Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
jake
In the backseat of a black car, I try to stay focused on what the private investigator is saying about Kate’s dad, ignoring the fact I’m finally in Chicago and only a block away from her condo.
I’d already be at her front door if it wasn’t for this call.
The one Max insisted I take after he spoke with the PI. And I can see why.
How the fuck am I going to tell her this? Especially after everything I’ve put her through the past couple of days.
After ending the call, I lean my head back, trying to prepare myself for what comes next.
It’s been completely radio silence from Kate.
She hasn’t responded to any of my texts or voicemails.
Not answered a single call. Chelsi continues to leave me on read, too.
If it weren’t for Alex, I’d have no idea how she’s doing.
It all makes me assume the worst, and that’s exactly what I did onstage last night, and the entire four-hour plane ride here.
Spiral into a pit of despair, realizing I might have lost the love of my life over a drunken night and some stupid fucking photos.
At the bare minimum, I’ve hurt her and damaged her trust, and that’s equally as heartbreaking.
Fuck. I need to stop stalling. Just get up the courage to go inside, knock on her door, and pray she’ll give me another chance.
“Ready to go, sir?” the driver asks, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Security is ready to escort you into the building at any time.”
I blow out a deep breath and nod. The car starts moving again, turning down the next street and driving to the back of Kate’s condo building, where there appear to be far fewer paparazzi compared to out front.
As soon as the car stops, two burly security guards open my door and flank me on both sides as they hold back photographers for the brief walk to the entrance.
The security guards escort me to the elevator and ride with me before leaving to head downstairs once I’m outside Kate’s door.
Clenching my fists tightly, I take a deep breath and knock three times.
Chelsi opens the door partially, blocking my view inside.
It’s a fucking gut punch, taking me back to when Kate and I broke up.
When I stood in the same spot, begging Kate to talk to me.
Pleading with Chelsi to open the door and let me in.
I ended up walking away that day without talking to her; hopefully, today goes differently.
“What do you want?” Chelsi asks, her voice full of irritation and a scowl on her face.
“I need to talk to Kate,” I beg. “Can I please come in?”
Chelsi crosses her arms, blocking the entrance. “I don’t know. I’m really fucking pissed at you. My best friend has been sobbing nonstop because of your actions. What the fuck were you thinking?”
Out of habit, I run both hands through my hair, messing it up even further and not giving a flying fuck about it. “I wasn’t thinking. I had too much to drink, but nothing happened between that girl and me. What you saw—”
“What I saw? You mean what the entire fucking internet saw. Do you know how many people have called or texted Kate about the photos and videos?” Chelsi fumes, loud enough to convey her anger, but quiet enough so no one beyond the two of us can overhear.
“Her fucking mother called her to say, ‘I told you so.’ Do you have any idea what that did to her?”
Fuck.
My shoulders slump as tears well in the corners of my eyes.
“I can only imagine…how difficult that must’ve been for her.
I never meant to hurt her. Please let me in so I can make this right.
I’m begging you,” I plead, desperate to have one chance to talk to Kate, willing to give anything to see her face.
“Fine. You can come in. But I swear to fucking God, if you hurt her any further, you’ll have me to deal with.
And I’ll make what you’re experiencing on social media look like a fucking cake walk,” Chelsi threatens, opening the door so I can come inside.
“She’s in her room, resting. You better not make her fucking cry again. ”
I nod silently, walking down the hallway to Kate’s room as I try to quell the rising nausea. Whatever happens after this conversation will change my life, one way or another.
When I open the door to Kate’s bedroom, I find her curled up under her duvet, turned away from the door. An odd combination of peace and sadness washes over me as I stare at her briefly before reaching over to gently touch her arm. “Hey, sweetheart. Can you wake up and talk to me?” I say softly.
“Hmmm…Jake. Is that you?” she asks, rolling over until she’s facing me. “You’re here.”
“Yes. I got here as soon as I could. I’m so incredibly sorry for everything,” I reply, sitting next to her. “Nothing happened. I would never. You have to believe me.”
Kate sits up, leaning against her headboard, not breaking eye contact with me.
“The pictures and videos are pretty damning.” She pulls her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as a steady stream of tears falls.
“It doesn’t help that she claims to have slept with a member of the band.
It’s only made the story go more viral.”
