CHAPTER 6
“Mr. Jameson, what do you have to say to the accusations thrown at you?” A lady with a tight topknot and square glasses raised the question, and Jay leaned forward to the microphone, calmly folding his arms on the table in front of him.
“Like I said, they are all baseless. Dorian has been a mentor and my friend for the past seven years. The band and Imourn for his loss. But in light of the recent rumors, I would like to clarify that as much as we respected Dorian and owed him a lot, we as a band don’t condone or support the charges held against him. As for the other accusation, we made the decision to leave Pacific White long before any of this occurred. In fact, the decision was made two years ago. As many of you might know, we have started our own label with Matt as the lead producer, and we want tofocus all our energy and time on that. So we had no desire to continue with Pacific White. I hope that answers some of your questions,” Jay said in an even tone, his expression neutral as he regarded the press.
Mikey and Matt were by his side along with Micah, who was their PR manager. They all sat on a small stage propped in a plain white room lined with a bunch of photographers and a few rows of seats for the media personnel .
“But what about the lawsuit filed against the band?” Another thin man with a pinched face asked, his eyes never sliding away from his notepad.
“We can confirm that the lawsuit was dismissed by the judge early this morning. It has no grounds to stand in court,” Micah answered.
“Why do you think they filed it in the first place?”
Jay spoke into the microphone, his impassive expression giving nothing away. “Dorian White’s charges are his own doing until otherwise proved by the court, and they date back fifteen years. We were only with the label for six.We acknowledge that we were the biggest artist signed to Pacific White, and at hard times like this, doubts and rumors must have clouded the family to take such drastic actions. I send my condolences to them and hope they recover from this loss.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jameson. We notice that Landon Greige is not present here, any reasons that might be?”
This time, Matt spoke before Jay could say anything. “He is unwell at the moment. He sends his regards and apologizes that he couldn’t make it here today.”
“Thank you, Mr. Evans. We understand since all this happened in the spur of the moment. We wish him aspeedy recovery.”
“Thanks, sir,” Matt replied.
“We are closing for the day. We’ll take one more question,” Micah interceded.
“Mr. Jameson, you said that the band will now be focusing on the label. If I’m correct, it’s an initiative to help unsupported artists. Does that mean the band is taking a break from producing their own music? ”
A smile spread across Jay’s face. “No, we still intend to make music, and we will produce it ourselves. I hope that fans are excited because we have a lot planned for them. But that’s all I can say for now. I thank you for your time.”
And with that, flashes went across the screen as the boys left the stage.
“Whoa. Life of a celebrity, huh?” Gabe commented, drawing his eyes away from my phone as I switched off the live stream.
“Yeah, it’s all so surreal and bizarre,” I whispered, leaning close to him. “It’s weird how they lace the truth with a few lies. I understand why they do it, but it’s all very new to me.”
“That’s what the media does, Evy. It’s a never-ending loop.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled as we both rose from our seats. Since Jay left early this morning to attend his press conference and I had no work, I decided to help Gabe with his event today.
“Also, what’s this event again?” My eyes dragged over to the bikini-clad women in feather fedoras, a half-filled pool with star-shaped balloons, and an entire table spread with everything green.
“It’s a health event promoting a tea that supposedly makes you ageless.” Gabe rolled his eyes.
I frowned. “Yeah, right. And they want this.” I waved my hand around. What does tea have to do with girls in fedoras?
Gabe raised a hand. “Don’t ask me. I did suggest a few alternatives, but apparently, this is all thenew rage.”
“I think rich people have too much money to think straight.”
Gabe pointed an accusing finger at me. “You’re a rich person now. You own a home, and you’re dating the richest rock star in the country. ”
I sighed. “But I still feel like the girl who had to scour three dollars and thirty-five pence to get my favorite honey cake at the grocery store. You do remember her, right?”
A soft look crept over his face as he cupped my cheek. “I do, and I’m proud of the girl she has become today. Love and happiness look good on you, E.”
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” I whispered, my throat stuck with emotion.
