Chapter 63
sixty-three
KATE
Panic rises in me as I grip the steering wheel tighter, realizing I have absolutely no idea what his plans are for the night. Where he’s staying, or if he’s traveling after the show.
What if he’s not home?
What if he’s staying at a hotel downtown?
My stomach sinks.
What if he’s spending the night with someone else?
He wouldn’t do that.
Not after playing that song.
He wouldn’t.
Get your shit together, Kate. Stop imagining the worst-case scenario. Show up. Talk to him. See what happens. That’s all you can do to move forward…one way or another.
The GPS tells me to turn down a dark, winding road. Lights illuminate a massive gate across the driveway and a brick wall surrounding the property. I bring my car to a stop, sitting outside the gates while I work up the courage to call Jake.
My heart is racing as I confirm I don’t have any missed calls or texts from him.
Instead, I see numerous texts from Hannah, demanding to know what’s going on.
Chelsi has also sent real-time updates from the show, combined with supportive messages, apparently forgetting I can’t see them while driving.
I shake my head because that’s so typical of her.
I ignore all of them and focus on the task in front of me.
I inhale deeply, holding my breath for a few seconds before exhaling and hitting his name on my phone.
“Please pick up. Please pick up,” I mutter as the phone rings and my heart pounds.
“Hello,” Jake says groggily. I must have woken him up. “What time is it? Who is this?”
“It’s me,” I reply, holding my breath, waiting for him to recognize my voice.
“Kate?”
“Hi.”
“It’s so good to hear from you. I have so—”
“Did you mean what you said in the song?” I hold the phone tightly against my ear, my other hand clutched to my chest while I chew on my lower lip. “Or was it just to sell records?” How he answers will determine the rest of my life. I know that in my bones.
I hold my breath again. Time slows to an excruciatingly slow pace, where every second feels like an hour. His silence makes my heart drop, thinking I’ve misread the situation.
“No one knew what I was doing,” Jake replies, clearing his throat.
“Not my label. Manager. Publicist. Or the show producers. I only told my band a day before and swore them to secrecy.” He lets out a long exhale before continuing, “No one was happy about it. Not until they saw the online reaction.” He lets out a small chuckle.
“Now they all want to take credit for it…as usual.”
“That’s great, Jake. I’m happy for you,” I say, holding back tears. He avoided my question. And that feels like an answer. “I’m glad everyone liked the song,” I murmur, my heart starting to shatter once again. Probably for the final time.
“I don’t really care what anyone thinks about the song…except you,” he declares. “I wrote it for you. For us. And I meant every word of it.”
My breath hitches, and my mouth parts, trying to comprehend what he said and what it means. There’s an extended silence on the line.
“I’m so sorry for pushing you away, Jake. I was scared. Worried I couldn’t trust what we had or myself.”
“I’m sorry, too, Kate. I should’ve been more patient and understanding. I have so much I want to say to you.”
“Then, come get me and tell me.”
“Seriously? I can probably charter a plane and be in Chicago in a few hours,” he says, excitement radiating in his voice.
“I’m not in Chicago,” I tease.
“I’ll go wherever you are. Just tell me where.”
“Open the gate.”
“Holy shit. Are you outside my house?”
“Yes. Please tell me you’re home.”
“Hell yes, I am. I’ll buzz you in now, and meet you in the driveway.”
The gates slowly slide in opposite directions, and I set off down the long driveway. The phone line is still open, but neither one of us is speaking. All I hear is his heavy breathing as I pull up in front of his house.