Gwen was busy working in her office for the new line of Johnny No Name costumes when the phone rang. AJ was busy at rehearsals so she picked up the phone and pressed 'talk'.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Gwen McLean?"
"Yes, who is calling?" Gwen asked.
"My name is Lisa McCormick. I am the president of design for the designer store Bebe."
"Oh sure, I love that store," Gwen said.
"Yes, well, I'm calling to offer you a job," she said. Gwen's heart stopped.
"What?" she gasped.
"I have received some of your drawings from the Backstreet Boy's Black and Blue tour and they are magnificent. I would love for you to be a designer for Bebe."
Gwen stood speechless before gathering her thoughts. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, Mrs. McLean. You are very experienced and when I saw your degree in fashion, I decided to hire you over the phone. Now I understand you live in Florida, but we would simply ask for you to just fax in your designs and attend the monthly meetings in New York City."
Gwen was beaming with excitement and could barely stand still.
"Of course! Mrs. McCormick, this is amazing. Thank you so much," Gwen said.
"I would like to meet you in person. Perhaps we could schedule a time to meet in my office in New York," she said.
"Of course!" Gwen said, grabbing her planner and flipping through the p. They scheduled a time and said their good-byes. After Gwen hung up the phone, a huge smile grew across her face.
~~~~~~~~~
"I'm home!" AJ called out. Before he could say anything else, Gwen ran down the stairs and jumped into his arms screaming.
"Baby! Guess what?!" she said, wrapping her legs around AJ.
"What?!" AJ asked, wanting to know what was making his wife so excited.
"I am going to be a fashion designer for the label Bebe. And I can work at home and fax my drawings!" she cried out.
"Oh baby! That's amazing!" AJ said, spinning her around. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Oh AJ, this is so great. This is my dream come true!" she said getting down. "This is the first step to having my own label one day! Oh isn't this fantastic?!" she said, wrapping her arms around her husband.
"I knew you could do it," AJ said, giving her a romantic kiss.
"Thank you," she smiled. AJ smiled back at her.
"I'm flying to New York next Wednesday to meet the boss," Gwen said.
"Next Wednesday? That's when we kick off the JNN tour..." AJ said. Gwen's face dropped.
"Oh AJ, I'm sorry. I completly forgot," Gwen said.
"You forgot? Gwen, this is only the thing I've been looking forward to all year," AJ said.
"I know, I'm so sorry. I'll have Illianna tape it for me," Gwen said. AJ looked away.
"I wanted you there," AJ said.
"I know, I'm sorry, but I'll be back with you. I can fax my drawings from our bus," Gwen said.
"But can't you re-schedule your meeting? The first show is always the most important show," AJ said.
"AJ, this is the most incredible offer I've had in my life and you want me to cancel for a damn show? It's not I've ever missed one before," Gwen said, getting annoyed.
"Damn show?! Gwen, this 'damn show' is my life and you know it. I just want my wife there with me at this goddamn show!" AJ said, getting angry as well.
"AJ, this is the best offer I've ever gotten and considering I've been behind you 100% on your career, I guess it would be selfish of me to ask for YOUR support. Oh no, what the fuck was I thinking?!" Gwen yelled.
"I know this job is important and I will back you up but don't come yelling to me when you want me to make it to one of your fashion shows but I have a fucking concert," AJ yelled back. Gwen got quiet.
"Do you want me to not take this job?" Gwen asked. AJ felt his heart drop. He knew how important this was to her and he needed to support her for all the times she supported him. He could see the tears swell up in her eyes.
"Gwen...you're taking this job," he said. She was avoiding his eye contact. "Look at me...Gwen, I'm sorry I lost my temper. I'm just completly stressed out with this whole new tour and everything...I'm sorry."
"It's okay..I know you're stressed out," Gwen said. AJ kissed her forehead.
"I love you and I will support you 110% with everything you do," AJ said. Gwen smiled.
"Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was later that night and Gwen was sound asleep. AJ was wide awake and was starring up at the ceiling trying to go back to sleep. He was happy and proud of her job offer but something in the pit of his stomach told him it was going to be a tough new road they were turning on. He knew his schedule was crazy enough but now that she's going to be off at New York and LA for shows, he was getting worried they would loose their quality time they treasured. He got out of their bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen. He searched though their cabinets for something to eat only to find out Gwen must not have made it to the store that day. They were out of almost everything. He opened the fridge only to find out the exact same thing. He sighed and plopped down on a stool at the counter. He hung his head in his hand and thought. He suddenly looked up at the cabinet above the refrigerator. He wondered what was still in it and reached up to open the door. He cleared the boxes of food to the side and found what he was hoping to find. A bottle of Jack Daniel’s that was hidden in the corner that he put there before he met Gwen. He and Gwen never found it or even opened that cabinet so he forgot it was there. He took it out and looked at the dust-covered bottle. He was a hard liquor drinker before he met Gwen but after they started dating, she filled up the happiness he lacked when he was on tour and would turn to drinking. Looking at the bottle brought back memories to him when he would used to do a show, then go back to his hotel room and drink until he passed out because he was so lonely. That is why he always begged Gwen to be on tour with him. It always got so lonely for him and with Gwen there, he didn't have to worry. Now that she would be getting a new job, he wondered if he'd have her on tour with him. The thought of her not being there made him lonely and scared. He twisted off the cap of the bottle and took a swig of it. It was so long ago last time he had hard liquor that he almost spit it out but he swallowed it. The taste brought back a lost love for alcohol and he took another swig. He would have finished the bottle but something caught his eye. It was a picture of the two of them on their fridge. He looked at his wife's face and put the cap back on the bottle. He hid it back in the cabinet and walked back upstairs. He brushed his teeth so hard he thought his gums would bleed. He used half a bottle of mouthwash to get the smell out so Gwen wouldn't wake up. He crawled in bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into him and he fell asleep while tears escaped his eyes.
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