CHAPTER 15
EVY
“Are you sure you’re not coming?” Jay questioned, standing at the foot of the bed while I switched through the channels for something to watch.
“No, I’m not,” I snapped.
I showed no reaction to the disappointment that flashed in his eyes. “Fine, have it your way,” he replied before storming out of the bedroom.
A tiny ball of guilt swam in my gut for treating him this way, but I just couldn’t let it go.
The picture of Jay and her kept flashing before my eyes like a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from—dressed in a tight white dress, draped all over him with his hands over her hips, holding her tight—she was the last person I wanted to see with my man.
And the worst part was their lips were sewn together in a kiss.
Or maybe the next photo was the worst part because he was laughing at whatever she was saying, and she was smiling, looking at him like he was hers.
My earlier wine surged its way up my chest as my stomach filled with nausea even at the thought of that.
I knew I was being irrational and that it happened a long time ago, and it wasn’t really his fault, but something about him with her derailed me.
Yes, I might have gotten to the point in my life where I had moved on from all the shit that White had done to me, but this was something that made my jealousy spark alive.
But my heart hurt too at snapping at him and being pissy about it for the past two days.
I could tell that he was mad too, but all I could keep thinking was:
His lips on hers. Him laughing with her. Them on a date.
The band was playing for a festival tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Every bone in my body wanted to go and support him, but I adamantly denied just to win over the situation.
I punched the pillow on my lap and screamed into it, thinking how petty I was.
Even the sheets smelled like him—clean, seawater and wood—and I missed him already.
I knew how much he wanted me to go. Instead, I sat here sulking like a bitch.
Minutes turned into hours, and I tuned in to the live stream that played the festival, and the band wasn’t on yet.
A bunch of notifications lit up my phone, and I opened the group chat.
Lily- Evy, where are you?
Katy- Yes, E. I can’t find you.
Gabe- She’s having marital problems .
Lily- Why? What did my brother do? Did he mess up again!? I’ll have a word with him.
Katy- Are you all right, E?
Gabe- I think this time our girl’s overreacting a bit.
Fucking hell, Gabe and his big fucking mouth. I regret the fact that I told him about this.
Lily- Why, what happened? Evy, I can see that you’re reading these texts… wait, Katy, Lan is here. I haven’t seen him in a while. He’s quiet, though.
Hmm, my interest piqued into the conversation now, and I was also pretty sure that they were all in the same room and texting instead with me.
Katy- He’s always like that. lol. He never misses a show. Enough about Lan, E, are you gonna answer us?
Katy never types lol. Something was clearly going on there, but who was I to question another person’s life when mine had an overflowing bucket of problems?
Evy- Jay and I are FINE. And stop talking about me like I’m not here.
Lily- That’s why we’re talking to you.
Katy- Yes, we are. Emmie looks sad, and the show is about to start in an hour. So where are you?
An image popped up in the chat, and my heart sank to my feet.
Jay looked distraught, sitting in the corner, clutching Firebird with somber eyes, with his hair all over the place and his shirt creased. He didn’t look fine at all.
My poor baby.
Moisture gathered in my eyes, and a fat drop fell on the phone .
What the hell was I doing? I fucking loved this man, and Jay would never let me feel like shit knowingly.
That man showed me day in and day out how important I was to him.
Scrambling off the bed, I dressed in record time, slapping on my makeup exactly how Katy taught me and tugging on a pair of shorts and a pink cami before donning Jay’s leather jacket.
I loved wearing his clothes; they were always warm and soft, and they smelled like him.
Jumping downstairs, I ran to the living room where Tyler was already rising to his feet, his laser-sharp gaze narrowed. “Everything fine, Ms. May?”
“Yes, but we have to go to the show now. Before it starts.”
He nodded, taking fast steps out. Tyler had become my official bodyguard because Jay wouldn’t trust anyone else with me while he got himself a new one.
