The Best Of Me

Chapter 22

  Brantley

I woke up with a start. Hoping and praying it was all a bad dream. On the table next to my bed there was the ring I bought Harmony and next to it was my phone and a bottle of whiskey. The bottle was unopened I had bought it during a weak moment but so far I hadn't touched it. I just left it where I could see it and know it was there if I needed it. I checked my phone, still no calls or texts. My calls went unanswered at first until Kolby told me to stop calling her because it was hurting her to see my name on her phone. Still I prayed every morning I would wake to a call from her. Every morning I would hold the bottle of whiskey and I'd think about opening it. I thought about putting the ring somewhere I didn't have to look at it.

My phone rang so I looked down at it. Amber was calling me again. She just couldn't get the hint. I was done with her, she wasn't what I wanted. I still had the bottle in my hand. If I drank it would she leave me alone? Probably. But then I'd never get Harmony back. She was probably never coming back anyway. It'd been three months and she still wouldn't even talk to me. It killed me knowing my brother was friends with her but I was glad she had him. I just hated that he knew so much about what was going on in her life and wouldn't tell me anything.

Another night, another city, another stage. They all blended together. Some nights I barely made it off stage before falling apart. Some nights I fell apart before I even took the stage and I did all I could to keep it together. I had already lost the best thing to ever happen to me I didn't want to jeopardize the second best. BRANTLEY, BRANTLEY, BRANTLEY. The crowd was screaming for me. Once upon a time I thought this was all I'd ever need. I ran out on stage. "WHAT'S UP, HOUSTON?" I almost said the wrong city. My heart was back in Nashville, or had she gone back to Athens? Either way it was a thousand miles away tonight. I went straight into Hell On Wheels then into Kick It In The Sticks. No love songs tonight. For about 30 minutes or so I thought about nothing but my music. I played a cover of Simple Man and I closed with Country Must Be Country Wide. I ran off stage feeling great. The feeling wouldn't last it never did. At least I made it through my set.

Harmony

I took one last look at the apartment. It was empty now but it was only furniture that was missing. Everywhere I looked was another memory. Leann and Kolby were outside giving me a minute alone. Where I stood now was where I was standing when I decided I was ready to give myself to Brantley. Mind, body, and soul. Even now I didn't regret it. I would never block out the memories I would never try to forget. No matter what, whether it was real or not, it had been real for me and it had been amazing. Today I cried but tomorrow I would look back and smile. I reached down to grab my last bag and said goodbye to an empty room.

"Let me grab that for you" "It's only one bag Kolby I think I got it. It's not even heavy." "Still let me carry it please." "Whatever." "I handed him my bag and followed him and Leann to the car. Anthony was in my truck with all the bigger furniture. I don't know why we were even bringing it. I just wanted to throw it all away or sell it instead it was coming with me. My parents had a new guest house and for now that's where me and all my things would be staying. I never thought I'd be in my late 20's and living at home. I wondered how much everyone in town knew about me and Brantley. I hoped it wasn't much. I didn't need the whole town talking about it.

"Hey can we stop by the bar real quick? I want to say bye to all my friends." "Yeah, No problem." I got out and went into the dimly lit already crowded bar. It wasn't even dinnertime yet. I found Mike. He had intimidated me when I first met him but he gave me a job and for that I could never thank him enough. I hugged Mike and thanked him for everything and promised to visit next time I was in the city. Ashley, Chris, and Becca saw me and headed toward me. This was my family here in Nashville. I was going to miss them all so much. I hugged each one of them promising to call and visit. They all promised to visit me. I said bye to a few customers and with tears in my eyes I walked out of the bar. It was time to go home. Even if I wasn't really ready yet.

Brantley

"Hey man I have someone I want you to meet." "Not another girl, It's only been 6 months." "Yeah I know you're not ready to date but you can still be friends." "Whatever. There's no harm I guess." "You're gonna like her. Promise." "I don't want to like her." "harmony isn't coming back B." "Don't say that." "Fine just tell me you'll come meet my friend later." "Yeah, I'll be there." "Good." No one understood what I was going through. But I wasn't going to try and make them understand. My friends tried hooking me up with girls every other day. Their intentions were good so I didn't want to tell them no. I really wasn't looking forward to meeting this girl tonight either.

"Brantley this is Jana." I looked down and into her beautiful brown eyes. That was the first thing I noticed about her was her eyes. We started talking and when she would laugh or smile her eyes lit up. Her smile was even more beautiful than her eyes. Jana was almost my complete opposite. She was this short little city girl from Michigan. Whereas I was a tall country boy from Georgia. She was an actress, I was a singer. She smiled and laughed and talked while I listened. There was a pain behind her smile that not many could see. I think I could see it because I was in pain as well. Jana and I talked all night. About love and life and growing up. I wasn't ready for a relationship but I already knew that her and I would be great friends.

The sun was coming up as I walked into my bedroom. I plugged my phone in and set it on the nightstand. I picked up the ring and took it out of the box. I turned it in my fingers admiring the way the light hit the diamonds and sparkled. I set the ring back into the box and went to my safe in the closet. I keyed in the combination and put the ring in there. Here it would be safe and sound. I walked back over to the nightstand and picked up the bottle of whiskey. I broke the seal and twisted the cap off. I held it for a second waiting to see if I would get the urge to drink. I didn't I walked over to the bathroom and poured the whole bottle into the bathroom sink. Turning on the water I washed the whiskey down the drain. I threw the bottle in the trash. I didn't need that anymore. It would take some time to heal but I knew now that I would be okay.

Harmony

I sat in front of my sons grave and ran my fingers over his name. CHARLES. "I never met you but I think about you everyday son. I love you. You will always be my first love and my first child. I wish you were here." A tear dropped on the headstone. I wrapped my arms around my stomach. It was a pretty warm day but I couldn't shake the chill. I looked behind me to see Melody standing there. My sister was my first friend and my best friend. She would always be there for me. "Come on Harmony. You're going to be late for your first day of work." "I definitely don't want that. I can't believe they actually gave me my job back. I'm so excited to finally be working with kids again." "I know. I'm excited for you. Let's go." I stood up and looked at the tiny little headstone. The tears I cried were for my son and for everything else I'd gained and then lost. I turned the radio on and Brantley Gilbert "You Don't Know Her Like I Do" was playing Melody reached over to turn it off. "No. Leave it. It's okay. I'll be okay." "Are you sure?" "I can't avoid him he's everywhere. On the radio. In my memories and my dreams. I carry part of him inside me." "Are you sure you're ready?" "As ready as I'll ever be." 

THE END

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Stay tuned for the sequel. Just As I Am. Coming soon.