“I know, chica.” He smiled before handing me a packet of shiny balloons. “Here, your job is to blow them while I set up the seating arrangements.”
“Oh, come on.” I followed him as he placed name cards on the tables. “I can’t blow up balloons for the life of me.”
He grinned, sliding me a glance. “At least I hope you can blow other things.”
Heat bloomed onmy cheeks. “Why do all the men in my life have such dirty minds?” I mumbled.
“Maybe you have it too. Give that to me.” He grabbed the pack from my hand. “Yara,” he called out to ayoung girl who was busy fixing the green table.
She looked up and immediately rushed to our side.
“Here.” Gabe handed her the balloons. “Get these done and fill up the rest of the pool.”
“Yes, Gabe.” She nodded before scurrying off, the wisps of her blond hair flying in the dry wind. It was ahot day in NYC, and the sun washigh with clear skies.
All remnants of the storm vanished; the streets dry as the humidity in the air made my dress stick to my back.
“Can’t believe you have an assistant,” I muttered in disbelief .
“Part-time assistant. My fingers are crossed because my calendar is filling up like crazy. And I have more money in my bank account than I’ve had my entire life. It’s all thanks to Katy and your boyfriend.”
I gave him a pointed look. “Technically, you should be thanking me since I was the one who introduced you to them.”
“I don’t need to thank my best friend,” he said, stopping short as he eyed me. “I don’t have much time; I have to get all this done in an hour. So tell me the real reason you arehere?”
I sighed; he could see right through me. “So there’s actually a couple of things,” I mumbled, trudging after him as he continued on with his work. “Jay and I got into a bit of a fight… wait, no. It wasn’t a fight or anything. He did something to upset me, and I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Gabe’s brow furrowed. “What did he do?”
“I mean, he didn’t do anything crazy. But still, it hurt.”
His furrow deepened as he fixed me with a stare, obvious to my stalling.
I flicked my nail across my index finger. “He spoke with White.”
“Why?” Gabe asked in a monotonous tone as he placed the last name card on the table that was decorated with violets, silverware, and velvet drapes.
I reiterated everything that happened.
“Why are you upset?”
A heavy exhale wrecked out of me.
I sank into the nearest chair, and Gabe pulled up opposite me .
The faint chatter of the staff milling about faded in the background.
“Well, for one. I don’t like that he spoke with her. I don’t like that he didn’t say a word before I asked him, and I don’t like that he lied about the phone call.”
“Did you tell him that?” Gabe had an intense look on his face as he regarded me.
I shrugged. “I did in not so many words. It’s just that I was finally fine and okay with putting White behind me and letting go of all the anger I held onto for years. Because I thought Jay and I were starting the next chapter of our lives. And now she’s back again, already creating doubt between us. I wish he had told me before I asked him and admitted that she put him in a mood.”
“I get you. But men are weird creatures. Yes, he hid it from you, but in the end, he was honest and admitted everything. Relationships are a lot of work, chica. It’s not always sparkles and sunshine.”
“You’re right. It’s just that when we were young, we never really used to fight. I mean, we did, but it was all silly, and we got over it in minutes. But now it all feels too real. Like I’m in an actual relationship for the first time in my life with the same person. It’s all the same but also different.”
Gabe gave me a soft smile, squeezing my shoulder. “You love him and he loves you, sometimes that’s all that matters.”
“When did you get so wise?”
He smiled, running a hand along my back. “The minute I adopted an overgrown child.”
I laughed, swatting him .
“Now that’s solved, I need to return to work.” He stood, dragging his eyes over the layout that was coming together. “When are you heading out?”
And before I could answer him, a shrill voice interrupted us.
“Mr. Sanchez, I hope that everything is going okay?”
Gabe’s playfulness dissolved into a professional face. “Yes, ma’am.”
I rose to my feet, twisting behind to come into view with Amelie, my old boss.
Eyes wide, I asked. “Amelie, how are you?”