The traffic was unbearable near the venue, but with Tyler’s VIP entry, we were able to cruise to the private entrance.
It seemed like Tyler already knew where to go as I followed him.
I was already familiar with the workings of the crew backstage, but I would never get used to it, and since this was a festival, it felt like backstage on steroids.
I even spotted a few celebrities while we walked through the endless hallways.
“Through there, Ms. May.” Tyler gestured to a separate entrance that led to a few stairs where VVIP was written on a door.
I prayed internally the boys weren’t gone yet .
Just as I climbed up, the door burst open, and Mikey gripped my shoulder before I lost my balance from the sudden movement.
“Whoa, E.” Mikey’s eyes widened.
“Is he still in there?” I asked, looking over his shoulders at the empty room inside and feeling the anxiety curl through my stomach.
“He’s the last one. We’re starting in five, so be quick.” He gave me a squeeze while I smiled gratefully and burst through the door.
“I told you I’m fucking coming,” Jay said in a cold, irritated tone and plugged something in his ears.
I stepped up to him and hugged him tight from behind.
Every muscle in his body went stiff before he turned around and lifted my chin to meet his wide eyes.
“You came.”
“I did.” My hands curved over his shoulders. “And I’m sorry I was being shitty to you. Can we please blame it on my period?”
“That never came?” He raised a brow.
Damn this man for knowing all the nitty-gritty details of my life. “It’s bound to. Any moment. I can feel it.”
He chuckled, pulling me closer as he took my mouth in a sweet kiss. “As much as I would love to stay here and argue with you about that, the show starts like now.”
“Yeah, right, the show. You need to go. Come on.” Panic laced my voice, making him chuckle harder as I pulled him out the door, only to come to an abrupt halt because I had no idea where we had to go .
“Through here.” Jay led me through another endless hallway before the screams of the crowd became louder, and I could see the girls and Gabe at the far end.
“I want you to stay right here, okay? Where I can see you.”
I nodded before rising on the balls of my feet and seizing his lips in a hard kiss. “I love you. Now, go out there and rock their world. I feel generous to lend you for the night.”
He laughed, pressing another kiss on my lips. “I fucking love you, woman.”
The band went live minutes later, and the energy shift was palpable.
I sighed, watching him bring the crowd to their knees.
He was magnetic.
“Proof of your love.” Gabe thrust his phone in my face.
Lily and Katy, who were both clutching my arms, leaned into peer at the picture of Jay and me taken just moments ago when we kissed like the world didn’t exist.
“Adorable,” Lily commented with a smile.
“I concur,” Katy said before pulling back. She still looked sad, sporting a worn-out T-shirt, sweatpants, and dull eyes.
Shaking my head, I grabbed the phone from Gabe and sent the pictures to myself.
It was well over an hour in when I started to shake in my boots—ready to piss myself off.
I knew the show was going to end soon, but I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Guys, I really, really need to pee.” I quivered. “I’ll take Tyler with me. See you guys in a few.” I was already following Tyler as he led me to the band’s room.
“I’ll wait here, Ms. May. ”
I nodded, running up the stairs but my feet rooted when I saw a figure crouching on the floor almost as if they were searching for something.
Upon sensing my presence, he bounced to his feet and spun around.
My eyes narrowed. “Nathan?” What the fuck was he doing here? I knew he was the tour manager for the boys, but he was employed by Pacific White, and I knew very well the band hired a new team for everything.
His eyes rounded, beads of precipitation collecting on his forehead. “Evy, I can’t believe I get to see you again. I heard you’re dating J.J. now. I must say I didn’t see that coming.” A nervous laugh spurted out of him.
“I asked what are you doing here, Nathan?” I firmed my voice, folding my arms over my chest.
He stilled before scrubbing a hand over his face. “I was actually waiting to have a word with the band. You know, after the shit from Pacific White, I lost my job, so I thought I’d talk to them about it.”
“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing in here? And how the hell did you get inside? This is a private room.”
