Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
jake
“Are you okay with Anna hiring private security for outside Kate’s building?” Jason asks, sitting opposite me on the private plane as we fly to the concert.
“Yeah. Wait.” I lift my head from the table to make eye contact with Jason. “What’s going on?”
Jason glances at his phone again and then back up at me. “Apparently, the outside of Kate’s condo building is crawling with paparazzi, and there’s something about a security guard resembling a turtle. I’m not sure what the hell it means, but Anna’s concerned.”
His words hit me like another punch in the fucking gut.
All of this is my fault.
“Tell Anna to do whatever she thinks is best,” I croak.
Jason scoffs. “Not sure you want to give the princess that type of power. God only knows what she’ll have you doing.”
I shake my head, knowing Jason is more likely to make me do something that will piss me off than Anna is. “What’s the deal with the two of you? You fight like cats and dogs over the dumbest shit.”
“Probably because he wants to fuck her,” Jimmy calls out from the couch where he’s currently lying down, nursing a massive hangover. “I mean…who wouldn’t? She’s fucking gorgeous.”
I glare in Jimmy’s direction. “Stay the fuck away from Anna. She’s way out of your league. Plus, you’re currently on everyone’s shit list for being the ringleader of last night’s drama.”
Jimmy sits up, leaning on his elbows. “Not sure why your panties are in a twist. You went to bed alone. Me, on the other hand… I got very little sleep, if you know what I mean.” Jimmy smirks.
“Shut the fuck up, Jimmy,” Shane says, throwing a pillow at him. “Go back to sleep so you’re actually useful when we get to the concert. None of us wants to deal with you puking backstage again.”
Jimmy groans and then collapses onto the couch, draping his arm over his eyes.
Alex gets up from the back of the plane and sits at the table with Jason and me. “I’m really sorry about last night. I should’ve kept a better eye on who Jimmy brought backstage and their behavior.” He looks at the table, his shoulders slightly slumped.
“Not your fault,” I reply, running my head through my hair. “I should’ve gone to bed after the show and not hung out with people I don’t know. Never should’ve drank that much.”
Jason rolls his eyes. “For fuck’s sake. You’re acting like this is the end of the world.” He looks at his phone and quickly types out another message before looking back up at me. “Sure, the timing is fucking horrible, but it will eventually blow over.”
My jaw clenches tightly. That’s easy for him to say when the only fallout he has to deal with is from the label and the impact it might have on future record sales. He’s not at risk of losing the love of his life.
“Have you been able to talk to Kate?” Alex asks, raising his gaze to make eye contact with me.
I shake my head. “I’ve left countless voicemails and sent dozens of texts, but she hasn’t responded.” Another stab of pain hits me square in the chest, crushing my heart with such severity it feels like I’ll never be able to breathe freely again.
Fuck. Is this what Kate went through fifteen years ago when I stopped responding to her messages? She’s shared how much pain it caused her, but living through something similar gives me a whole new appreciation for how much I hurt her. How much I’m continuing to hurt her.
“Is Chelsi willing to help you?” Alex raises his eyebrows.
“No. She won’t take any of my calls, either. This whole situation is a nightmare.”
“Tell me about it,” Jason adds, typing on his phone. “The label is up my goddamn ass about the album. They want you back in the studio next week to start recording again if things with you and Kate don’t pan out.”
I growl in Jason’s direction. If looks could kill, he’d be dead right now. Same goes for Jimmy.
“Don’t. Fucking. Say. That. Again,” I grit out, gripping the table. “Do you understand me?”
Jason places his phone down and looks at me directly, a serious expression on his face. “Listen, Jake. I know you want to believe that things will be fine between you and Kate.”
“Because they fucking will be.”
Jason holds his hands up. “I hope so, for your sake and hers. However, it’s my job and the label’s to have a backup if that’s not the case. We can’t be holding our dicks in our hands if you end up scrapping the entire album because the two of you break up.”
I stand up, ready to yell in Jason’s face when Alex puts his hand on my shoulder and pushes me back into my chair.
“We all need to take a breath,” Alex says, glaring at Jason with a disapproving look that borders on deathly. “Kate and Jake will get through this. The album will be fine. All of this is just one big misunderstanding.”
Jason crosses his arms and leans back in his chair. “Let’s hope so because it’s not going to be my fault if we’re woefully unprepared when things go south.”
“Why don’t you take a walk to the back of the plane and sit with Zac?” Alex suggests in a way that sounds like a command.
Without a word, Jason gets up. A small bit of tension relaxes from my shoulders by having him gone. Sometimes, I can’t tell whether he wants me to be happy with Kate or if he’s secretly rooting for us to fail because it’s better for business if I’m single.
Alex stares at his phone, rapidly typing for a few minutes until a small chuckle comes out of his mouth.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, unsure of what the hell could make this man laugh. He’s worked for me for almost a decade, and I’ve only seen him do it a handful of times.
“Chelsi,” he replies with a small grin. “Here.” He hands me his phone with the text thread between him and Chelsi open.
Alex
Hey, it’s Alex. Jake’s tour manager.
Chelsi
Is this how you start all your texts? Introducing yourself and your title? Probably explains why you’re single.
Alex
Aren’t you single?
Chelsi
Yeah, but not because I text like I’ve never spoken to a human before.
I’m fucking delightful. Any man would be lucky to have me. Just ask any of the red flags who seem to follow me around the city.
Alex
Moving on…
Any chance you’ll tell me how Kate is doing? Jake is giving himself an ulcer worrying about her.
Chelsi
He fucking deserves an ulcer. Or worse.
Alex
He knows he fucked up big time. Tried to get out of playing the concert tonight so he could get home to her.
Chelsi
He’s lucky I haven’t talked to some of my mafia friends and put a hit on him for this bullshit. I warned him not to hurt her.
Alex
You have friends in the mafia???
Chelsi
They’re Italian and run a small business in Chicago. So probably. Or they at least know someone in the mafia. Doesn’t matter. Jake is on my shitlist.
Alex
Can you at least get Kate to respond to one of his messages?
Chelsi
Alex
I’ll take that as a no.
Chelsi
Alex
How about you tell me how she’s doing?
Chelsi
I swallow hard, handing the phone back to Alex. Unable to say a single word.
The soul-crushing pain I felt earlier intensifies, making me breathe rapidly and clutch my chest as a million negative thoughts swirl through my mind.
I have broken Kate’s heart. The one thing I swore I’d never do again.
Will she ever be able to forgive me?
Can I ever forgive myself?
This is the longest, fucking worst day of my life.