A tight line formed over her lips as the corners of her eyes creased. I think no amount of Botox was going to fix her. “Ms. May, what are you doing here?”
“Gabe’s my friend. I’m just helping him around. How is little Theo?” As much as I despised her, I loved her son, Theo. I was his nanny not too long ago.
“He’s fine.” She folded her arms over her fake tits, tapping her foot. “Mr. Sanchez, I hired you because all my friends put in a good word for you, and you’ve done an incredible job. But I would appreciate it if you didn’t invite your friends to my events. I don’t want the likes of them anywhere around me.”
An unnecessary dig, but I wasused to it.
Gabe’s eyes narrowed to thin slits, but before he could say anything, the air tensed and the chatter lowered to hushed whispers.
Confused, I peered behind me, and my heart almost dropped to the floor when I saw Jay walking toward me, a dark black hoodie pulled over his head and his eyes concealed behind a pair of dark black Ray-Bans .
As much ashe was trying to hide his identity, I think he was failing, badly. His presence was so magnetic that it carried an energy that made everyone standstill and gape open their mouths.
Heat flooded my blood when he came to a stop next to me.
Slinging a casual arm over my shoulder, he pulled me close to him, and pressed a kiss on my forehead. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said, his gaze solely focused on me.
I could feel the burn of everyone’s eyes on me, and a flush crept over every single inch of my skin.
“J.J.” Amelie’s eyes widened before she masked it by plastering on a sweet smile. “What are you doing here?”
Jay snapped his attention from me to the sound of her voice.
Yes, exactly the question running through my mind.
What was he doing here?
He was supposed to pick me up after his press conference, but I gave him explicit details to wait for me outside, not come here and show off to everyone that he was my boyfriend. I especially didn’t want this crowd to know that little information as they were all a bunch of gossip.
“I’m here to pick up my girl,” Jay stated flatly.
Shock filled her expression. “You don’t mean Evy, here, do you?”
I tried to scramble away from him, but his hand dug into my arm, holding me in place.
“Of course, it’s her. Why?” Jay fixed her with a stare. “Is there a problem?”
“No, of course not. Evy is a wonderful girl,” she said, faking a laugh. “I just wasn’t expecting it. ”
I had to suppress the urge to scoff at her while I exchanged a bewildered look with Gabe.
Only minutes ago she was complaining about me and now suddenly, I am a wonderful person.
“I mean it makes sense.” Amelie tucked her hair behind her ears, batting her lashes. “She was just telling me she was Gabe’s friend. And Gabe did get pretty famous after planning your event.”
Jay didn’t say anything and just stared at her.
I took it as an opportunity to whisper under my breath. “I think it’s best if we leave.”
But Amelie wasn’t stopping. “We should all get together. Howard spoke a great deal about you, and I would love to know more about your new relationship. I’m sure the fans will be excited when they hear the news.” She shot a wry look my way.
I gritted my teeth at her little jab. I did nothing but work for her, yet she hated me for no apparent reason.
“I think your husband appreciates all I’ve done for him and knows I’m very busy. Also, there’s nothing new about my relationship with Evelyn. We’ve been together for ten years. And the fans won’t be hearing a thing about this because Evy and I like to keep our relationship very private,” Jay said, a small smile tugging on his lips as he leaned forward. “I’m sure you won’t say a word, Amelie. I wouldn’t want to learn that the press got word of it from you. That won’t make Howard or me very happy.”
Her lips rolled into a thin line as her eyes flashed with panic. “Of course, J.J. They won’t hear it from me or my staff. ”
“Good,” he firmed before sliding his arm from my shoulders and lacing his fingers with mine as he dragged me out of the venue.
I only blinked, trying to process what happened as I waved a grinning Gabe goodbye.
Jay opened the door tohis dark Porsche 911 and helped me inside.
I watched a wide smile dance on his face as he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. It was only when the chill blast of the AC breezed through the heat of my skin thatI was able to fully comprehend what had just happened.
“Did you have to do that? I asked youto call me when you got there.” I twisted in my seat as I faced him. The sharpness of his side profile was lit by the bright sun filtering through the windshield.
