Testimony of a Rock Star: Fame Chapter 1

Chapter 19

19. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

BrendonLake Wylie, NC Present

I stood in the back of the bar until I heard the door slam. It echoed in my soul. I hated to push her away. It took every fiber in my being to do it, to make her leave. If a heart could commit suicide, I had just done it, again, for the second time, or maybe it was the third. I had begun to lose count, but my heart felt each brutal blow.

As much as I hated it, I knew I was doing the right thing. Time had passed, it was hard, but I had forced myself to move on. I still loved her, but it was for her own good. It was better this way. This way she would live her dream. After everything she had been through, she deserved at least this. I couldn’t be selfish, and keep her for myself. It wouldn’t be fair.

I walked back to the front of the bar. I began opening coolers checking the beer par to get ready for the night ahead. A repetitious life I held now. When Jaci and I had bought this bar, every moment seemed more than just counting beer bottles. It was all a new adventure for us.

I slammed the cooler’s door shut trying to shut her out of my head as well.

“Hey there, I can do that, you know. It’s my job.”

I looked up to see Beverly coming in the door. She was all smiles as usual. She helped me run this place now ever since Jaci had left.

“Well, I was just trying to stay busy...” I tapped my fingers on the bar trying not to make eye contact. Bev could read me like a book.

“Trying to keep your mind off things?” She mumbled as she came around the bar and threw her purse under the counter.

Beverly had her own opinion that I should have gone after Jaci when she left for California. She had even offered to run the place, but I couldn’t. I didn’t belong in the big cities. The lake, the bar, this was what I wanted. It wasn’t much but at one time I thought it was all I needed to be happy. Of course Jaci was by my side at the time and made this life a whole lot more inviting. Now it was just me.

I nodded, “Yea, something like that, I guess.” 

Beverly opened up the cash register to find it empty. 

“I haven’t got to that yet either.” I smirked. 

She closed the drawer. “Well what better way to get your mind off things, than to count money?” She laughed. 

“Guess you’re right.” I chuckled and then began to walk to the back. 

“So while we’re on the subject, what are you going to do about our little rock star?” She raised her eyebrow as I turned to face her glare.

“The same thing I’ve been doing, ignoring it.” I turned and continued to walk.

She followed me. “Well, that’s easy when she’s all the way across the country, but a little different when she’s right down the road, and doing late night performances on top of your bar.”

I chuckled, “I see your point, but she came by today, and I made it clear that nothing was going to happen between us.” I gritted my teeth as I reached my office.

“What? She was here?” Bev looked shocked, as I glanced back at her, but she probably already knew that. She had more than likely passed Jaci on the way in, since there was only one road in to this place.

“Yea, but I doubt she’ll be coming back to do anymore shows, or to see me.So as long as I stay on my side of the lake, I won’t have to worry about running into her.” I unlocked the office door at the same moment the buzzer to the dryer sounded.