A Bond Never Broken

Chapter 2

I pulled up into my driveway to see the LBO waiting for their coffee- that they weren't going to get- outside the buses. If any of them gives me crap about not getting their coffee, I'll give them something to complain about. I was definitely in no mood for that. Just ten minutes ago, I saw the love of my life walk away without me. I guess I was so mesmerized at how beautiful she looked and for the fact that I saw her when I thought I would never lay an eye on her again. That's probably why I didn't run after her the instant I saw her.

I put my truck in the garage. As I locked the side door to the garage up, the guys started to take notice of my empty hands. They didn't confront me though. They probably could tell I was a bomb of emotions waiting to erupt at the slightest spark.

Walking past them I yelled sternly, "No coffee. Don't ask me what's wrong. Load up now so we can get to PCB on time."

I knew there were surprised looks on their faces. I rarely ever yelled at them. As they piled into the band bus, I slumped onto the couch and let out a long shaky breath that I didn't know I had been holding.

"You saw her didn't you?" My bus driver, Honky Tonk Man said as he pulled onto the dirt road leading away from my home.

"Who? 'Her' could be anyone; my Momma, aunt, niece, cousin. Specify please."

I moved and sat closer to him.

"Luke, I'm not talking to you as the bus driver employed to Luke Bryan, I'm talking to you man to man. I'm talking to you as a friend." He explained as he merged onto I-65 S. "You know exactly who I'm talking about."

"You're right. I can't fool you." I sighed and continued. "I was in line waiting for the coffee. I was about in the middle of the line when I heard the barista say 'Caroline B., your caramel macchiato is ready.' I knew I was crazy to think it could be HER, but I searched up and down for her. Then I spotted her. She had aged perfectly. She was gorgeous. I didn't even realize that she had walked past me until a few seconds later. I hollered her name. She stopped and looked for the person who had said her name, but as soon as she spotted me, she turned on her heel and shouldered outside. By the time I got to the door, she was gone."

I got up and paced the room. All the while, Honky Tonk Man stayed silent.

"Did she forget the love that we had once shared? Why would she run away?" I felt the emotions bubble up in me as I spoke. "Was she truly not in love with me? Is that why she encouraged me to go pursue my dreams?" My voice hitched at the thought.

Caroline wouldn't have said she loved me all through our relationship. She was too honest of a person to fake something as big as this. Or would she have faked it? What if she did? I pushed the thought back. That couldn't have been the case.

"If you truly want my honest opinion Luke I'll tell you." HTM finally spoke up interrupting my thoughts.

I shook my head of the thoughts and answered him. "Yes, yes please."

"I honestly think she ran because of publicity. You know the stuff: 'Luke Bryan Shows Interest In New Woman'. It'd be all over every tabloid and major newspaper and magazine by tomorrow. Caroline knows that you're a successful guy in your career and knows that will happen." He thumped the steering wheel with his fingers. "But I also think about it this way too: she hasn't seen you for nineteen years. She was in love with you and to rush right back in isn't an easy thing."

"What do you mean 'and to rush right back in isn't an easy thing'?" I huffed a little annoyed.

"Take it this way: you guys practically don't know anything about each other. A lot of small and major things can happen in that time period you guys were separated. Not to mention the fact that you guys cut all ties of communication. No texting, emailing, messaging, or even old fashioned handwriting letters. None of that you guys did. Am I right?"