Just then, the door swung open, and Tyler stepped forward, forming a barrier between Nathan and me.
“Are you okay, Ms. May?”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t be here.” Tyler directed his voice toward Nathan while he spoke in hushed tones to his wrist.
Nathan held up his hand. “Tyler, man, come on. I mean no harm. I was just having a conversation here with Evy.”
“No, you weren’t,” I interjected, pinning him with a stare .
Seconds later, two men in similar suits entered the room.
Tyler gestured toward Nathan. “Take him out and detain him. He is trespassing on private property.”
They nodded, moving toward Nathan.
He panicked, his eyes frantic. “No, I’m not. I got permission to be here. I just lost my pass. You need to listen to me. Evy, tell them,” Nathan wailed, bursting in fury as the two men escorted him out, dragging him away.
“Wait here, Ms. May.”
I nodded while Tyler checked the expansive room and gave me an all clear, telling me not to go anywhere.
Minutes later, the band and the girls arrived, followed by a worried Gabe.
“Sweetheart, is everything all right?” A sweaty Jay approached me, his face clouded in a mask of apprehension rather than the usual high he would get after a show.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened,” I reassured while the girls crowded me and the boys went to speak with Tyler.
A low cramp in my stomach reminded me why I came here in the first place. I held a hand to the girl’s question. “This has to wait. I really need to pee.”
I stormed to the bathroom to relieve myself, and just as I predicted, I had gotten my period. Ugh, to be a woman—as much as I loved it, it really tested me in unusual circumstances.
I found a tampon among the other luxury toiletries. Even though I wasn’t much for tampons, I had no other choice but to use it.
A sigh of relief left my lips when I exited and crashed into the couch with Lily and Gabe while I watched Katy having a heated conversation with someone on the phone .
Jay and the boys were still speaking with Tyler while Lan’s undivided attention was glued straight on Katy.
“What happened? The boys won’t tell me anything!” Lily complained, and I brought my eyes back to her.
“Nothing really,” I stated, reiterating everything that happened, which wasn’t much since I had spoken to Nathan for about two seconds before Tyler came in.
“Hmm, wonder why he was here. Any idea what’s going on there?” Lily murmured, glancing at the group.
It looked like Katy was back with the boys and was arguing with Lan while Jay interjected here and there, looking grim.
“Nope, but is it very insensitive of me to say I don’t really care because I’m starving.” During my cold war with Jay, I adamantly refused to eat, and now I am facing the repercussions of it.
Lily gave me a side-eye before chuckling. “Kinda but being hungry gets the top priority of worries.”
“I think there are some snacks over there.” Gabe was already on his feet, heading toward the table at the far end. He peered for a second before he came back empty-handed. “All healthy shit. Nothing you like.”
“Bummer,” I mumbled.
I looked up to see Katy walking toward us with a forlorn smile. “Umm, Evy, do you think I could talk to you alone?”
Alarm twisted my gut in knots as Gabe and Lily exchanged glances with me, but I mustered a small smile and rose to my feet. “Of course, K.”
She nodded gratefully while she led me to the dressing room at the back .
Jay’s eyes landed on me, sporting a frown, but I shrugged, following Katy.
“Umm, I think I need to sit for this.” Katy wrung her fingers as she closed the door and dropped down on the vanity chair. “I’m sorry that happened. It was my fault,” she said softly.
I frowned, propping myself against the wall. “You mean Nathan? How is it your fault? Honestly, nothing even happened, K.”
“The reason he was here, probably. You remember the leak back on tour, right? That I accused you of.” Her throat worked a swallow as she averted her gaze. “That was him. Actually, the leaks had been happening for a while, and I knew in my heart that it was him… but I still blamed you. Because… I didn’t know what to do, Evy. I didn’t want to risk our family breaking apart again.”
Confusion morphed me. “I thought we were through this, K. You already apologized, remember?”
