Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Julia hurried down the private airplane’s staircase, careful to keep her silver stilettos from catching on anything but knowing she had to get a move on if she wanted to catch the first notes of Ellis’ final show of his tour.
“The day is finally here,” said Joy, who was both one of Ellis’ concert assistants and the new girlfriend to Ellis’ brother Ollie, as she held open the back door to a giant black SUV for Julia.
“Finally,” Julia said with a sigh as she slid onto the sleek leather seats and then scooted in so that Joy could follow her in.
Julia had been incredibly busy on filming her newest movie, but she’d insisted on carving out eighteen hours in order to fly down to Birmingham and then fly right back up to start shooting the next day.
Joy clicked away on her cell phone but Julia didn’t take being ignored as a slight. Considering it was just minutes before Ellis was set to take the stage, she was grateful Joy was there at all.
Joy looked up from her phone. “How was your flight?”
“Wonderful,” Julia said with a sigh as she relived in her mind the comforts of flying in Ellis’ personal plane.
People assumed because Julia had been a movie star that private would be the only way she’d fly, and there had been a time in her career when that would have been the case—the mayhem her presence at the airport caused was enough for Julia to avoid any commercial flights—but now she didn’t see the need. She was frequently recognized but she didn’t cause the chaos she once had. Not only did flying commercial save her on cash but she also loved being able to lessen her ecological footprint in any way she could.
But in this instance, private had been necessary. She had so few hours to get to Birmingham and back and on the way home she’d have the addition of Ellis. And his star still shone brightly enough to cause a ruckus at the airport, especially with this new tour.
So Julia would relish the princess treatment while she had it.
“Oh, Ollie wanted me to give you the heads up that the family will be sharing your box with you,” Joy said, once again on her phone.
Julia fought a groan. She loved most of Ellis’ family. No that wasn’t fair. She loved all of them. But she had a hard time liking one of them. Sarah, Dave, Rusty, Ollie . . . they had quickly become some of Julia’s favorite people. But Ellis’ sister-in-law Krista?
Their one meeting hadn’t gone well, to say the least. Krista had instigated a giant family fight where Julia had fallen victim to her sister Lacey and her mother, Betty. It wasn’t totally Krista’s fault—Julia, Lacey, and Betty had all played their parts, but Krista had known was she was doing and had reveled in the verbal assaults on Julia from those who claimed to love her most.
“You thinking about Krista?” Joy asked and Julia realized Joy’s attention was no longer on her phone.
Had Julia groaned aloud? Or did the look on her face say it all?
“Don’t hide your feelings on my account. The few run-ins I’ve had with the woman have truly made me second guess dating Ollie.”
Julia laughed. So Joy really had met Krista.
“The most recent time was right after Ollie and I started dating and she was cute enough to call me a gold digger,” Joy said with a wink.
Julia laughed harder. She’d always liked Joy.
“So I’m guessing she doesn’t know who your dad is?” Julia asked when her laughter had finally subsided.
Joy shook her head.
Julia wasn’t surprised. She’d been sworn to secrecy and she’d only been told because she’d figured it out. Joy’s last name was Bowman and although the last name was common enough, between that and Joy coming from Marietta, Georgia, Julia had put two and two together to surmise that Joy was the daughter of none other than Arthur Bowman, aka the Southern Boss. Making her the sole heir to the man’s billions.
But according to Ellis, Joy had wanted to make her own way in the world. So she’d been assisting celebrities ever since she was eighteen, refusing to let her father fund her lifestyle. Yes, she’d inherit billions, but she didn’t consider her father’s money hers. After years of doing the worst kind of grunt work she eventually landed a job as a concert assistant and found she enjoyed that most.
“But she has to know Ollie has like forty dollars to his name?” Joy said.
Julia laughed again. She knew Ollie’s financial situation wasn’t that dire—Ellis paid all of his employees well—but Ollie wasn’t swimming in cash the way Ellis was.
“Krista is . . . ” Julia searched for the right word.
“One of a kind,” Joy finished.
Julia poked her pointer finger in the air. “That’s it!”
“And kind of a brat,” Joy added with a shrug, flashing a grin at Julia.
