Chapter 43 #2
‘I hear you. But honestly, at that point, I had no intention of ever asking you to do a reality show, so I thought it didn’t make sense to worry you.
Especially because it was just supposed to be casual.
But I meant what I said earlier. I do have feelings for you.
I’ve loved spending time with you, and I’ve never felt so inspired to write.
I wanted to show you how much you mean to me.
That’s why I made that clip. I haven’t done any playlists or been properly keeping up with the memory book, so I thought I’d make a mini movie with photos and write you some songs instead.
This is Hollywood, after all!’ His lips curved into a smile.
‘Well, I really appreciate it. The song, the movie and the explanation.’
‘It’s the least I could do. Oh, and I fired Wilma.’
‘No way!’
‘Yep! I grabbed her cell, deleted all the videos and photos she took of you, told her she was toast and that I didn’t want to work with her any more, then had her escorted off the property.’
‘Whoa!’ My eyes popped. That explained why he didn’t come after me. ‘Thanks for looking out for me and deleting everything. What did she say when you fired her?’
‘That I needed her. But I know that’s bullshit. It’s gonna be hard, but I believe in myself. I can do it without her.’
‘Too right! Fuck you, Wilma!’ I shouted in solidarity and a wide grin spread across Jake’s face. ‘You’ve got this! There’s no way that song won’t be a hit.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right. Wanna hear some more songs?’
‘Yeah! I knew you’d been writing a lot, but I didn’t know they were all finished.’
‘I haven’t been able to record them, but I’ve finished writing them. I told you, baby, I’ve been on fire, thanks to you. Not to sound obsessed, but I’ve written three more songs about you and one about Minnie.’
‘I’d love to hear them.’
‘Cool. I’ll play them all to you. Including one I wrote in the car to Santa Monica Pier today, called “I Fucked Up”.’
‘You did not write a song called that!’ I laughed.
‘Sure did!’ Jake got up and walked around the back of the screen, then reappeared clutching his guitar.
He stood in front of me, started playing an upbeat melody on his guitar then burst into song.
Hey, hey, what can I say?
It wasn’t okay.
Baby, I know I fucked up.
Please say it’s not too late.
I’m begging you to stay.
Baby, I know I fucked up.
As Jake continued singing, laughter bubbled in my chest. The more he sang, the more hilarious the lyrics became and when he finished, he took a bow.
‘That’s actually genius!’ I giggled. ‘I can hear men playing that song to their wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, lovers around the world. That’ll become an anthem!’
‘Why, thank you!’ He bowed again, before resting his guitar on the sofa. ‘But the real question is, did it work? Do you forgive me?’
‘Hmmm.’ I dramatically rested my finger on my chin and paused like I was a judge on a talent show, drawing out the announcement of the winner.
‘You’re killing me.’ He squeezed his eyes shut like he was in pain.
‘Of course I do!’ I jumped off the sofa and wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tightly. ‘Just please don’t lie to me again.’
‘Never.’ He brushed a strand of hair away from my eyes. ‘Can I kiss you?’
‘Yes,’ I said, my breath catching in my throat. ‘I’d really like that.’
As soon as Jake’s lips connected with mine, everything felt right in the world.
Every doubt, concern and worry washed away and the whole world fell silent.
Nothing else existed. Just us.
We kissed like these were our last moments together.
Like we wouldn’t see each other for a dozen lifetimes.
Like our survival depended on our mouths being moulded together.
Jake’s hands roamed hungrily down my back before clutching my arse and my greedy palms did the same to him. As his hardness pressed against me, tingles shot up my spine and my knees buckled.
‘Fuck, Halle,’ he gasped into my mouth, before pulling away slowly. ‘You don’t know how much I want to continue kissing you, but if we do, we’ll end up fucking and we’ve only had part one of our date.’
‘Part one? How many parts are there?’
‘Three… maybe four.’
‘And I suppose you’re not going to tell me what they are?’
‘Where’s the fun in that?’ he smirked, before picking up his guitar. ‘Please take a seat.’ He gestured to the sofa and I sat down. ‘First, I want to play you another song. It’s called “When You Smile”.’
As Jake serenaded me with his soothing, soulful voice, I pinched myself. This felt like a dream. Having an amazing man standing here, singing a beautiful song that he wrote for me.
Jake looked at me like I’d invented sound.