Her eyes flashed to mine. “But that doesn’t make it any better, Evy.” Her lips wobbled, and she choked out a cry. “All the shitty things I said to you, at Emmie’s house, in London, even back then, you didn’t deserve them. I thought that if I…” She hiccuped. “If I tried to protect my family, that if I tried to be this perfect person and make everything better, everything would be fine, but it’s not. Nothing’s fine—at all.”
Sighing, I stepped to her side while she sobbed, mumbling something to herself.
In a way, I felt that this had a lot more to do with what she was letting on, and my heart hurt for her.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I hugged her tight while she cried .
“I didn’t mean any of them, Evy,” she cried. “I didn’t even know what I was talking about. I’m not that person. I swear I’m not that person. I’m just a stupid, stupid girl who doesn’t know any better.”
“Katy.” Concern ticked my heart as I swept away the wisps of blond hair sticking on her face. “Where is all this coming from? You’re the most beautiful, brave, and courageous girl I’ve ever met. Don’t you dare call yourself stupid.”
“No, I’m not. I only pretend to be,” she said in such a low tone that my heart ached.
“Oh, K,” I whispered.
A beat passed and as if nothing had happened, she leaped to her feet and sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hoodie. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cry like that. I’ve been such a mess lately.” She laughed it off.
“But K…”
She held out her hand. “It’s okay. I’m fine. I just wanted to say how sorry I am for treating you like shit when you didn’t deserve it. It’s something I’ll never forgive myself for, among other things,” she whispered the last sentence almost as if she was saying it to herself. “But know this, Evy,” she affirmed with conviction, all the remnants of sadness dissipated from her voice. “I know now how wrong I was in the past about you. You’ll always be my best friend, my sister with or without Emmie, and I’m never leaving your life or letting you leave ours.”
“I know, K.” My lips curved into a smile. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She slid a gentle smile my way.
Jay was on me just as we exited the room. “Hey. ”
“Hey, back.” I embraced him, and the musky smell of his sweat, laced with his scent, was an aphrodisiac.
“What was that about?” He lifted his chin toward Katy who was having a conversation with Lily and Gabe, while Lan intently stared at her sulking in the corner of the room.
I shook my head, sighing. “What happened with Nathan? Was he in on the leaks?”
“Looks like it.” He let out a low exhale. “The security caught him with bugs that he was planning to plant on us. He evaded them by getting a fake backstage pass. The cops have got him now and are looking into the whole thing. He admitted he’s been spying on us the whole time for Cece.”
“Makes sense,” I mumbled, hugging him tighter. “He did work for them,” I whispered against his chest, relishing in the feel of him as the day’s exhaustion hit me. “But enough of this. I’m really tired and really hungry.”
He chuckled. “Why don’t we go get dinner with everyone? Looks like everybody could use a break. You go sit your pretty ass for a while, and I’ll take care of it, okay?”
“Okay.”
Ten minutes later, the boys were all cleaned up, and we headed out. I was so in my own giddy world hanging onto Jay’s arm that I didn’t even realize the crowd of paparazzi that waited outside the restaurant as our car pulled up to the curb.
“You’ll be fine,” Jay whispered in my ear as he helped me step out of the car. I couldn’t see much since he created a barrier with his arms from behind me while Mikey walked in front of me, holding Lily close.
It felt like it lasted all of thirty seconds before the calm, dark interior of the restaurant greeted us. I blinked, trying to get used to low lights, hushed whispers, and tasteful music playing in the air. Everything was spotless and cozy yet still expensive.
“This way, sir.” The hostess led us across the restaurant. All eyes were trained on us, and a few even had their cameras out as we walked.
A flush bloomed on my cheeks as I stuck to Jay’s side, clutching him like my lifeline.
I wasn’t used to this much attention from the public eye.
A semblance of calm seeped through me as the hostess settled us all into the private room.
It wasn’t long before the boys ordered everything on the menu and had the drinks flowing the entire night.
In the end, I was so full and so was my heart as I looked around the table, right here, right now—with my family.