He shrugged. “I wanted to pick up my girl. Is that a bad thing now?” His hand swept over and grabbed mine, placing a kiss on the back of my hand.
“Yes, did you see everyone looking at us? Now, they’re all going to talk about it.”
He sighed. “Evelyn, we were already photographed together, and it’s only a matter of time before people start connecting the dots. But no word is going to get out of that place, okay?”
“Fine,” I said, letting it go. “But I must say I did like the look on her face.”
He threw his head back in a laugh, the sound so deep and melodic that it did something to my heart.
“How did you know her anyway? ”
“Her husband is a music director. I have worked with him a few times for our videos and Amelie loves to pop up on set.”
“Ah. Your music videos,” I breathed, pausing. “Can I be honest and say I don’t like a single one of them.” A prickle cracked my throat. “Especially brown-eyed girl,” I whispered hoarsely.
He stiffened because he knew exactly why. The music video to our song, the song he wrote for me, had him almost naked all over another girl with pretty brown eyes. My stomach twisted even at the thought of it.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a forlorn tone.
“It’s okay,” I muttered. “It didn’t hurt as much as what you said in the interview.”
“What did I say?” He frowned, lifting a brow.
“They asked you who did you write it about.” I swallowed. “You said no one special,” I whispered. My words hung in the air heavily.
He inhaled sharply, his knuckles turning deadly white on the steering wheel. “I don’t remember that.”
“It’s okay.” My hand reached out to squeeze his thigh. “In a way, if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have ended up on the rooftop, and I wouldn’t have met Gabe.”
I swayed forward as he hit the brakes and veered into the curb suddenly. “What do you mean you ended up on the terrace?” His eyes snapped to mine.
My eyes widened. “I just did,” I said meekly. “It all just got too much for me.”
A tense beat of silence passed as he wrung a frustrated hand through his hair .
“Somehow when I think I’ve heard all about our past, it only gets more fucked up,” he whispered.
I sighed. “Jay, it’s fine. Like you said, it’s in the past.”
“Still doesn’t make it right,” he said flatly. “I’m tired of saying sorry but I am. I’m sorry you had to go through that, and I wasn’t there for you.”
“Not your fault. I ended up with you anyway.” I smiled.
“That you did.” He gave me a heart-wrenching smile, kissing the back of my hand as he started the engine again and sped off.
A small smile was still dancing on my face as I thought about all the fucked-up things we went through. The more I thought about it these days, the more I felt like it all happened for a reason.
“How about we go grab some food?” he asked as he lifted his sunglasses over his head, his blues shining at me so full of love.
My eyes softened, taking him in. “I would like that although I must say I don’t really like this weather.” My eyes swept over the bright yellow sun, casting a glow on everyone’s face. People in NYC went a bit crazy whenever the sun came out. They acted as if they hadn’t seen it at all, which was entirely untrue, considering the brutal heat wave last summer.
“Don’t I know that?”
“Do you know where we’re going? I’m really craving the fish tacos they sell near the apartment.”
“Fish tacos it is.”
“I don’t think you can go there, though.” I frowned. “People are going to recognize you. ”
“I’ll make sure they don’t. If my girl wants tacos, then we are getting tacos.”
I spend about five minutes laughing at Jay’s apparent disguise, holding the hood of his car. He looked like a clown.
“I’m glad you find this funny,” he said, walking in short strides to match my pace. He knew I couldn’t walk fast.
“But it is,” I spewed through my laughter, taking his hoodie drawn over his head, along with a baseball hat, his sunglasses, and a mask. He was right, though his disguise did work. People hardly even batted an eye as he walked with me.
“I didn’t think it was possible. Walking with you on the streets again—freely,” I commented, gripping his hand tightly.
“I advise we shouldn’t do it that often because I’m sweating my ass out here,” he grumbled.
Although I couldn’t really see his face, I knew he was sporting a grimace.
