Chapter 46
JAKE
‘This place is sweet!’ Roger said as he stepped into the grand living room which had huge glass doors leading out to an even bigger swimming pool. ‘Makes my apartment look like a matchbox!’
‘It’s cool,’ I said.
‘Cool? You’re staying in freaking Liam Stone’s mansion and you call it cool? If I was him, there’s no way I’d leave this place, never mind rent it out.’
‘He’s in London. He doesn’t use it.’
I was tempted to add the fact that he didn’t live here any more because he’d found Mia, the love of his life, and decided that being with her was more important, but that shit felt way too close to home.
Objectively speaking, Roger was right. This place was more than just cool. And I couldn’t even begin to put into words how grateful I was that he’d let me stay here. Without him, I might be on the streets right now.
Roger always said he’d never let that happen, but I knew that I couldn’t stay with him forever.
Make no mistake, my lack of enthusiasm had nothing to do with the fact that I wasn’t grateful. It was just that as incredible as this place was, without Halle, it felt cold and empty.
‘I brought breakfast.’ He held up a bag which I knew from the logo was filled with my favourite bagels.
‘Thanks. Let’s go to the kitchen and put the fancy coffee machine to use.’
Whilst I made coffee, Roger pulled up a stool at the glossy white marble island.
‘So how are things?’ he asked.
Roger had been busy with work and spending time with Cathy this week and we hadn’t had time to catch up, so he’d offered to come over for breakfast.
‘Wrote a couple of new songs this week,’ I said, as I sat beside him.
‘Amazing!’
‘Yeah,’ I said flatly. They hadn’t flowed as easily as they did when I was at the hotel. With Halle. ‘I called in a couple of favours and I should be able to get some studio time next week.’
‘So why do you sound so goddamn miserable?’
I shrugged, knowing exactly why, but not wanting to say it out loud.
Ever since I’d walked out of that villa I’d felt like shit.
Halle put her heart on the line by asking me to move in with her and I’d crushed it. I’d walked away like a coward.
Okay, maybe that was harsh.
I didn’t walk away because I was scared. I did it because I didn’t think it was fair to ask her to be with me whilst my life was still such a mess.
But I’d regretted doing it ever since.
I should feel happy. I was staying in a multi-million-dollar mansion for at least another three weeks.
I had studio time next week.
Thanks to all the songs I’d written at the hotel and the others I’d managed to write I had almost ten tracks to record.
The ones I’d written this week were pretty depressing and mainly focused on how much I missed Halle, but despite my sadness, I’d still forced myself to put pen to paper.
I could never have dreamt of being in this position a few weeks ago.
So yeah, things were finally looking up on the career front.
But despite that, my life felt hollow. Like a shell. An empty cave.
I’d even listened to the playlist she’d made me and when I heard the songs, my heart swelled. The hateful tracks at the beginning when she assumed I was in love with myself made me laugh, but the later additions showed that she was into me, just like I was into her.
‘You miss her, don’t you?’ Roger said, somehow reading my thoughts.
‘Yeah,’ I admitted. I couldn’t bottle it up any longer. ‘Like crazy. All of this,’ I gestured around the room, ‘and the songs and the possibilities don’t mean shit without her.’
‘What you gonna do about it?’
I stared at Roger as his question played on repeat in my brain.
He was right. I needed to do something.
Right now.
Without saying a word, I jumped off the stool, raced to the bedroom, opened my suitcase and pulled out the envelope Halle had given me.
Liam had arranged for the house to be stocked with groceries and all the essentials so I hadn’t needed to spend a penny.
This cash was enough to buy me a plane ticket.
I’d said before that my life was in LA, but I was wrong.
My life was with Halle.
I needed to see her.
I needed to be with her.
When I was with her, I felt happier. Lighter. Like I could do anything.
I couldn’t imagine a world without her.
I wanted her in my life.
Forever.
She was right when she said, when you know, you know.
I tossed some clothes in my suitcase, grabbed my wallet then sprinted back to the kitchen.
‘Sorry, man, but I’m going to the airport,’ I announced.
‘Good for you,’ Roger said, a wide smile spreading across his face. ‘I’ll give you a ride.’ He patted my back as I locked up.
As I stepped outside, a mixture of nerves and excitement flooded my chest.
I was going to New York to see Halle.
Now I just needed to hope that it wasn’t too late.