My eyes swept over to Jay sitting next to me.
There was a glow in his eyes as he bickered something with Mikey.
He was so beautiful, not just on the outside but on the inside too.
I lost myself because of him, but I also found myself because of him.
Full circle.
His blues snapped to me as if he felt my eyes on him.
My heart thundered like a bird in a cage when he leaned in and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger.
“Are you happy?”
“Very.”
“Good,” he mumbled hoarsely. “I can’t wait to have you tonight. The past two days were agony. ”
I giggled. “I don’t think that will be possible. The Red Goddess decided to show up tonight.”
He groaned, hiding his face in my neck.
“But I could think of other things,” I quipped, knotting my fingers through his hair.
His eyes sparked up. “What other things?”
“Secret,” I whispered, planting a kiss on his lips.
He smiled, returning to the conversation while his fingers laced around mine the entire night.
It’s been two days since the concert, and Jay and I have been inseparable.
Nothing new there.
And after he told me the whole story about White, I felt like crap for misunderstanding him. I was still jealous of that picture, but it happened a long time ago, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
“I think I’m ready,” I mumbled to the sleepyhead who was using my breasts as pillows.
“Babe, shush. I’m trying to sleep,” he grunted, nuzzling his cheek on my chest as he buried deeper.
“Fine, if you don’t want to hear that I’m ready to move in with you. You might as well sleep,” I muttered, pressing play on a show that I’d been wanting to watch for a while.
The outside factors trying to wreck chaos in our relationship didn’t really bother me anymore.
I felt safe, secure, and happy enough to move in with him forever .
“Hmm.” He pulled me closer before his head snapped to me, his eyes wide. “What?”
“I said that I’ll move in with you.”
“You will?” He looked baffled.
“Yes, that’s what I said.”
“You sure?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Jay. I’m very sure.”
“Fuck yes.” He grinned, kissing me wildly. “Let me get Tyler to pack all your shit up.”
“No. I don’t like others touching my things. I’ll pack it myself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t want to waste another minute.”
“ You don’t be ridiculous. I live here anyway, so I’ll slowly move things in. My lease doesn’t end for a few months, so there’s plenty of time.”
“Fine. I don’t care. I just want you with me. Officially.”
“Do you think you can handle that? I might paint the entire living room pink and buy a hot-pink couch and throw sparkly shit everywhere.”
He smirked. “I’m not really worried because you can’t paint and can’t choose which couch to buy, and you hate glitter because it gets everywhere.”
“Fucker.” I swatted him hard, and he screamed “ouch,” before tackling me with his weight as he held me down. “Jay, let go.”
“Impossible,” he promised with a kiss .
The next day, I was knee-deep sorting out the boxes in my old apartment. Jay didn’t want to wait any longer, so I relented.
There was so much shit that I’ve accumulated throughout the years.
I decided that more than half my wardrobe should be donated and forced myself to pack only six boxes.
“Sweetheart, are you still deciding?” Jay looked exhausted, peering at me while wiping the sweat on his forehead with the back of his shirt.
“Yes,” I mumbled, sitting on a pile of old dresses.
“Okay but look, I have to go. I have a recording sess with the boys in a few.”
“You go, I’ll be fine. I won’t be long.”
“Tyler will stay with you.” He crouched lower to kiss the side of my head. “Bye.”
Moving was a lot harder than I’d imagined. I mean, I should know after all the times we used to move once.
An hour later, I was almost done as I rose to my feet, stretching out the kinks in my muscles.
I set all the giveaway pile by the side and taped the things I packed, which were mostly my books and old trinkets from Jay and Auntie M.
Just then I heard the door open and softly close behind me.
Frowning, I turned, and my eyes rounded, staring at the person I least expected to see today. “What are you doing here?” I asked in disbelief.
“You’re a hard one to track alone.” White sighed, her fingers skimming the hoodie off her head .
