Love at The Bluebird

“Fine, I’ll leave now and call you when I’m done.”

“Don’t forget to call me.” He hung up before I could, and I didn’t know what he was on, but my curiosity was peaked.

Fortunately, my house was close to where the music video shoot was, and it took me no time at all to get back home. I ran inside the house, turned on the TV, and went through my recordings to find the show. I didn’t skip over Gavin’s performance like Shane suggested. I wanted to watch him in his element, and even through the television, I was mesmerized by those green eyes and that deep voice. I fast-forwarded through the commercials and stopped when the show was back on. Gavin looked his normal, hot self, wearing a blue-and-orange plaid button-down shirt that clung to his chest and biceps, dark denim jeans, and black leather high-tops. Ellen was congratulating him on the success of “User” and listed out all the songs he had written for other artists. She genuinely seemed impressed as she read off the titles and artists of the songs, and I can admit I was impressed too.

“Now, Gavin, I have to ask the burning question the ladies in my audience are dying to know,” Ellen said to him, and the crowd started applauding as if they already knew what she was going to ask. “Is Gavin McNeer single? And if so, where would we find him mingling?”

Gavin laughed, and my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest from the anticipation of his answer.

“No, I’m not single. I’m very much taken by a beautiful woman named Alyson.”

As soon as he said that, I paused the recording and studied his happy expression while my heart seemed to explode in my chest.

Even two days later, I still can’t believe it. When we talked later that night, he asked if I was upset with him, and of course, I told him no. How could I be upset with him? He just told the whole world we’re dating. If that doesn’t prove he’s committed to us, then I don’t know what else would.

A marriage proposal would.

Don’t even go there, brain!

I shake my head at myself and wonder why I would even think such a silly thought. We just met less than a week ago! I still need to figure out how to navigate my relationship with him. In all honesty, I don’t know how to feel about the news of us being together made public. While it makes me feel amazing to know he wants to be with me, the fact that people want to know all about me just because I’m dating him is scary. Someone even reported my last name to a news source, and my Facebook and Instagram pages blew up with likes and messages. Most have been sweet, but some have been pretty nasty, with people telling me I wasn’t good enough for Gavin, a few even threatening me to stay away from him or else.

After the last threat I received, I shut down both my accounts, since I don’t really need to have social media anyway. Fans can be crazy, and they are easy to ignore, but the people I work with starting to look at me differently is a little harder to deal with. Before his appearance on television, my co-workers started to ask if Gavin and I were dating, and I was hesitant in answering them, wanting to keep whatever we were starting private for as long as possible. Now, I can’t do that anymore.

Don’t worry about the unknown, Aly, I tell myself, what’s meant to be, will be. I’m just going to be grateful that such a wonderful man like Gavin is even interested in me. He’s sneaking his way into my heart and I know I’ll be devastated if he decides I’m not worth his time anymore. Get those thoughts out of your head! Gavin has made it clear he wants to be with me and I want to be with him, so no more hesitations. Time to enjoy every minute I have with him.

On that note, I get up out of bed and decide a little retail therapy and a movie would do me good. I fix myself some toast with peanut butter on it, brew some coffee, and give Apollo some love before feeding him. Once I’m done with breakfast, I get dressed, and just as I’m about to leave, I remember I was going to call Sosie and invite her out with me. Sosie is important to Gavin, and I really want the two of us to try to become friends. I sit down on my couch, take a deep breath, and dial her number.

“Hello?” she answers, and even in greeting, she sounds pissed off and annoyed.

“Hey, Sosie, it’s Aly. How are you?” I ask cheerfully, hoping that maybe if she hears my good mood, she’ll be nice.