A few days later, Bode found himself wandering the streets of Trinidad, restless after another long shift. The town was quiet, with most folks settling into their evening routines. He wasn't sure where he was headed until he heard the soft strumming of a guitar floating out of a nearby coffee shop.
Curious, he stepped inside, immediately struck by the cozy, dimly lit atmosphere. A small stage was set up in the corner, where a lone figure sat on a stool with a guitar in hand. The place was filled with the gentle murmur of conversations, but as soon as the first notes rang out, the room quieted, everyone drawn to the music.
It took Bode a moment to realize that the woman on stage was Audrey. Her blonde hair fell softly around her face, and her tattoos accentuating the muscle definition in her lean arms in her sleeveless shirt. She looked completely at ease, her eyes closed as she began to sing.
Strange and beautiful are the stars tonight, that dance around your head...
Bode's breath caught in his throat. Her voice was hauntingly beautiful, full of emotion and depth. The song she was singing—Blue Rodeo's "Lost Together"—was one he knew well, but hearing Audrey sing it made him feel like he was hearing it for the first time.
In your eyes I see that perfect world... I hope that doesn't sound too weird...
Her voice filled the room, each note carrying a weight that seemed to hang in the air long after it was sung. Bode found himself mesmerized, unable to take his eyes off her. The gritty, tough exterior he had come to know seemed to fade away, revealing a side of her that was vulnerable and achingly real.
And if we're lost... then we are lost together...
As the song continued, Bode felt a deep connection to the lyrics, as if they were speaking directly to him. The idea of being lost but finding solace in another person resonated with him in a way he hadn't expected. He realized that beneath all the layers they both wore—of toughness, of survival, of starting over—there was something undeniably real between them.
And I want all the world to know... That your love's all I need...
The song came to an end, the last note lingering in the air like a whisper. The room erupted in applause, but Bode remained still, the intensity of the moment washing over him. Audrey opened her eyes and smiled, a little shyly, as if she was still adjusting to the praise.
Their eyes met across the room, and for a moment, the noise around them faded away. Audrey gave him a small, almost knowing smile, and Bode felt his heart skip a beat. He realized then just how special she was, how much there was still to learn about her.
As the evening wound down and the crowd began to disperse, Bode found himself approaching her. She was packing up her guitar, the glow of the stage lights casting a soft halo around her.
"Audrey," he began, unsure of how to put into words what he was feeling. "That was... incredible. I had no idea..."
She looked up at him, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks. "Thanks, Bode."
"You're seriously talented," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "That song... it really hit me."
Audrey smiled softly, her blue eyes searching his. "It's one of my favourites. There's something about it that just... connects."
"Yeah," Bode agreed, still a bit in awe. "I felt that too."
For a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the connection between them deepening in ways neither had anticipated. Bode could see now that Audrey was so much more than the tough exterior she presented. There was a depth to her, a soulful spirit that resonated with him on a level he hadn't expected.
As they walked out of the coffee shop together, the night air cool against their skin, Bode felt like he was seeing Audrey in a whole new light. She was a mystery he was eager to unravel, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
"How would you feel about a walk down to the beach?" Audrey suggested. "The sky is so clear tonight, I'll bet the stars will feel like you can just reach out and touch them."
"Okay," Bode said, looking down at his feet for a moment before meeting her gaze again.
The streets were quiet, the distant sound of the waves crashing against the shore a soothing backdrop as they made their way down to the beach. The sand was cool beneath their feet, and the sky above was a blanket of stars, each one twinkling like a distant, unattainable dream.
They walked in silence for a while, the gentle rhythm of the ocean filling the spaces between their words. Eventually, they found a spot to sit, close enough to the water to feel the mist on their skin. Audrey set her guitar down, leaning back on her hands and looking out at the horizon.
"There's something about the ocean at night," she mused. "It makes everything else seem so small, like all the problems in the world could just disappear if you let them."
Bode nodded, feeling the truth in her words. "Yeah, it's… grounding. Reminds you of what's important."
Audrey turned to him, her eyes searching his face. "And what's important to you, Bode?"
He hesitated, the weight of the question pressing down on him. For so long, his life had been about survival, about trying to make up for past mistakes. But now, sitting here with Audrey, he felt something shifting. "I'm still trying to figure that out," he admitted, his voice soft. "But I think… maybe it's about letting go of what's holding you back. About finding something, or someone, who makes you want to be better."
Audrey smiled, her blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "Maybe you're closer to figuring it out than you think."
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the unspoken tension between them growing thicker with each passing second. Bode felt a pull, something deep inside urging him to close the distance, to lean in and see if what he was feeling was real. But then, the ghost of Gabriella's memory flickered in his mind, and he hesitated.
Audrey seemed to sense his inner conflict. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on his arm, her touch gentle but grounding. "It's okay, Bode," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to have it all figured out right now."
He looked at her, really looked at her, and saw not just the beautiful woman in front of him, but the strength, the resilience, and the kindness that lay beneath the surface. And in that moment, Bode made a decision. He wasn't going to let the past dictate his future. Gabriella had moved on, and maybe it was time he did too.
Leaning in slowly, Bode closed the distance between them. He could feel the warmth of Audrey's breath on his lips, the anticipation in the air thick enough to cut. And then, finally, their lips met.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters. But then, as the seconds stretched into an eternity, it deepened. Bode felt a rush of emotions—relief, hope, desire—all blending together in a perfect harmony. Audrey responded in kind, her hand sliding up to the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their hearts pounding in unison. Audrey's eyes searched his, as if trying to understand what had just happened, and Bode could only smile, feeling lighter than he had in years.
"Maybe I am," he whispered, more to himself than to her.
Audrey smiled back, her fingers gently tracing the line of his jaw. "Good," she whispered, leaning in to kiss him again.