She looked different, worse than the last time I saw her. Her eyes were dull, her skin dry like it had aged in mere weeks, and her hair no longer glossy and smooth.
It wasn’t trepidation that swirled within me; it was pity. I guessed karma was a bitch after all. `
I narrowed my eyes. “You aren’t supposed to be here.”
She swallowed. “I know, but it looks like you idiots aren’t listening to me.”
Even after all this shit, her condescending tone remained. I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Look, I don’t know what the fuck you were thinking coming here, but I’m gonna call Jay.”
I halted when she stepped toward me with an exasperated expression as her thin, bony fingers wrapped around my wrist. “No, don’t. Please listen. I mean no harm.” Her pale blue eyes flashed with panic.
I scoffed, wrenching my hand away. “You really think I believe that? After everything you’ve done? You’ve been tormenting us for years. I know you called the press on me and spread all those insolent rumors.”
“I didn’t. Look, I did want Emmie at one point, and a part of me always will, but right now, that’s the least of my concerns. I just want the money. Because if you don’t give it to me, I might as well be dead. Now that loser Nathan’s gone and gotten himself arrested—I’m fucking screwed.” She frantically pulled her hair, pacing the floor.
My brows furrowed. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Trouble!?” She laughed ungraciously. “Of course, I’m in trouble—big fucking trouble.” She pointed a furious finger at me. “But all that’s over now. I just want the money so I can pay him, take some myself, and get the fuck out of this country before I end up in a plastic bag.”
I swallowed as I watched her go unhinged, mumbling to herself while she walked back and forth, scratching her arms.
I sent a quick text to Jay and Tyler, slid the phone back inside, and took a cautious step toward her, holding out a hand.
If this was the only way I would get some answers, then so be it. “Look, if you’re in some kind of serious trouble, Jay can help you. You said someone was after you? Who?”
Her panicked eyes met mine, and she folded her arms to herself. “Dennis,” she whispered, and I barely would’ve caught it if not for the quiet of the apartment.
My frown deepened. “Dennis?” I repeated.
I remember Jay telling me something about him working with Mr. White after he finished school.
“Why?”
A shrill laugh left her. “Why do you think? It’s you.” She gritted through her teeth. “It’s all because of you.”
Confusion flooded my blood. “Why me? I didn’t do anything.”
She sighed. “Yes, you didn’t, technically. But you also did, in a way. Even I don’t fucking understand, and I don’t really want to. Just give me the money, and I won’t bother you. I swear.”
What the fuck was going on here?
Before I could get another word out of her, the door flung open, and Tyler and Jay burst in.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jay’s voice directed to White, so cold and hard that a chill ran down my spine .
In a quick stride, he was in front of me.
“Go with Tyler.” He gestured to me.
And when I didn’t move, he thundered, “Now, Evelyn.”
“But Jay.” I circled my hand around his arm.
His eyes burned, rooting me in place. “Please go.”
I sighed, nodding as I followed Tyler out, glancing over my shoulder to see White sinking down on the floor, muttering something crazy while Jay assessed her with a frown.
I had no clue why he insisted that I go. I knew he was trying to handle everything on his own, but he needed to know I could handle it too.
“I’m sorry, Ms. May. I don’t know how she evaded me.” Tyler shot an apologetic look my way.
“That’s okay, Tyler. It’s not really your fault,” I said softly. “White is known for getting her way.”
In the heat of the moment, I left my purse back at the apartment, but thankfully, I still had my phone. I randomly thumbed through it as Tyler drove me home, but only one thought stuck in my mind.
Dennis.
Who was he really, and why was he doing all this?
I never really thought much of him, but I did find it weird that he was there that day in White’s house when I went to sign her fake contract all those years ago. It makes me think that maybe White and Dennis planned this whole thing together back then, but why?
And why the hell was it my fault?
It felt like I was only deep diving into a hypnotizing swirl thinking about it. I couldn’t believe I got myself roped into the same situation of jumping into unwelcome visitors within a matter of days.