I stepped in front of him, walking backward as I smiled widely. “But you would do it for me.”
He nodded, slinging his arm around my neck. “Yes, I would. But you better behave because you look so adorable that I want to kiss the fuck out of you right now. You don’t want everyone to see me kissing you in the middle of Central Park, now do you, sweetheart?”
“No,” I mumbled, a blush scorching my skin as I quickly darted back to his side. “That’s the one right there.” I pointed at the food truck with a sizable line even though it wasn’t even lunch hour yet. “They have the best tacos in the city, not that I’ve tasted a lot. But I swear they’re amazing.”
“If you say so.”
“Why don’t you wait for me? I’ll go get us some. ”
“No way.” He shook his head. “I don’t want you standing for long. I’ll go buy it for you.”
“Jay.” I held both his hands, which were wrapped around my waist. “I’m fine. I’ll go get it. If people were to recognize you in the line, then it’ll only create a ruckus.”
It took a moment before he sighed. “Fine, but here.” His hand swooped into his back pocket. He retrieved his wallet and pulled out a black card, handing it to me.
My fingernails dug into my palms as I loosened out of his hold. “Don’t embarrass me, Jay. It’s a five-dollar taco; I think I can afford it.”
And with that, I stepped away despite his protests.
About ten minutes later, I walked over to Jay, who stood under a huge tree.
Sweat glided off my forehead as I carried the steaming hot tacos.
“Let me,” he said, taking them away from me. “Let’s go find a good spot.”
I took him to the bench where I usually sat. It was in a pretty secluded area of the park, a last bench hidden by tall trees behind a small field filled with kids playing around.
“Thank fuck, I can finally get these off,” Jay cursed, taking off his mask and sunglasses. Beads of sweat were pooled on his face.
I chuckled as I opened my small purse and dug out a tissue for him.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, wiping it all away.
“Poor baby,” I whispered, cuddling closer to him. A soft breeze that carried through the air felt like a true blessing .
“The things that I have to do for my girl,” he mumbled as we tucked into our food. “Do you come here often?”
“Yes,” I nodded, biting into my meal. “I used to wait out the rush hour here. The subway was my least favorite place when it got crowded. I think that’s pretty obvious.” I glanced at my knee.
He offered a small smile, his hands splaying over my thighs. “Were you lonely?”
My eyes locked with his. “All the time. I mean, I had Gabe, but no one I used to know. It made me cry a lot, like a baby.” A dry laugh spilled out of me. “Wishing and hoping that you’ll come and save me one day, thinking that if you knew the whole truth, you’d never leave my side. You know what my favorite morning routine was?”
“No.” A sad smile lifted his lips as his fingers started to draw random patterns over my skin.
“I used to punish myself by googling your name and seeing everything that they had to say about you. Every morning, without fail. And it used to get me all the time, but I still wouldn’t stop. I would rather watch your life in pictures than not at all. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity of seeing your face. I used to track every news update of you guys, which was why I didn’t know you moved to New York. I was floored, quite literally and figuratively, to see you at the apartment.”
Those six years were like a blur now.
Those days were filled with panic and anxiety, the thundering of my heart when I woke up fighting to keep up, struggling to pay the bills while mourning my lost love. Those concerns were no longer a part of my life .
Now I woke up witha smile on my face with different worries. I found the things that I lost, the things that were taken from me. I found him. Through the misty, murky path, I found him anyway.
He grinned. “A little stalker, huh? But I was surprised too to see my girl on her knees. I thought it was a wet dream for a second. The only thing that was missing was a maid costume.”
I rolled my eyes as we discarded our empty cartons.
He pulled me closer.
I buried my head on his shoulders, circling my arms around his body but never quite reaching all the way.
A sudden fleet of white clouds covered the powdery blue skies, hiding the raging sun behind them. The stickiness on my back soon disappeared, and I let out a happy sigh.
“I was too,” he started, and I looked over at him, confused.
