Safety off. Target acquired.

"Sending," I said, and squeezed the trigger. Crack.

"Fuck!" Virgil groaned. "You got me."

The instant replay on the TV screen showed the path of the laser-beam as it disintegrated my brother's avatar.

"Alright," I said, throwing the controller on the table. "I've had enough of this game."

"Want another beer?" he asked, going to the fridge. We were at the ranch, taking care of the place while Bau was off on a contract. "Oh, hey. There's still venison in the freezer. I can rustle up some steak for dinner."

"Nah," I said. "I've been cutting back on eating meat. Actually, I think I'm gonna head back to the apartment."

"Really? You're not gonna crash here?"

"Been here all week. I should make sure my place is still standing."

"I'm sure it is," he chuckled.

I'd only meant to stay over at the ranch for a couple days, but it’d quickly become much longer. I didn't want to go back home to downtown where I'd be alone with my thoughts, but I was unemployed and running through my savings. Thankfully, the contract with Chris had been equal to nearly half a year’s wage.

"Bro," Virgil said, holding a beer out to me. "Just one more night. Go home in the morning."

I groaned, but quickly relented. I really didn't want to go back to where I'd have to face my lonely reality. "Fine."

The third beer gave me a headache. I wasn't used to drinking anymore. I watched Virgil play the video game until he ended up falling asleep with the controller in his hand. I covered him up with the throw blanket from the back of the couch and went upstairs to the loft bedroom.

Before going to sleep, I found myself logging onto the computer and checking Chris's name. I couldn't help myself, I needed to see how he was doing.

Thankfully, he'd been keeping out of trouble—or at least managing to stay out of the tabloids. There hadn't been anything new with him except for buzz over his new album, but when I checked tonight I found a new article posted at the top of the search results.

Chris Barker Stevens debuts surprise single!

Only a month after the release of his hit new album, 'Open Road to Love', country pop star Chris Barker Stevens debuts a heartfelt new single available for free download on his website.

I thought about clicking the link to listen to the song, but I didn't think I could deal with hearing his voice.

The next morning, I got up early to take care of the garden before I headed out. Virgil was still sleeping in the recliner, snoring loudly. I smiled and started the coffee-maker so that the pot would be filled by the time he woke up. Outside, I watered the soil and picked some large grapefruits hanging like glowing suns from the branches, and snipped off some cucumbers and tomatoes that were ready for harvest. I put the haul in a basket and then took some time to walk around the garden.

I touched the trunk of a large lemon tree and remembered back to when my brothers and I had planted it when we were just kids. Mom had started the garden when I was around ten years old. We used to come out and help her with the planting and harvesting, and we'd play games of hide and seek in the tall raspberry bushes and climb the branches of the orange trees. Even though my parents were no longer with us, we still felt their presence every day. The ranch held memories of them everywhere I turned, and the bond I shared with my brothers was credit to the way they'd raised us. We’d always been a close family.

I thought about Chris, and wondered if he was alright. The man had chosen to be alone. Maybe loneliness was the only thing he was used to.

"Morning, Sylus," Virgil said, trudging sleepily towards the garden with a mug of coffee in hand. He held it up to me in a salute. "Thanks for putting the coffee on."

"Yeah."

"You heading out soon?"

"Just about," I said, grabbing the basket of fruit and vegetables.

"Amazing how productive the garden still is," he said. "After all these years, the trees we planted are still bearing fruit."

"Bau inherited Mom's green thumb," I said. "That helps some."

We went inside the house, and I poured myself some coffee and went to the sink to wash the veggies before I put them in the fridge. Virgil turned on the TV and flipped through the channels.

"Nothing but shit," he said. "Shit, shit, shit, shit. Oh, hey. Dude. Isn't that the singer you were working for?"

My heart skipped a beat as I heard Chris's voice through the television.

"--inspired me to write this song."