After Tyler dropped me off, I carried my heavy feet toward the kitchen.
My mind was too full to sit still, so I kept my hands busy and made something to eat, but the flare of annoyance still lingered.
Annoyance that Jay wasn’t here yet.
Annoyance that the minutes were ticking into hours.
Annoyance that I had no idea what was going on.
I ate, took a long shower, and cuddled with Strawberry. It was well over five hours, and he still hadn’t returned or answered my calls.
A quick text to Tyler told me Jay was still dealing with White, and here I was, worrying myself sick with each passing moment.
The jitteriness kept me awake, adding to the countless coffees I had in hopes of keeping my nerves at bay, but they only lit them alive. It was well past midnight when I heard footsteps trudging up the stairs. I shot up to a seat, my eyes glued on the door, the lights from the TV flashing across the bed.
The door opened, and in walked Jay, looking disheveled and weary. His eyes instantly locked on mine. “Hey, you didn’t sleep?”
I shook my head, my lips thinning. “No, how can I?”
He sighed, slipping off his shoes as he settled on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t do that again.”
“Do what?” he muttered, pulling his hoodie over his head .
“Brush me off like I’m irrelevant.”
“What?” His eyes glared at me; his voice echoed with disbelief. “I want you safe, and I wanted you away from her. It’s my mess to deal with, not yours.”
My blood heated. “Your mess?” I asked dryly. “It’s our mess, Jay. This doesn’t just involve you. It involves me too.”
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Don’t make this a big deal, Evelyn. Are you holding me accountable because I wanted you safe? Do you imagine how I feel? I leave my girl alone for a few minutes, and trouble is already knocking on her door.”
“It’s not my fault.”
“I never said it was.”
“Look, I understand that you think this is all your fault, but you can’t wrap me in a bubble forever, Jay. You need to trust that I can hold the fort and handle the situation on my own. You denying my presence doesn’t help that,” I added the last sentence softly. “It makes me feel like your problems are not mine, and we’re not in this together. Because that’s not the truth. Your problems will always be my problems. You just need to trust me.”
A swallow worked through his throat as he nodded, his eyes softening. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Good.” I smiled, nodding back. “Don’t repeat it. Now tell me what happened.”
He exhaled. “Long story, I need a shower.”
I leaned forward, running a thumb along his cheek. “How about a bath instead?”
“I would love that.” He gave me a gentle smile that deepened the blues in his eyes .
“You stay right here.” I kissed his nose and leaped out of bed.
I adjusted the water temperature and added just about every bath salt, a few essential oils, and some bubbles.
I let that fill while I dashed downstairs to get a bottle of wine because I knew alcohol would be required for whatever he was going to say.
“Bath ready,” I announced while I poured two glasses full of cold white wine and set them by the side. In quick succession, we both stripped and eased in.
A happy sigh left my lips when the water soaked through my skin.
With only the low lights of the candles illuminating the room and the smell of lavender, it felt like heaven.
“I love you.” Jay kissed my forehead while I sipped on my wine.
“So?” I asked, leaning over the side.
He leaned back, rolling his back against the tub. I had to stifle the urge to squirm at the sight of the studs collecting on the ripples of his abs bathed in the golden light.
“Well, after you left, Cece had an episode, at least that’s what I think that was. She started screaming and crying and became volatile. We called the paramedics, and the cops came in, but she wouldn’t settle. The docs had to give her a sedative to calm her down.”
I inhaled. “She is really sick, isn’t she?” As much as I hated her, I knew what it was like to be in a mental war within oneself, and I wouldn’t wish that even on my worst enemy .
“Yes. She has severe borderline personality disorder and hasn’t been taking her meds for a while. Now we know why she is the way she is.”
“She said she was in danger?”
