Page 126 of Sweet Surrender

“I think you should leave.” I point to the door as betrayal weighs me down. This man is so very important to Jase, and if he thinks this of me? If I can’t win his approval? Then any hopeful chance that I might have with Jase is gone. “Take you and your checkbook and your insulting allegations and shove them up your ass on the way out.”

Vince watches me for a moment, then emits a long, low whistle. “Wow. That’s what I thought.”

“What is?” I’m tired. I’ve worked a long day. All I want to do is go back home to Jase. “I’m not in the mood for games.”

“You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?”

I snort. “You think I’m going to tell you shit, after you just accused me of wanting a payoff? Dream on.”

A smile ghosts his lips, his eyes softening some. “I can see it clear as day. You’re in love with him.”

“You say that like it’s a curse.”

“With Gizmo it kind of is.”

Like I need a reminder.

“The question you need to ask yourself, Hendrix, is, if you love him, if you’re falling in love with him, what are you going to do about it? Fight for him? Let him go when he pushes too hard? Because he will do just that. Chalk it up to an adventure, to—what does he call it? Operation Live-A-Little?”

I open my mouth, but no words come out.

Vince leans back, his expression intense. Serious. “He lives a life where he’s never home. People think they know him, that they love him, and are vicious about sharing that love with anyone else. Add to that, we’re about to embark on a world tour. How are you going to have your dream here at the bakery while letting him live out his? How is that going to work for you? Have you considered just how hard it is to love a man you don’t always see?”

I swallow hard. I haven’t let myself think that far ahead. Or maybe I’m scared to.

“I like you, Hendrix. More than I expected and even more with each minute I get to know you better. He’s one of my best friends, a brother I never had. If you love him, you’ll be glad he has a friend asking these questions and wanting what’s best for him. He may be a leap without looking type of guy, but that’s because we’ve already looked out below for him.” He stands abruptly, rapping his knuckles against the counter. “Glad we had this little talk.”

I watch him leave, but my mind is stuck on his words, his questions.

And I’m not naive in thinking every single one of them is valid.

“How are you going to have your dream here at the bakery while letting him live out his? How is that going to work for you? Have you considered just how hard it is to love a man you don’t always see?”

The worst thing? I have no idea how to answer any of them. We live in this bubble at the moment, but when that bursts, where will I be?

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Gizmo

Rehearsal is tight, focused.

It has to be.

We’re in the final stretch with the tour looming closer with each passing day. The setlist is locked in. The transitions between songs are agreed upon but still need to be rehearsed more. We aim for seamless when we perform, and we’re not close enough to call us that yet.

Could be that I’m a contributing factor to that. My head simply isn’t in it.

It should be. Nathaniel let me know the judge has already indicated that he doesn’t need a hearing for his ruling. That he’ll be making it in the next few days or so.

“No hearing is a good sign,” Nathaniel says. “It implies that he’s going to give you back your passport and allow for travel.”

“Implies. Not a done deal though.”

“True. But we’re close, Jase. So close I can taste it. Just hang tight for another week or two.”

“And then?”

“And then we wait until you’re overseas, file for a separation due to irreconcilable differences. More of a she didn’t know how hard it was going to be with you on the road type argument.”