Chapter 36 Taevin #2
“Jax!” I rush out once he’s finally close enough, falling into his outstretched arms and then soaking in the warmth of his body against mine. When I step back, I stare up into his eyes. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a team dinner tonight.”
“I did. But when I mentioned to Scar that you were performing for the first time since before your surgery, she not only insisted I come to perform with you, she purchased the last suite available for the team and any of the moms who made the trip to join her and Bennett. Gemma is up there freaking out as we speak.”
“You should’ve told me. I would’ve let her join me on stage!”
Jax shakes his head but grins nonetheless. “There’s no way she would’ve if you had. She has extreme stage fright.”
“I did for the first time tonight too, until I saw you. Wait—did you say Scar insisted you perform with me?”
He shoots me a wink and that’s when I see the leather strap across his chest and his trusty old acoustic guitar I’ve always loved. “Apparently Walker has been conspiring with Sterling. He sent me the song you’re performing, and Walker somehow snuck my guitar case into her luggage.”
“What?” I squeal in disbelief, unable to believe he’s really here, about to perform with me.
Onstage . . . oh, shit! We’re on stage!
My eyes widen and Jax grabs my hand after reading my expression, leading me to the two stools with mic stands set up in front of them.
The crowd cheers as we make our way to the front of the stage. Once we’re seated, a single spotlight illuminates us in the otherwise moody lighting.
Jax leans over and murmurs into my ear, “This is incredible.”
As I look out into the crowd of thousands of country music fans, a sense of home washes over me. Licking my lips, I adjust the microphone and take a deep breath.
“Good evening, Nashville,” I greet the crowd, my voice still a bit unsteady at first. “I’m so happy to be back here performing in my favorite city.”
Looking out over the crowd, I take a moment to soak it all in. Just when I think I’m done scanning the crowd, my focus is stolen by a little girl propped on her dad’s shoulders holding a sign that reads “I’VE MISSED YOU, TAEVIN! WELCOME HOME.”
Welcome home. The phrase squeezes my heart. Four months ago, Nashville was unquestionably my home. Now, however, that isn’t true. Because as I look beside me and find Jackson perched on a stool with his guitar slung across his lap, I see not only my future, but my home.
Warmth floods my chest as my throat tightens with emotion.
I take a deep breath before uttering words I had no intention of saying tonight.
“There’s a sign that says you’ve missed me, and I’ve missed you too.
I know there has been a lot of speculation about where I’ve been the past several months.
The unfortunate truth is: I have cancer.
” Shocked gasps ring out through the stadium.
I lick my lips and then take a deep breath before continuing.
“And while I’m fortunate to receive the best care, I’m only realizing just now that I don’t need to battle this in secret anymore.
” Tears swell in my eyes, causing my vision to blur, but I don’t take my gaze off the little girl.
“Tonight is the first time I’ve shared my diagnosis publically. And I was supposed to play ‘Amazing Grace,’ but what would y’all say if instead I play a new original I’ve been working on that’s been near and dear to my heart these past several months?”
The crowd erupts with cheers of encouragement.
“Alright, this one’s still a work in progress, but it’s called ‘Revival,’ and it’s about my journey back to my favorite person who just so happens to be sitting beside me tonight, my husband, Jackson Wilson!”
When I look over at Jax, he’s beaming with pride and has the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.
Thankfully, this isn’t the first time he’s heard this song.
After Friendsgiving, I felt inspired to produce a melody to accompany the lyrics I’d been working on.
Jax had been in the home studio with me for hours before he had to leave for his away trip.
I give him a sheepish shrug to which he smiles even brighter in reply.
He strums the opening chords and I begin singing the opening lyrics.
“Black and blue, I’m counting bruises. How much more can I stand to lose? Tired eyes and heart of doubting that I will make it through. Here we are now, secrets unveiling. Stitching up the broken parts, every whisper calms my cold heart. Will this be a new start? ”
When the chorus hits, Jax harmonizes with me and I sing with a smile on my face, not taking my gaze off his.
“When I’m breaking, hurting, time unfolding, you make me feel brand new. You’re my revival through pain and trial, built me a new cathedral wall. I might be fragile, but you have a soft soul, baby, I only sing for you. ‘Cause you’re my revival.”
Jax surprises me by adding a new riff between the chorus and second verse, and I sing solo with a smile on my face.
“Every storm, nights are heavy. Scars remind me where I’ve been. In your arms, I feel steady. I found my strength again. When the silence lingers, you lace our fingers, reminding me of what’s true.”
And when it comes time for the bridge, we both stand from our stools and sing into one microphone while staring into each other’s eyes. Longing, love, and adoration fuel me to get through the remainder of the song as we sing in perfect harmony.
“You’re my revival, my place of survival. Your arms are the home I never lost. I might be fragile, but you make me feel whole again. Make me sing again, my muse. You’re my revival. Yeah, you’re my revival.”
The crowd erupts in cheers so loud I can’t make out what Jax is saying until he slings the guitar behind him and pulls my back to his chest, wrapping me in his arms. He leans down and murmurs into my ear, “You’re incredible! I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I’m buzzing from the adrenaline high performing with him has given me. I grab hold of the microphone stand in both hands and with my voice shaky from sheer exhaustion, I thank the crowd. “Thank you so much for having us tonight, Nashville! I’ve missed y’all so much!”
