17. Jen
SEVENTEEN
Jen
When I walked away from Maddox, I intended for that to be the end. I was devastated. I couldn’t reconcile what had happened with the man I have gotten to know more intimately over the last few weeks, even if he may have once been that very man. I think that was what hurt me the most, the level of deceit I felt.
When I stormed down to the lobby, of course, Glory and Beck came, and boy, Glory pissed off is scary. Who knew? She’s always so sweet and kind, but she sure has some Momma Bear instincts, and I love that about her. She called Ev and Ti, and we went to Christina’s room. I was prepared to head home on the first available flight.
Beck asked me to give him some time to look into things, and I figured who would know Tricia and Maddox and their dynamic better than he would? So, I agreed.
The girls and I spent the day hanging out. They did everything they could to keep me busy, but it has been a very bad day, to say the least.
When Beck returned from sound check earlier with a young man who works on their crew named Jacob, and Beck asked me to listen to what he had to say, I was reluctant. But I’d agreed to let Beck look into this, and I am forever grateful he offered.
Once Jacob told me what happened, the truth of what actually happened, that Maddox was passed out cold and he saw Tricia taking off her clothes, I knew I had to see Maddox. I wanted to watch him from the arena floor, not only to support him but also what if he was mad at me for not believing in him? I didn’t want to ruin his show beforehand if he was mad, and he would have every reason to be. I should have trusted him. I owe him an apology.
But right now, listening to a frantic Maddox trying to find me, I know we will work through this.
I jump up and down, trying to see, but there are too many people. Atticus and Rim are a solid wall behind our backs, so no one is going to be pushing me from behind.
“Where is he?” I ask no one in particular, but Evelyn stops me.
“Jen, listen to him.”
I stop and listen, and tears begin to burn my eyes. “Is he talking about me?” I ask and laugh. Oh my God, he’s telling a sold-out arena about me?
I listen to his sexy voice.
“But last night, things went sideways on us, and even though I was up here on this stage tonight, playing my heart out for you, Nashville…”
The crowd erupts before he continues and my heart is beating a thousand beats a minute.
“The truth is,” the crowd quiets down, and finally, I see him, my Madd.
“Give him a spotlight!” Beck calls into the mic, and a spotlight is on me instantly.
I can’t take my eyes off of him. He stops when he sees me and taps his heart. A look of relief washes over his face.
“Jen Haner has owned my heart since the moment I laid eyes on her.”
I gasp as the crowd oohs and awes.
“I love you, Jen.”
Tears spill down my cheeks, and I run to my man! I jump, and he catches me. The mic still in his hand screeches, but I don’t care. Nothing is ruining this moment. I wrap my legs around his waist, and I never want to let go. He is everything I never dared to want for myself.
“I love you! I say into his ear and hope he can hear me over the music.
“I love you, too, Jen.” He kisses me senseless, and even though we are surrounded by my best friends, the loves of their lives, and the thousands of people filling this arena, while I’m wrapped up in the arms of my baby daddy, Maddox and I are the only two people on Earth.
He jostles me around so he can put the microphone to his mouth. “Now get out of the fucking way so I can carry my woman to the stage and finish this show so I can make up with her properly.”
I throw my head back and laugh, and then he kisses me again as the crowd goes crazy for Maddox, and honestly, I do, too.