Like I was the human equivalent of his favourite song.
And that made me feel like a goddess.
Once Jake finished that song, he launched into three more. The one about Minnie was so beautiful, I cried.
‘That concludes tonight’s performance,’ Jake said.
‘One more song! One more song!’ I chanted.
‘I’ve played you everything!’ he laughed, a proud grin the size of the Pacific Ocean breaking out across his face.
‘They’re all too good! I’m not ready for this concert to end yet.
Please. Play me something else. I love your voice so much.
I don’t care if you sing “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”.
Even if you sang the instructions to constipation tablets, you’d make it sound amazing! ’
‘Thank you!’ he laughed. ‘Well, I’ve done a jingle for butter, maybe it’s time to branch out. Today, constipation tablets, tomorrow laxatives. I could become the face of drugstores worldwide!’
‘Yes!’ I chuckled, then my stomach rumbled.
‘Sounds like someone’s hungry,’ he said, before clutching his guitar with one hand, then reaching in his pocket to pull out his phone with the other. He tapped away on his screen, then returned it to his pocket.
‘Yep! Hungry for more songs! Do you want me to beg? Because I will!’
‘You’ll get your songs, but first, say hi to Alejandro, who’ll be cooking us dinner tonight.’
I turned around and saw Alejandro walking towards us carrying a food box.
‘Hi!’ I said.
‘Nice to see you both,’ Alejandro replied. ‘I will let you know when everything is ready.’
‘Gracias,’ Jake said.
‘Where’s he going?’ I asked.
‘Behind that screen is the set-up for the next part of tonight’s date. He’s gonna grill some ribs and dirty burgers. Sound good?’
‘Sounds perfect!’
‘In the meantime, I’ll sing you a few songs. I can do a cool version of “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls or because I know you like eighties music too, we could have “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. What’s it gonna be?’
‘Both!’ I squealed.
* * *
Three hours later, we were curled up on the daybed.
Apparently, whilst we’d been enjoying the delicious food that Alejandro had whipped up for dinner, on the other side of the screen a team had replaced the sofa with the daybed, which had been draped with pretty fairylights to illuminate our surroundings and set up a romantic film for us to watch together to round off the evening.
I was going to press play to find out what it was, but Jake said Sammie was on her way to give us something.
‘Sorry!’ She rushed over to us. ‘I got held up with one of the other couples. Did you enjoy your evening?’ Sammie faced me.
‘It’s been amazing!’
‘Awww, so glad to hear that. So I wanted to give you this.’ She handed me a big red book. ‘It’s your memory book. I know you’ve already seen the photos on Jake’s film earlier, but I thought you’d like a hard copy now, to look at it together. I’ve got another one in my office for you too, Jake.’
‘Thanks so much!’ I said.
‘So, we’re all clocking off for the night now. This part of the beach has been sectioned off, so you’ll be all alone…’ She gave me a wink. ‘Enjoy your time together!’ Sammie raced off.
‘This is cool,’ Jake said as he sat up straighter. ‘Shall we look at the memory book now?’
‘Definitely,’ I said.
As we turned the pages and saw the images of our time together, a mixture of joy and sadness filled my chest.
‘These are beautiful.’ Jake ran his finger over the photos, before turning to face me and stroke my cheek. ‘I really wish things were different. I wish that we could be together,’ he said, looking into my eyes.
‘I know,’ I said, a lump forming in my throat. ‘Me too.’
As Jake kissed, then made love to me on the daybed, under the stars, I savoured every moment, praying that this wouldn’t be the last time that I’d feel his heartbeat against mine. I hoped that it wouldn’t be the final time that I’d feel him inside me or experience the intense connection we had.
Our bodies moved together perfectly and I knew this was intense, profound, and real.
This was more than just a crush, a fling or a holiday romance. This wasn’t just sex. This was making love.
This felt like forever.
I didn’t want this to end.
It couldn’t.
As my orgasm ripped through me, an idea lit up like a light bulb in my brain.
That was it.
Yes.
That would solve everything.
I’d message Sammie first thing in the morning to see if she could help me set everything up in time.
Jake had been so kind to me. Not only had he made this whole trip unforgettable for all the right reasons, he’d made this evening magical too.
Now I wanted to show him how much he meant to me.
Jake said he wished there was a way we could be together and I was sure that I’d just found it…