I turned around and saw him on the screen. He was sitting in his living room being interviewed by a woman from some entertainment show. On the bottom of the screen, an overlay read, "Chris Barker Stevens on his surprise single, 'Our Mountains.'"

"It's a love song that’s a lot different from your previous romantic bops. This one feels like it could be a love letter to someone specific. You had Audrey Apple feature for a duet. It's both been long rumored you two are a couple..." The interviewer smiled at him. "Is this a confirmation?"

Chris laughed. It made me smile, like I was in on the joke. But I was also eager to hear his response.

"A confirmation that Audrey and I are a couple?"

"Yes!" she said.

"Not at all," he said, and then turned to the camera. "Sorry to disappoint everyone." He flashed a bright smile. Motherfucker really knew how to turn up the charm for the cameras. "No, Audrey is one of my best friends."

"So, the song isn't for anyone specifically?"

"Oh, I never said that," Chris said.

I drew in a breath and felt my pulse quicken. Onscreen, Chris pushed himself up by the armrests to adjust his posture and cleared his throat.

The interviewer leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Care to dish?"

I recognized Chris's discomfort, but he hid it quickly. He licked his lips and wiped his eyebrow with his fingertips. "Um... There's something that I would like to say, that I should've said a long time ago, but couldn't. I can't make any excuses about it except that it wasn't the right time for me, but I've decided that I need to come clean. Yeah, the song is about someone. He's a man that I can easily say is my first love. He's the one who taught me what real love is, not just something from my imagination."

"A man? Hold on, Chris, are you... gay?

He shifted again, smiled, and then winked at her. "Wouldn't be in love with a man if I weren't."

My jaw dropped.

"Oh, shit," Virgil said, looking over at me. "He's talking about you, isn't he?"

Then, as if on cue, Chris looked right at the camera and said, "Sylus, I know you aren't watching this, and I guess that makes it a little easier for me to say… I love you."

My heart was slamming in my chest. I dropped the cucumber I was holding into the sink. "I gotta run," I said.

Virgil nodded, eyes wide. "Get the fuck out of here, dude."

I sprinted outside to the truck. It felt like my feet were about to lift off the ground and carry me into the sky.

There was traffic on the freeway south into Los Angeles, adding an extra hour and a half to the commute into the city. Part of me was in complete disbelief about what I'd heard. I took out my phone and searched Chris's name and found every entertainment website reporting on Chris coming out of the closet. I turned on the radio and the truck filled with his voice intertwined in a beautiful duet with Audrey, the sound of his acoustic guitar twinkling like stars in the background.

It was a song about being saved by love and defeated by fear, about rising to conquer all obstacles in the name of that love.

I felt our time together in the lyrics and music, and I could feel the longing in his voice. I found myself crying. It took me by surprise—I hadn't cried over anything or anyone in years. But at that moment, I realized just how much I'd missed him.

I pulled up to Chris's gate and punched in the code. The gate opened. I had to laugh—of course he wouldn't have changed it. I doubted he even knew how to use all the security tools I'd installed for him after the break-in.

The TV vans were still sitting out in front of the mansion, and men were carrying out cases of camera equipment. I pushed past them and went into the house. My heart was flying, and all I could think about was being with him again.

Then I saw him. He was on his phone, pacing back and forth in the living room.

"That's fine," he said. "Sure. Fuck it. I don't need their sponsorship. Good."

"Chris!" I shouted.

He looked up, his eyes wide. "Sylus?"

The phone clattered to the ground. He ran to me, full sprint. I opened my arms and caught him, and our lips met. It was pure electricity. The crew, the producers, whoever they were, all looked at us. I didn't care and neither did he. We laughed and kissed, and I stroked his hair and then held him by his shoulders.

"You son of a bitch," I said. "I'm so fucking proud of you."

He grinned. "God, I can't believe you're here."

I kissed him again, and felt myself melting into him.

"I love you," I whispered in his ear.

He held me so fucking tight, and this time there was no way I was ever going to let go.