His eyes glimmered with a mix of sadness and love. There was a softness to them that brushed the depths of my soul. “I was lonely too, believe it or not. I had my best friends—my brothers around me andmy family all looking at me with pride and happiness, yet my soul felt empty. Almost as if I waslocked in a vacant room and someone robbed all the light away. I had all these people around me, yet I was the loneliest person in the room because I didn’t have you. I didn’t realize I loved you that much till I lost you, and there wasn’t anything I could do.” A forlorn smile tugged the corners of his lips.
My heart squeezed at his words, imagining the pain he must have gone through thinking that I cheated on him. We both suffered in our own ways.
A quiet moment passed between us as I cuddled closer to him, and we both enjoyed the silence .
“How did the press conference go?” I asked a while later.
“It went as expected.” He shrugged, his eyes roaming over the kids playing football, carefree and unmaimed from the darkness of the world. “We did put a plug on the rumors, so it went great, I guess. I’m used to shit like this at this point.”
“Already?” I scrambled for my phone and checked the latest news on the band. My eyes rounded with each article that I skimmed through as disbelief flooded my blood. They were already praising the boys and denying the wild accusations thrown at them as nothing.
“Wow, that was fast,” I mumbled.
“Yeah, when the press likes you—they really like you.” He exaggerated the last words with a lift of his brows. “The fans are always on our side. As long as we have them, nothing can damage us. We owe them everything.”
I nodded.
Curious, I thumbed through Jay’s social media page, where he had millions of followers. Every post on his profile had over a million likes. I pressed on a recent one of him, shirtless just wearing his leather jacket and biting his lips at his camera.
“Are you stalking me in front of me?” His lips twitched, and his eyes glowed with mirth.
“I haven’t seen this one. You posted it yesterday. When did you take this?” I questioned; lines etched my forehead as I read the comments, my stomach burning with jealousy.
“I didn’t. I have a team for that. I hardly even keep up with it.”
I rolled my lips between my teeth. “What the hell are these comments? Isn’t there a filter to this?”
“I don’t really read them. ”
“Well, someone should delete these. Missilovegardeningwithj.j says they like to lick your abs and foxmeup.103 says they like to straddle you and ride you like an animal.”
I peered into his laughing eyes as I mumbled, “Only I get to do all that.”
“And only you get to.” He shook his head, grabbed my phone, and switched it off. “It will do no good for you toread them. People say that and a lot worse.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I mumbled against his shirt, holding him tight. “I remember the girls throwing lingerie at you at the gigs.”
“Mikey was the only one who loved it.”
“Hmm,” I whispered, relishing in the weight of his arms and the feel of him.
It was peaceful as we sat in the quiet, the people oblivious to us as we enjoyed the moment. My eyelashes almost touched the tops of my cheeks when a heavy drop of something cold landed on my forehead, followed by more.
My eyes flew open to watch the kids scurrying off to their mothers as the yellow day was enveloped by dark gray skies.
“Fucking hell, let’s go.” Jay was already on his feet, his hoodie drawn up as he placed the baseball hat on my head. “Come on, we can make a run for it before it hits us,” he said, holding out his hand.
I grinned, gripping his hand as I pulled him hard, crashing him next to me. “Let’s not. It’s already too late.” And it was. The rain cascaded like the clouds had been sliced open, drenching us in seconds .
“You little minx.” He laughed, trying to get away from me, but I wouldn’t let him. My lungs seared for air as we both chuckled, gasping as we struggled on the park bench while the rain splattered on us.
I cupped his cheeks, my nose to his as I looked into his eyes. My heart flip-flopped like a lover dancing on her tiptoes in her bedroom. “Do you remember how you kissed me when you told me that you would show me the rain in London?”
“Yes.” He swallowed.
“Kiss me like that,” I whispered against his lips.
And he did.
Brushing his lips softly against mine before the kiss turned savage. Consuming every part of me. He devoured my mouth like it was the essence of his being.
My fingers knotted over his locks as we moaned, the high of our love vibrating from within us.
And that day, we found our own quiet on the park bench.
We weren’t lonely anymore.