
His arm shifted on her shoulders but didn’t release. “No, I didn’t.”
“Oh.” She turned from him and braced both hands on the counter.
Of course he wouldn’t have bought it. His life was in California. This would be long distance until they were serious enough for one or the other of them to move, and since she made a lot less and had fewer people depending on her, she’d have to make the sacrifice.
Gannon covered her hand with his. “I’ve realized how sick I am of the Harpers and the Matts, of people who’d give anything for a little more fame, a little more money, another high. People who look for happiness in all the wrong places.”
She nodded. Harper had gotten engaged but was rumored to be having an affair. Matt had joined a band with three other guys who appeared to love their vices as much as Matt loved his.
“Even I did it, letting my life get too loud and complicated. I want things to be different. Quieter. This will be my last season onAudition Room,and I’m cutting down on other commitments. From here on out, I’m focusing on Awestruck and on building a life away from the noise.”
She nodded again, following, but schooling her hope.
“I mentioned the cabin because it started interesting conversations. Turns out John has wanted to move back to Wisconsin for a few years now to be closer to his family again. Two of his sisters are married, and Kate just got engaged, but he barely knows his brothers-in-law. Miller’s favorite season is winter—however that happens—and he’s got two kids he’s not crazy about raising in LA. He’s open to moving too.”
She waited for it this time, refusing to let her feelings soar and then be shot down again.
“Moving here, Adeline.” Gannon lifted her hand from the counter, turning her to face him.
“So it’s okay that I put down roots.”
He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “I wouldn’t ask you to leave this place. This house someday, but only for one with the best view of the lake we can find.”
Leave this house to be with Gannon in a house they found together? He wasn’t just talking about living in Lakeshore. He was thinking of marriage too.
He pulled her back to his side. “It wouldn’t look like it did last summer. With this as our permanent home, the guys and I would all get our own places. That’s why I passed on Havenridge. Awestruck travels a lot, but you’d be welcome to come with us.”
She tried to picture it, Gannon here year-round, attending the fall festivals, venturing to the ice caves with her in winter, getting lunch from Superior Dogs in summer, attending the little church. Locals would get used to him. If he lived the quiet life he seemed to have in mind, paparazzi probably wouldn’t bother with him. Not much, anyway. Not here.
“You would do that. Move here?”
“Well, there’s this girl …” He trailed his fingers up and down her arm. “But if you think matching tattoos make us look like a couple, me moving the band will start real talk. Then again, you did say you care more about reality than rumors.”
“And what’s the reality?”