“Yeah, Dennis—the cops tracked him out. Turns out he was in New York as well. The investigation is still ongoing, but it looks like Dennis and Cece were in on it from the start but had a fallout after Dorian’s death. Cece’s trust was wiped clean too. We still have no idea where the money went, and she won’t say anything in her state. We still have no idea how he is involved in this, but they both need the money.”
“But why? It still doesn’t make any sense.”
“I think we’ll know more once the investigation is complete. But it’s all over. They’ve all been arrested; Cece is probably going to spend the rest of her life in a hospital.”
“How does Nathan come into all this?”
“He was on her payroll, feeding Cece with info on us, wanting to earn some extra cash.”
“If White was delusional enough to just want you, why the hell would she go through all these extra lengths for the money?”
“Maybe it was always about money from the start. Silas told me their label was tanking before they signed us, so she maybe saw a potential or it was something else entirely.”
I sighed. “But seeing her today. It wasn’t like she was there for the money; it was almost as if she was scared for her life.”
“We don’t know the whole picture. But I’m assuming since she lost everything, she resorted to threatening us for money. All I know is that Cece is out of our lives forever. ”
I sighed, hugging him as I let my cheek rest on his shoulder. “So it’s over?”
His lips curved into a smile that reached his eyes. “Yes, sweetheart.”
I shook my head, matching his smile. “I can’t believe all this happened for nothing. But I’m glad. I’m so tired of people poking into our lives, and I just want to move on and focus on me and our relationship.”
“I like the sound of that.” His finger twirled around a strand of my hair. “I was tired of it, too. I just want to…” His voice faded as his eyes traced over every inch of my skin in deep concentration, and I couldn’t help the flush that heated my skin. “Live in peace with you.”
“And you can.” I knotted my arms through the back of his neck, leaning closer. “Although I’m not sure peace is what I’ll be giving you. I could be feisty at times.”
He raised a brow, grinning. “I doubt that.”
“What!?” I scoffed. “I am.”
“Of course, you are.” He brushed his lips along mine in a soft kiss. I moaned, breathing deeper into him as my fingers threaded through his raven waves. Every stroke of his tongue felt like a million fireworks bursting inside me.
My stomach tightened when he ground his thickness along my wetness.
His hand holding my hip lowered and my breath hitched when he trailed a single long finger along my heated folds, gathering the wetness before he slowly slipped his finger in.
“Jay,” I breathed, my nose glued to his.
“Shush,” he whispered. “I know what my girl likes.”
Fuck .
He dragged his finger along my channel, stretching and circling, going deeper each time, and my toes curled from the sensuality of the movement.
I was so close when he pulled out of me and seized my lips in another kiss.
“Take me,” he commanded between the kisses.
The flickering candles and my ragged breath filled the air, and a loud moan ripped out of my throat when I sank into him, taking all of his inches inside me.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” he groaned. “You feel so fucking good. I know you were made for me, baby.”
I agreed, my knees digging into the side of his hips as he held me tight. I rose up and down, circling my core on his throbbing cock, pulsing inside me.
His lips trailed along my chest as the ache in me grew.
Meanwhile, his hands propped me up, and he started thrusting into me, and the water jolted out at our maddening rhythm.
My eyes rolled upward. “So good, Jay,” I moaned.
“I know, hold on.”
My hands gripped the edge of the tub as he pounded harder, and within seconds, I was screaming his name, my face buried in his neck as I crashed from the high and the orgasm hit me like a thousand pinpricks of pleasure.
“Evelyn,” he grunted my name, and that just made me come harder, my pussy squeezing around him as he shot ropes of his cum inside me.
Bone dead, I collapsed into him while we caught our breaths.
“That was…” I swallowed a breath.
“Phenomenal? ”
“Monumental,” I finished. It felt like my lungs were feeding on lava.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I nodded, not wanting to move a muscle.
He bathed and toweled me, then gently laid me on the bed before pulling the sheets over us and spooning me tight.
Warm and sated.
“A new day tomorrow?”
I smiled, my heavy lids drooping. “A new day,” I agreed.