Jackson keeps an arm slung over shoulder as we make our way off the stage. I lean into him and don’t even try to hide the way I’m breathing him in.
God, he’s everything.
Once we’re in my dressing room, I use all of the energy I have left to throw myself into his arms.
“Jax—thank you! You were amazing out there.”
He rubs his hands up and down my back, making me burrow further into his embrace. “Literally anytime, baby. Just say the word and I’m there.”
I pull back just enough so I can look up at him. “I didn’t even have to tonight—you just knew I needed you.”
The bashful smile he sends my way is my favorite. He clears his throat. “That was my favorite performance of yours you’ve ever done, and not just because I was on stage to join you.”
“Mine too. But it’s definitely because you were with me. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You could’ve.”
“I never want to have to,” I whisper my admission. And it’s true. Performing without him beside me might never be possible again now that I know how magical it feels with him next to me.
Jackson
I’m just about to pull my wife in for a kiss when the dressing room door flies open.
My shoulders tense as I spin my head around only to come face to face with Kyle Blackwood. And instead of the ease I should feel around Tae’s manager, I’m even more on guard.
“Do you always barge in without warning?” I practically snarl the question.
Kyle’s face scrunches up in disgust. “Didn’t realize you were in here.”
I don’t even try to hide my disdain for him or my hands that are fisted at my sides now. “Thank your lucky stars I am. Because if Taevin were to be in here alone, and, I don’t know, changing, you wouldn’t be walking out of here.”
“Is that a threat?” Kyle laughs, shutting the door behind him. My hackles rise when I see the look on his face.
“Kyle? What are you doing?” Taevin asks, but he ignores her.
Staring solely at me, his gaze narrows. “You shouldn’t threaten me.”
I scoff, crossing my arms at my chest. “And why’s that?”
His eyes drop to where my biceps are threatening to break free from my T-shirt.
He lets out another laugh. “All those years ago, you just let her walk out of your life without putting up any kind of fight.” He raises his arm to gesture at Taevin without so much as looking at her once again. I don’t dare take my eyes off of him though.
Shaking his head, he continues. “See, that’s the problem with rich boys like you who grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth; you don’t appreciate a rare thing when it’s right in front of you.
Taevin has the kind talent that only comes around once in a generation.
No one in the music industry is as talented as her or as gifted lyrically when it comes to songwriting.
I knew it the moment I saw the videos of her performing.
Thanks for that, by the way, I hear if it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have gotten on that stage at the fair all those summers ago. ”
I feel as though I’ll be sick knowing I’m the reason he’s been put in her life.
Kyle begins pacing the small space, making him look truly unhinged.
“What I didn’t realize at the time was that she was married to you.
And when I learned she was pregnant with your—” He pauses to shake his head and let out a scoff before continuing.
“Thankfully fate intervened and took care of the little bastard so I didn’t have to.
” He lets out a chuckle that causes the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.
Motherfucker.
I want nothing more than to punch that look right off his face.
“I had to play my hand right—bide my time and become ingrained in her life. But in the end it didn’t matter, she came running to you anyway.
Ten years!” he shouts, pointing to Taevin and finally turning his focus on her.
“Ten fucking years of putting up with your shit day in and day out. Of quietly cleaning up your messes and dealing with the heartache he left you with. And what did I get in return for loving you so selflessly for over a decade? Betrayal. Deceit. Cheating, lying, and scheming all so you could take one look at him and fall right back into his bed.”
Wanting to fuck with him and honestly so over his monologue, because what the fuck is happening right now? I interrupt. “Poetic isn’t it? Our love story is one for the ages.”
“It’s fucking pathetic is what it is. And I won’t stand for it.” In a turn I didn’t see coming, Kyle lunges for me.
“What are you doing, Kyle? Stop! Someone help!” Taevin screams.
Before I can do a thing, the dressing room door flies open and in a blur, Braidy has Kyle tackled to the ground.
I pull Taevin into my arms, and do my best to shield her from any potential fall out from their wrestling match. Thankfully, Braidy manages to restrain Kyle just as two security guards rush into the hallway.
As they take Kyle away, I lower us down onto the dressing room couch and pull a crying Tae into my lap. Rubbing my hand up and down her back, I try to console her as sobs continue to wrack her body.
I’m not sure how much time passes before there’s a soft knock on the door and Bennett calls out, “J, are you and Taevin in there?”
“Yeah, come in,” I answer, breathing out a sigh of relief to have him here.
Bennett opens the door and both he and Scarlett step in. “You good? We saw security handing over Kyle to the police.”
I stand with an unsteady Taevin, bracing my hand on her waist to keep her from toppling over.
Clutching her stomach, she staggers as she tries to keep her balance.
“T, baby, what’s happening? Are you okay?”
She looks lightheaded, I think just before she falls forward into my arms. As I hold her, she squints her eyes and writhes in pain.
Before she can form any sort of answer, her eyes fall shut and her body goes limp in my arms.