A noise behind him had him turning around. Jade stood dressed at the kitchen doorway. That wasn’t how he’d left her. He’d left her asleep, naked, and thoroughly sated. The plan was to give her some time to recover and they’d start all over again. Would he ever get enough of her? He would have to, because once he left for New York it all had to end.
“I was about to come back to bed.” After getting the song out of his head, exhaustion had hit. And the thought of sleeping with her in his arms was, after sex, the best way to end the day.
“I’m heading home. I’ve called a taxi to pick me up.”
“Stay the night. You don’t have school tomorrow. We can sleep in and spend the day in bed.” And keep her there for days if he could.
He rose from the chair, walked to her, and reached out to pull her into his arms. But she stepped back out of reach. What the fuck?
“I have to get home to organize things for the substitute teacher. She needs to know what the kids are up to.”
“Fuck that. Let Toby handle the substitute teacher. He’s the one who’s stopping you from working.”
“Nate. I’m doing it for the children,” she said. “I really should go.”
He could tell by the set expression on her face he wouldn’t change her mind. “Let me put on a shirt and I’ll take you.”
A car honked its horn outside.
“My taxi’s already here. Goodnight, Nate.”
What had turned Jade so cold? It was only an hour ago she’d been fiery hot in his bed. He wasn’t buying her bullshit excuse about getting school work ready for the substitute teacher. But he nodded, said goodnight, and watched her walk out the door.
As Nate sat back on the chair, Dorito woke up from his bed and wound his body around Nate’s legs. Nate picked him up, let the cat rub his face along his bristly chin, and placed him on his lap. He’d grown rather fond of the little red furball.
There was another redhead he’d grown extremely fond of too, and he let her walk out the door. But what could he have done? It didn’t look like she wanted to talk about what was bothering her.
He glanced down at the song he’d written. The intention was to write it and send it off to Roan Blake to sing. But it was too personal. Too much of Jade shone in the lyrics. This one he was keeping for himself.
The line for you, I’d rip off my disguise and give up everything for a whisper of your love sprang from off the page. It wasn’t the first time he’d thought about giving it all away. He was serious about doing it, to take the attention off Jade so she could get back to her normal life. And in a perfect world, maybe they could share a love. A family. A life.
He ran his hand through his hair. He shouldn’t think about unattainable things. By losing the disguise to be with Jade, he’d be letting down a lot of people. His band, the record company, fans…his father. And that was the crux of it all. The dream his father built for himself and wanted his son to follow would all be gone. The one piece that held him to his father would no longer connect them.
He had commitments and obligations to stick to, and he would see them through. Even if it meant a part of his soul got lost in the process. He had enough musical creativity with the band to keep him happy. And after playing his own stuff at Jovi’s without the disguise, why couldn’t he do the same in whatever city he was in?
Picking up his guitar, he brought it into the living room and put it away in its worn-out case. No one would ever know, and he’d have the best of both worlds. But that would still mean he couldn’t promise Jade anything. Not love or commitment. Soon he’d be on the other side of the world touring most of the year. His chest tightened. In time, he’d get over her. He’d have to.
* * * *
After getting the taxi driver to drop her off at the school to pick up her car, Jade drove around Brimland Point for an hour before deciding to go to Ava’s house. Going home wasn’t an option. She’d driven past, and after the story proclaiming her involvement with Nathan Harvey, the size of the paps camped on the lawn had doubled.
Didn’t they have anything better to do? She didn’t have the strength to push her way through them, especially when they ask her questions about their relationship. After the realization she was in love with Nate, she didn’t want to accidentally blurt out anything they could twist into another article.
A cool sea breeze blew around her as she knocked on Ava’s door, reminding her of Nate and the night in the ocean. She needed to push that memory aside.
Worried about the late hour, she’d messaged Ava, telling her that she was coming. Her friend, now in the late stages of pregnancy, hardly slept and messaged back that she’d be grateful for the visit.
Nick opened the door. Dressed only in long pajama pants, his chest was bare and his dark brown hair tousled. He smiled at her with startling blue eyes. God, her friends managed to tie down good-looking men. Jade had an extremely hot man of her own, but unfortunately, he was only temporary.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” Jade said as she followed him inside.
“No, just keeping Ava company until you arrived. She’s feeling a little uncomfortable.”
“Everything okay?” Jade asked with concern.
“She’s been cleaning the house all day, and now she’s exhausted but can’t get comfortable enough to sleep.” He gave her an I don’t know what to do shrug.
“I should let her get some rest.” Jade turned to leave, but Nick stopped her.
