CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
kate
The end of Jake’s summer tour is finally here, and it couldn’t have come soon enough. Both of us are looking forward to having some normal weekends when we don’t have to do anything before his schedule gets packed again in preparation for his album launch in the new year.
I wrongly assumed he would have a couple of months to decompress, but it’s more like a few weeks until he’s marketing the first official single and music video, followed by a mini tour with select radio stations, all leading up to the actual launch. It never stops.
He never stops. His career is always demanding more and more of him, no matter how much he’s already given.
This weekend is also my first time on tour since the leggy blonde debacle.
I might be pretending I’m fine on the outside, but I’m a ball of nerves on the inside.
The drama has simmered down a bit on socials, but I’ve come to realize we’re always one picture or video away from being thrown back into the online diatribe.
Standing next to Anna on the side of the stage, I scan the crowd, taking in how many people are mesmerized by Jake.
His voice. His movements. His uncanny ability to draw you in and never let you go.
My heart beats faster as the man I love does what he loves.
There’s something magical about watching him perform, and I know I’ll never tire of it.
The crowd is extremely boisterous tonight, a combination of it being the last night of the tour and perfect weather, warm but not humid.
Jake’s about halfway through his set when he pauses to talk to fans about the tour and his upcoming album, rather than going straight into his next song like normal.
“Thought I might change things up since it’s our last night and play you a song off my new album. My single drops in a few weeks. Anyone want to hear it?”
Everyone immediately goes wild, excited about being the first to hear something brand new. It doesn’t take long before a sea of phones is out to start recording whatever he’s about to sing.
“Did you know he was going to do this?” I ask Anna, surprised he didn’t say anything to me about it earlier.
“Nope,” she replies with a sly grin. “Very curious about what is going to happen and how Jason will respond.” She’s clearly thrilled about the potential of this unplanned performance causing Jason some strife.
“Wish I could see the look on his face.” She scans the audience, trying to locate Jason in a sea of people where he’s sitting with a group of VIPs.
Jake walks across the stage, headed in our direction.
“Before I play it, I’d like to have someone come join me on stage.
The woman responsible for every song on my new album.
” He turns to look at me, making eye contact even with the bright lights shining on him.
“The love of my life. Will you join me on stage, Kate?”
Holy fuck.
Did he seriously ask me to join him on stage in front of tens of thousands of people?
“Oh my God. You need to go out there, Kate. This is going to be all over socials,” Anna whispers.
I swallow hard, plastering a smile on as I head toward the stage. A wave of nausea and butterflies fight for dominance in my stomach. I’m teetering between this might be the most romantic thing he could do and wanting to kill him for not giving me a heads-up about it.
All my anxiety starts to fade when I reach him, and he takes his hand in mine as he leads me to the center of the stage.
“As some of you have probably heard,” he chuckles before continuing, “this is my amazing girlfriend, Kate. She’s the inspiration for my new music and brings an incredible amount of joy to my life.
I expect all of you to welcome her with open arms and treat her as kindly as you have treated me over the years. Because she’s a keeper.”
He quickly presses his lips against mine before launching into the song.
Singing directly to me, as if we’re the only people here and aren’t being watched by thousands.
The way he looks at me is so intoxicating that I almost forget where I am, lost in his eyes and words.
When the song is over, he gives me a deep kiss that causes the crowd to roar and my cheeks to redden.
When I rejoin Anna on the side of the stage, her mouth is slightly open as she stares at her phone.
“He’s brilliant. The two of you are already trending, and the song just ended.
” She shakes her head, smiling. “He gave the people what they wanted for weeks—insider information about the two of you, with a clear warning to be respectful or else. And he did it in a way so no one will come after him. They’re only going to see a man hopelessly in love.
The student has officially become the master. ”
That’s when it hits me…
I’m ready.
To wear his ring.
Take his name.
Become his wife.
Although I may not have chosen this lifestyle, I won’t let it push me away from the man I love and the life I want. No matter what the world throws at us, we’ll figure it out.
We’re a team, and together, we’re unstoppable.