Julia chuckled.
“Ollie told me it was Ellis’ express wish that you and Krista never attend the same concert but with tonight being the last show of the entire tour and so close to home . . . ”
Julia nodded. She totally got it. She was grateful to Ellis for trying to protect her, but Julia had dealt with mean girls her whole life. Yes, it stunk that if she got her way, she’d become related to this particular mean girl, but then again even Julia’s family wasn’t free of their own share.
“The crowd is insane tonight. I know Ellis has his hometown show at the end of every tour but there are still thousands of people trying to buy tickets out in front of the arena. The cops are doing their best to keep the scamming to a minimum but some people are desperate for tickets.”
Julia nodded. She hated that there wasn’t enough space for all of Ellis’ fans but the man had grown too big for even the largest of arenas. For every happy person that got to attend his concert, there were at least two more sad ones who were missing out.
“So how are things with you and Ollie?” Julia asked, prying a bit. She loved this kind of girl talk and since Ellis had little desire to pressure either Ollie or Joy for the inside scoop it was up to Julia to do some digging.
Joy grinned. “I think they’re going really well. He’s going to go work on Blake Young’s tour right after this one and I think I just secured myself a position on that tour as well. He seemed happy about being together again so . . . ”
Julia nodded. That part of dating was so rough. Transitions could either solidify what a couple had or be enough to break them. When a woman really liked a guy she couldn’t help but worry that it would be the latter.
“How about you and Ellis?” Joy seemed happy to return the personal question.
“I miss him. Lots. I don’t want to ever be with anyone else and I think he feels the same way?”
“Oh believe me, he does,” Joy replied quickly.
Julia sat up. “Really?” Ellis had never given her a reason to doubt how he felt, but hearing confirmation from an outside source somehow made things more real.
“Oh, come on. You’re Julia Price. And even if you weren’t, you should see the way the man perks up when anyone says your name. He is eternally smitten. Mark my words.”
Julia grinned before biting her lip so she wouldn’t look equally smitten. But she was.
“Right here, Fernando,” Joy said to the driver and Julia realized they’d pulled up to the back of the arena.
Before Joy could get their door open, a man in a black suit emerged from the back door, glancing back and forth before letting Joy and then Julia out. A man in a matching suit held the door to the arena open and the two flanked Joy and Julia as they walked through the dark halls of the backstage and then went up a service elevator.
Screaming and clapping suddenly shook the arena and Julia had a feeling her boyfriend had just been announced. She had about two minutes before he began crooning his first song and she wasn’t about to miss it.
Julia hurried their little group along, the skirt of her silver sequined dress tinkling, her heels clacking, only coming to a stop when she saw a door with her name beside it. She grinned at the idea that Ellis would put her name on the door even though the suite was for all of his favored guests. The man was always finding little ways to show her she was number one in his life. One of the bodyguards opened the door and let Julia into a suite that was surprisingly crowded. She paused a moment to take in the sea of faces and hunt for an empty seat.
“Julia!” Sarah, Ellis’ mom, gushed as she pushed through the swarm of people.
Although a bit overwhelmed, Julia began recognizing faces from pictures Ellis had shown her. An aunt, a favorite cousin, etc.
Duh. Of course many of his extended family would be here for the hometown show as well.
“Step back, y’all!” Sarah demanded as Julia began to feel a bit suffocated. “I know you all want to meet her, and you will, but for now let her get her bearings and let her see her man start his show.”
The family laughed—Julia was taking that as a good sign—before Sarah shoved their way to the seats that were on the edge of the suite and overlooked the arena.
“Ellis handpicked this box for you because it was closest to the stage,” Sarah said with a grin, like she too was glad that Julia was number one in Ellis’ life. Julia had always thought Sarah would be a dream of a mother-in-law but this confirmed it.
The two sat as a server came over with Julia’s choice of drink before more of the family came to join them.
“I really don’t think women over fifty should wear skirts so short.”
Julia was jarred by the sudden comment that was obviously directed toward her and didn’t have to look over to know Krista had joined them.
“Krista.” Rusty, Krista’s husband and Ellis’ brother, issued a low-toned warning.
