Page 13 of Sticks and Stones
Chapter Four
Gunnar didn’t know what he’d done to piss Gianna off this time, but instead of trying to figure it out, he headed to the nearest bar where he could knock one back and forget his troubles for a while.
He wasn’t dressed for it, but he didn’t think anyone would mind. Or notice, for that matter. He’d covered the entire town that morning on foot and not a single person recognized him with his shades and ball cap on. He loved it.
He sat at the bar and ordered fries and a burger while the guy next to him did the same.
“They make the best burgers,” the dude next to him said. “Only thing better is their pulled pork.”
“Why aren’t you having that then?” Gunnar asked, taking a swig of his beer as he watched sports highlights on the TV mounted over the bar.
He shrugged, staring at the screen. “Just in the mood for a burger, I guess.”
Gunnar suspected his companion was a man of few words, which suited him just fine. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk anyway.
“Levi,” the man said, extending his hand when the broadcast broke for a commercial.
“Excuse me?”
He grinned. “That’s my name. Levi Rowe.”
“Oh.” Gunnar clasped his hand, admiring his firm grip. “Gunnar.”
“I know who you are.”
“You do?”
“Sure, everyone does.” He laughed. “You think just ’cause we choose to live out in the middle of nowhere that we don’t watch TV, listen to music, or go online from time to time?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t think that. I just…” He didn’t want to sound like an arrogant ass, but he was used to being accosted by fans who recognized him. “Haven’t met anyone who’s recognized me, that’s all.”
“We believe in minding our own business ’round here,” he said, turning his attention back to the screen. “You want to be left alone, this is the place to come.”
Gunnar suddenly liked the idea of being incognito. A lot. “It’s nice here,” he admitted. “The peace and quiet is a much-needed change of pace.”
“I don’t know how the hell you live…” He frowned. “Where is it? L.A.?”
“Yeah. Sometimes I don’t know how I live there either to be honest. It suited me when I was younger and liked living that lifestyle. But it’s gettin’ a little old now.”
“You couldn’t pay me enough to live in a big city,” he said, his big frame shuddering at the thought. “All that noise and pollution and shit. Give me quiet and open fields any damn day of the week.” He gestured out the window by inclining his head. “I may be biased, but this, my friend, sure as hell feels like paradise to me.”
Gunnar smiled when he called him a friend. He had plenty of casual acquaintances, but the only people he truly considered friends were his bandmates and manager. The fact this stranger might consider him a friend spoke of the kind of person Levi was. Trusting. Open. Probably had faith in people, unlike Gunnar, who’d never learned how to trust anyone.
“You might be right,” Gunnar said, nodding at the bartender, who placed a plate in front of him, overflowing with mouth-watering food. He was used to paying thirty bucks for a burger that had so much fancy crap piled on it that it didn’t even resemble a hamburger anymore. But this, this was the real deal.
Levi laughed at his reaction. “You not used to eating like that or what? You look like a man who’s been on some damn vegetarian diet and is salivating for a taste of beef.”
“Not far from the truth,” Gunnar said, groaning when he finally bit into the grilled burger. “God, that is good.”
“What do you usually eat?” Levi asked, still looking amused as he dug into his own lunch. “No, let me guess. Sushi? Caviar? Squid?”
“Man, let me tell you, I grew up not knowing where my next meal was coming from, so I still appreciate food, whatever it is.”
“Sorry,” Levi muttered. “I didn’t mean—”
“Hey, don’t apologize. You’re bein’ real with me. I like that.” He popped a fry in his mouth followed by another. “I don’t have too many people who’re willing to be real with me anymore.”
“The price of fame, huh?”
