golden hour

Part two - if this was a movie

After the two get settled into the truck, Bradley puts the car in drive and backs out of his parking spot.

"So, off to your moms?" Nodding her head, they pull off into that direction. Sitting in an awkward silence for the first time since they've known each other, they both attempt to break it at the same time, Bradley stopping to say "go ahead, Layla. You first"

"I'm sorry to pull you away from your friends, Lee" he feels his heart strings tug when he hears the name only she ever called him. Most people called him Rooster these days, very rarely was he called Bradley but she was the only one who called him Lee and hearing the familiar nickname hit him hard, realizing just how much he missed her.

The last few years since they broke up, he mostly kept his head down and worked on his career. He had a few dates here and there but nothing ever came from them, knowing it would just be shitty of him to lead someone on when he knew she was all he really wanted.

"You didn't pull me away, I've missed you. God, Layla I just can't believe we're here at the same time again."

Her heart rate picks up at his comment, hopeful that he still has feelings for her like she does for him. Trying to gauge the situation, she says "yeah, it seems like fate keeps bringing us together." Peeking over at him, unsure how he'll respond.

He hums, not really giving a response. Feeling dejected, Layla sits back in her seat and looks out the window, letting him be the next one to speak. Deciding to play it safer and discuss something more lighthearted, "breadwinner, huh?" He asks.

Trying to keep from laughing, "oh so you kept up with my music this time?" He laughs, "yeah how could I not listen to stuff when I'm the muse?"

"Well to be fair, some stuff is taken from inspiration elsewhere. Most of it is you though, my muse. So what did you think?" She's nervous to ask, knowing he listened to her breakup album that was mostly about him.

"I liked it, I felt like everything you said was fair, it's not like you sat there and wrote songs about how much you hate me, haha. I'm sure a lot of people thought they could relate. Seems like you're doing well with your career"

Nodding her head and realizing that he couldn't see her, she places her hand on his leg and says "yeah, I tried to be honest but tell a story. People have been receiving it very well. And tours been really great too, seeing everyone every night. Tomorrow is my last show, and you've still never seen me play. Do you think you could come?"

Feeling stupid for asking him, she tries to back track "I mean, I'm sure you're busy, it's not like you're here on vacation."

"No no, I'd love to go. Just give me the details I need and I'll be there." Smiling and sitting back, feeling a weight lifted they sit in the car in a comfortable silence this time, until they arrive at her moms.

"Well we're here." He puts the car in park and they both look at each other. They both sit there for a moment too long, neither one wanting to make the move. "So uh..I got another dog?"

"Oh shit, how's Pep been? What's your new dogs name?" Pepper being her rescue she had gotten when they were dating, Bradley had felt like she was his dog too. While on the road, she had an interview where she got to play with puppies available for adoption and she had fallen in love with a brown dachshund and had adopted her as well.

"Peppers been really good, loves her new sister Lucy" smiling, Bradley always loved dogs. He just never was in one place long enough to get one. "Do you wanna come in and see the dogs?"  He only had to think for a split second before deciding he would come in.

After getting inside and seeing the dogs over-excited, they take the two dogs for a walk down the beach. Neither one of them saying it, but both knowing that it's an excuse to prolong their time together. For the most part, they keep the conversation easy. Chatting about friends and various things they've been up to. When the dogs seem to need a break, they sit on a rock near the shoreline and tie the dog leashes up at a nearby post.