Julia smiled. She truly hadn’t expected Krista to have changed. The comment was actually not quite as barbed as Julia would have expected from the woman, and at least Krista’s behavior was being nipped in the bud immediately.
“I think that if a woman has legs like that, she can wear a short skirt to the grave,” Joy spoke up, causing the group to laugh.
And just like that, Joy went up a few more notches in Julia’s book of favorite people, while both Joy and Julia probably dropped in Krista’s book, if that was possible.
The laughter subsided as everyone in their box realized the lights of the arena had dimmed.
“Hello Birmingham.” The voice Julia loved above all stole the show. Or more like, Ellis’ voice was the show. “I can’t tell y’all how grateful I am to see each one of you here tonight!”
The crowd shouted their adoration. Julia loved seeing her man in his element.
“I know I typically start every Birmingham show with Just an Alabama Guy .”
The crowd somehow became louder, hoots and hollers filling the air.
“But . . . ”
A few groans sounded.
“I have an extra special girl in the audience tonight. My girl.” Ellis turned to their box, his eyes meeting Julia’s before sending her a wink, telling Julia he knew exactly where she was.
“And most of you probably don’t know this but many, many moons ago I wrote a song. You might have heard of it. The Girl on the TV Don’t Know .”
The groans evaporated and were replaced by raucous shouts of joy.
“Glad to know you’ve heard of it.”
Chuckles rang through the audience.
“But the part you may not know is that I wrote that song for a girl who had just starred in her first commercial for a hardware store.”
Julia gasped. There was no way. Ellis had told her he’d known of her long before her star had been hung in the Hollywood sky, but she’d assumed it was her giant soda campaign that he was talking about. The only commercial anyone had ever noticed she was in.
But the hardware one? Even the docuseries on her life had forgotten that one.
“Oh heavens,” Krista groaned loudly from the seat she’d taken across the small aisle from Julia. Why did she feel the need to be as close to Julia as possible? “He isn’t going to propose, is he?”
Julia tried to school her features. No, Ellis wouldn’t, would he? Ellis knew Julia would hate to be proposed to in front of thousands, and yet if it was any crowd Julia would choose it would be this one. And to be honest, Julia mostly didn’t care how Ellis proposed. Just that he did. Because she couldn’t wait to say yes.
“Krista, shut up,” Rusty said from the seat behind his wife.
The first chords to the song sounded and Julia tried to immerse herself in the beauty of the song that she’d always known was for her and yet she hadn’t known how far back and deep the meaning behind it had gone.
But even as she tried to live in the moment, her mind wandered. Ellis wouldn’t propose. He wouldn’t. And if he did, it would be beautiful. Julia would be thrilled. How could she not be? She would say yes immediately to the man she wanted to be with forever. The way he did it wouldn’t matter.
“I’m just saying, so cringe, am I right?” Krista asked the woman unfortunate enough to be seated beside her. Julia would be willing to bet money the woman was one of Ellis’ many cousins.
The woman didn’t respond, yet Krista continued, “I mean, I feel like I know you really well, Julia. And you would hate that, right? I would die if it were me. I’d hate it. It would literally be the worst proposal in the world. It would be enough for me to say no . . . ”
Ellis’ sister-in-law was interrupted by a chorus of four. Rusty, Ollie, Sarah, and Dave nearly shouted in unison, “Krista, shut up.”
Julia fought against her smile as Krista crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her seat with a huff.
“I was just pointing out the obvious,” she kept going.
“Krista, let the woman enjoy the concert.” The warning in Dave’s voice was unmistakable. Ellis’ father didn’t speak often, but when he did, his family listened.
Krista finally pursed her lips shut.
Julia waited a few minutes until Krista seemed engrossed in the music and then shot her hopefully soon to be father-in-law a grateful smile. The man returned it.
Joy took the opportunity to lean forward and say just loudly enough for Julia to hear over the music, “Just know that even though she was annoying about it, Krista was kind of right. Ellis does know better than to propose at one of his concerts. Besides, if it was going to happen, I would know. And we have nothing planned for the show. So sit back and enjoy your man’s show like Dave so kindly advised.”