My mouth falls open, slightly shocked by this news because neither Jason nor Anna mentioned it. Anxiety running rampant, I get up and start pacing. “Jimmy invited her and her friends backstage after the show. The group wanted a bunch of photos, so I obliged, like I always do.”
“Yeah, I saw,” Kate mutters. “A picture-perfect leggy blonde—the type of woman everyone wants for you. The complete opposite of me.”
“Don’t you dare compare yourself to her. You outshine every other woman on this planet every single day. No one could ever have my heart like you.”
She swallows hard and averts her gaze.
Continuing to pace, I tug at the end of my hair, ready to pull it all out in frustration.
“She wouldn’t leave me alone all night. Kept following me around, trying to put her hands on me.
At some point, she sat on my lap and wouldn’t get up until Alex forcibly removed her. I went to bed alone right after that.”
Kate doesn’t say a single word, blinking through her tears.
I stop and drop to my knees next to the bed and lock eyes with her.
“I’m so sorry for how it looks, but I swear on my life that nothing happened.
I shouldn’t have allowed myself to be in a situation where photos like this could be taken.
I should have gone to bed after the concert.
” My head drops into my hands as my elbows rest on the bed.
“It was stupid of me to drink so much this weekend. None of this would’ve happened if I had made better choices. ”
I sigh loudly, wiping away my own tears. “Please, give me the chance to make this up to you. I promise to never put you in this position again.”
Silence lingers in the room. The only sounds are the whirling of her ceiling fan and our labored breathing.
She closes her eyes tightly, inhaling and exhaling for a few minutes without saying a word. And I can’t do anything but stare and wait. Praying I haven’t royally fucked up the best thing that ever happened to me.
“I believe you, Jake,” she whispers.
I breathe for what feels like the first time in twenty-four hours, letting all the air I’ve been apparently holding out.
She believes me. Thank God.
“But it doesn’t change how hurt I am. How many people questioned your character. Your love for me. I was already struggling with the public aspect of our relationship. All of this has made it a hundred times worse.”
“I know,” I reply, taking her hand in mine and sitting on the edge of the bed. “It’s absolutely killing me that I hurt you. I never want to do anything that causes you pain. You mean the world to me, Kate. You’re my everything. Please tell me you’ll be able to eventually forgive me.”
She nods, and I immediately pull her into my arms, holding her body so tight against mine. “I’m so sorry,” I murmur into her neck, gently caressing her back like I know she prefers when she’s stressed out.
“I forgive you, Jake. Deep down in my soul, I know you would never cheat on me. I trust you with my heart. My life.”
Fuck. That shatters me a little further.
Knowing how much she trusts me and how close I was to destroying it by allowing myself to be in a compromising situation.
Although this might be my first serious relationship, I’ve been in this industry far too long and should’ve known better.
Anticipated the lengths people will go to get their fifteen minutes of fame.
“Thank you for coming to see me.” She rests her head against my chest as our hearts beat in synchronization. “I know it probably wasn’t easy for you to get here.”
I chuckle softly, thinking back to the hurdles Max apparently had to jump to get me a private plane on short notice and the call from my credit card company due to the unusually large charge.
“Nothing was going to stop me from getting to you. Ensuring you knew the truth about what happened and how much I love you.” I release the hold I have on her, leaning back slightly so I can see her face.
“Kate, I’d give it all up for you if that’s what was best for us.
The new album. The tour. All of it. None of it means anything to me without you in my life. ”
Her mouth parts as tears fill the corners of her eyes again. “You don’t have to do that. I would never ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. Say the word, and I’ll finish out my existing contracts, then I’ll be done.
We can live a quiet life wherever you want,” I reply with full sincerity.
“I can always write songs for other people if I want music in my life. I don’t have to be the one on stage. All I need is you.”
She cups my face, staring into my eyes and pressing a soft kiss to my lips, and relief floods through me.
“You don’t have to give up your career for us.
We can make this work. We just need to set some stronger boundaries for our personal lives.
And to do whatever we can to avoid getting sucked into this type of social media nonsense. ”
I nod, brushing my hand against her cheek. “We can do that together. As long as you’re by my side, we can handle whatever life throws at us.”
“Yeah, but I’d really like it if life could stop making me trend on social. I’m over all of the attention,” she adds, leaning her chest against my shoulder and sighing. “I love you.”
“I love you, Kate. More than you’ll ever know.”