Julia grinned and did just that, grateful once again for Joy and her understanding. She had to admit, Krista’s words had gotten under her skin and she had spent the last five minutes truly concerned that Joy would lead her backstage sometime during the show. Although Julia was used to crowds and the limelight, a moment like a proposal—for her—would be best if it was just her and the man that she loved. Or so she’d always thought.
Then again, if Ellis wanted to do it in front of a huge crowd of his most adoring fans, Julia couldn’t blame him for taking advantage of the moment.
But now she could just relax.
She leaned back and watched her man as he danced, shook what his mama gave him, and sang his heart out. Ellis continued song after song and Julia relished his incredible voice. It was the best in the world, and she was willing to fight anyone on that. Well, not physically fight, because Julia would snap like a twig if she had a physical altercation, but bring on those verbal wars. Julia would win every time. Because she was right. No one sang better than Ellis Rider. Her Ellis.
Intermission came with a flurry of introductions. Julia met everyone from Ellis’ great-aunt Mabel to his five-year-old second cousin twice removed, Jake. Sarah proudly smiled as she took Julia all around the box that somehow seemed even fuller than when she’d first arrived. She was pretty sure they were breaking some kind of fire code but the Riders were having a blast while doing it.
Intermission also brought a changing of seats. Julia wasn’t sure where Krista went as Dave took her place. And though Julia would never admit it out loud, she was able to relax much more for the second half of the concert, knowing that Krista wouldn’t say anything more to her.
Julia knew Krista wasn’t a bad person. She just got under Julia’s skin. And though Julia knew future family events would always be eventful because of Krista, she would learn to live with it. Ellis’ family was filled with so much sweetness it only seemed fair that they have a Krista to round out the group.
Besides, didn’t every family have their Krista?
Before Julia knew it, the concert was over and she was once again being led by Joy, this time with the addition of Ollie, Rusty, Krista, Sarah, and Dave, and they were flanked by the same two bodyguards. Joy took them all down the back elevators and halls until they came to a door marked Ellis Rider.
Julia grinned and took out her phone to capture the sign. She hadn’t taken videos or photos during Ellis’ show—she’d done enough of that the first time around—but she hadn’t gotten this same sign at his last show and she wanted to keep every memory forever stored in her heart and her phone.
Joy opened the door to reveal a mirrored room with two green couches against two of the walls and a large marble table against a third. Above the mirror in front of the table were giant bulbs that gave off excellent light. On the table were Ellis’ phone and travel case, as well as one of his favorite guitars.
They were definitely in the right place.
“Ellis should be here in a few,” Joy said before she and Ollie deposited the family and then went to do their jobs.
Rusty went straight for the large platter of meats, cheeses, and crackers Julia hadn’t even noticed.
Krista clucked her disgust. “Seriously, Rusty? You ate enough wings in the suite, don’t ya think?”
In response, Rusty took a cracker, loaded it with a tower of meat, topped it with a slice of cheese and downed it in one bite.
Krista rolled her eyes and Sarah swallowed back a chuckle.
“He’ll be okay, Krista. I know you have him on that low cholesterol diet but I doubt one day of indulging will kill him,” Sarah said as she kindly patted Krista’s shoulder.
“But he will ruin any chance of getting into the skinny pants I bought him last week,” Krista retorted.
Rusty patted his belly that had gone down considerably since the last time Julia had seen him.
“Sweetheart, I love you. But I wasn’t planning on wearing those pants ever anyway,” he said with a laugh.
Krista just shook her head but was kept from responding by the door opening.
Ellis walked in and Julia felt her heart jump. It had been weeks since she’d seen her man so close and she wanted to run into his arms but restrained herself. His family hadn’t seen him in longer and she wanted to give them a chance to say hi first. Especially because Ellis would be cutting his time in Alabama short in order to fly back with Julia in time for her call time the next morning.
But Ellis’ eyes never left hers as he opened his arms. “Come here, darlin’.”
Julia couldn’t resist and she bounded the few steps between them, jumping into his embrace.
He was sweaty from his performance but Julia couldn’t have cared less. Her man was here in the flesh and she was finally able to touch him once more. She relished the hug for a minute before trying to pull away. His family deserved a turn. But when Ellis captured her lips, Julia’s mind turned to mush.
Her heart raced as her stomach tumbled, and she reached for his hair, hungrily wanting to touch every part of him.
“A-hem,” Krista cleared her throat, causing Julia to jolt back.
Julia might be a full grown woman and then some but she was still embarrassed to have kissed Ellis like that in front of his parents.
But by the beaming smiles on their faces, Julia felt safe to guess they didn’t mind.
“Why don’t you greet me like that, Krista?” Rusty teased and any remaining tension Julia felt melted away.
“Maybe if you wore those skinny pants,” Krista retorted with a smirk.
Julia chuckled with the rest of the family as Ellis greeted his mom, dad, brother, and Krista.
“You put on an incredible show, Son,” Sarah gushed.
Dave grunted his approval and Rusty slapped his brother on the back.
Krista stepped forward. “It was really good. But I was thinking for the next show?—”
“Krista, this was the last show of the tour,” Ellis reminded her.
“Okay, for the next tour?—”
“How about you file those suggestions with my tour assistants?” Ellis said as Joy and Ollie joined them.
“Oh, excellent idea.” Krista turned to the couple.
Joy took a step away from Ollie—which also happened to be a step away from Krista—and pretended to check on something before turning to Ellis’ mom
Ollie’s narrowed gaze called Joy a traitor, but Joy smiled unapologetically as she fell into conversation with Sarah.
“So I was thinking for the next tour—” Krista began to explain to her youngest brother-in-law.
“Ellis isn’t sure he’s touring again,” Ollie said and all conversation in the room halted.
“What?” Krista managed to snap out of her shock first.
Ellis glared at his brother.
“You’re the one who sent her to me with her suggestions,” Ollie said, unrepentant.
“I’m going to take some time off. Maybe just for now. Maybe for forever,” Ellis said to his family and then his gaze landed on Julia.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Sarah said with a smile.
“I wanted to speak to Julia about it first,” Ellis said to Julia and then glared at his little brother once more. “But this tour just about killed me. I’m not getting any younger and my heart missed my girl.”
Julia warmed but then concern filled her. She’d love for Ellis not to leave the island for such a long duration again, but giving up his career? Especially because she was working once again. “You being home more sounds amazing, but I don’t want you to do this for me. I missed you so much, but . . . ”
“Not just for you, darlin’. Maybe a little for us, but mostly this is for me. They want me to get back into the studio for a new album pretty much tomorrow and I just can’t do it. So I told them I’m taking a hiatus. The road was fun for so many years, but I’m really beginning to long for something different and I feel like it’s time for me to plant some roots.”
Julia smiled. She loved the sound of that. She was in the same stage of life.
“As much as I hate to interrupt, you two might need to continue your conversation as you travel. The latest the plane can take off in order for you to be back home at your appointed time is in one hour,” Joy directed.
Julia stepped back as she watched Ellis say goodbye to Ollie and Joy, who had to get back to work, and then Rusty and Krista. It was decided that Dave and Sarah would accompany Julia and Ellis to the airport and then the same car would drive them home from there.
Julia enjoyed the extra time with Ellis’ parents. Half the car ride she spent laughing while the other half she spent wondering how she’d gotten so lucky. Not only with Ellis but everything. Ellis was the perfect package deal for Julia and she was so ready for forever.
So much so that a small part of her was actually sad that he hadn’t proposed at the show. Even if it wouldn’t have been the “right way” at least they’d be engaged now. And though Julia and Ellis had talked marriage time and time again, she couldn’t wait for that rock to actually be on her finger and for them to be planning their happily ever after.
She and Ellis hugged his parents goodbye and were soon flying at cruising altitude.
“So how was the show, really?” Ellis asked.
“Oh, did I not shower you with enough compliments?” Julia teased.
“Not nearly enough,” Ellis responded, tickling Julia and then tucking her under his arm. “You also didn’t say you missed me, loved me, or want me nearly enough either.”
Julia laughed before pressing a kiss to Ellis’ scruffy cheek.
“It was amazing. You are amazing,” Julia said in his ear.
Ellis didn’t let Julia say anything more, his lips taking hers.
Julia relished every press, touch, and firework. There was nothing like kissing Ellis.
Somehow she ended up in Ellis’ lap before she finally pulled away.
“Let’s not ever be apart for that long again,” Ellis said in between showering Julia with kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and nose.
“I know you said you want to take a break from touring, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to stay away from the road forever.”
Ellis nodded. “You’re right. I won’t make promises I’m not sure I’ll keep. But I do know that right now, I’m ready to be a stay-at-home husband.”
Julia squeaked.
Had he just said husband ?
Ellis smirked as if knowing exactly the effect that one little word had had on Julia’s whole being. In fact, he had to know. “You know, I dreamed about how I’d do this since pretty much the moment I met you. Do you remember that first party on Whisling where you wouldn’t give me the time of day?” Ellis asked, his smirk turning to a grin.
“I totally talked to you,” Julia retorted.
“Not nearly enough. I spent half the night just watching you, imagining the day you’d be mine and I’d finally get to do this.” Ellis’ hand went from Julia’s thigh to his pocket. “I thought it would be grand, you know. You’re Julia Price, after all. I’d have to top everything every other boyfriend had done. Maybe I’d rent out your favorite restaurant and fill it with white roses, an orchestra playing a song I’d written for you. Or in a hot air balloon, just me, you, that song, and my guitar. Well, and the guy driving the balloon because we both know that shouldn’t be left to me.”
Julia wanted to laugh at the image of Ellis trying to fly a balloon while singing and proposing. But she was too focused on what Ellis was pulling out of his pocket. A small, blue box.
“Then I got to know you and realized all that show would be for me. Not that you wouldn’t love flowers, a beautiful view, or a perfect song, nor that you don’t deserve the absolute best of everything. And I promise to give you all of those and more. But, you and that stunning heart in there, Julia.” Ellis pressed a gentle finger against Julia’s chest. “You’d want sincerity. You’d want honesty, loyalty. The rest you’d view as fluff.”
Julia wanted to nod. She totally agreed. But she was frozen. Only her eyes were able to dart from the box to Ellis’ loving gaze.
“I’d do this on one knee, but I have a feeling you’d rather be in my arms.”
To this Julia could nod. But she also started shaking. It was happening. This was happening.
“You’re shivering, love. You okay?”
Julia nodded once more, quickly. She didn’t want to delay this perfect moment. She should have known Ellis would get it so right.
“I love you, Julia. I thought I loved you when I saw that girl on TV. But nothing could have prepared me for the avalanche of adoration and devotion I feel now. And although I’ve never met a more beautiful woman, your beauty is absolutely the least interesting part about you. You have showed me how to forgive and put my heart on the line time and time again even when the other person doesn’t deserve it. You are humble even though you have so much you should brag about. You’re loving, loyal, trusting, considerate, giving, and the woman I was too dumb to even dream of.”
Julia’s cheeks were wet even as her smile couldn’t be subdued.
“Julia Price, will you marry me?”
Julia was nodding before Ellis finished the question but only after she heard the whole thing did she kiss him like she wanted to.
Ellis pulled away a few minutes later. “Don’t you even want to see the ring?”
Julia giggled. “I totally forgot about that.”
Ellis beamed. “Just when I thought you couldn’t be any more perfect for me.” He opened the ring box and a giant round diamond winked at Julia in the light.
Julia knew a thing or two about diamonds, thanks to her time on red carpets, and Ellis hadn’t skimped on color, cut, clarity, or carat.
And even though the ring was gorgeous, Julia was much more thrilled about being in the arms of the man she loved. Ellis had to slip the ring on Julia’s finger since she was busy kissing him again.
“I love you, Ellis Rider,” Julia said a long time later, still not ready to let go of Ellis’ kisses but realizing she should probably take a moment to admire the ring on her finger.
“I vote for a short engagement?” Ellis hoped.
“Absolutely,” Julia agreed.
She had a fiancé!
As Julia kissed her fiancé once more she couldn’t help but remember all that she’d gone through. The ups and downs, the heartaches. And she would take them all over again. If they brought her here. To Ellis’ arms. Forever.