Page 159 of Make Me Laugh

THE ONE WITH THE CONFESSIONS

WestParkerComedy posted new pictures: The Hex Could Do Better Tour

Comment: A slide of all the candid pics he took of Hex on tour?

Comment: Idk y’all I think we made the right couple famous

Comment: This is my Roman Empire

Comment: Fuck you @PopVulture

I’ve been at Joey’s for two hours, counting every minute that passed. They were all worth it for this. I hold her against my chest, the smell of her fading perfume quieting the noise fogging my mind.

There were so many times on the way here I thought I might be making a mistake—not in coming after her, but in the way I was doing it.

Joey likes to plan things and hates when they don’t go accordingly. This article wasn’t just another post made about us. It was her biggest worry slapping her across the face when she was already feeling vulnerable. She doesn’t want this to take anything from me, for me to lose something else I love.

She’s terrified I might not choose her but would never ask me to, no matter how badly it hurt her.

I wouldn’t trade Joey for anything.

Not a comedy career.

Not a time machine.

Every moment since Micah’s death didn’t lead me to comedy. It led me to Joey. I can’t change what happened, but I can control the life I live moving forward.

I don’t want to go back to the parties or the different women every night. I think it’s what I thought I wanted, because I didn’t have to open up about the skeletons in my closet that I wasn’t ready to talk about. I hid behind my act, living in willful ignorance until Joey crashed into my life on her broomstick.

She’s not a mistake, but not coming after her would have been.

“I don’t have to say all that stuff again, do I?” she mumbles, pulling her head away from my chest to look at me. Her eyes are clear, brighter than they usually are, but puffy from crying.

My lips break into a soft smile, and I bring a hand to cup her jaw. I know she’s real, but sometimes I just like to make sure… “We need to talk about some of it, but how about you listen to what I have to say first?”

Her throat bobs when she swallows, giving me a single nod.

I take a few steps backward, pulling her with me, and lean against the back of the couch. She fits between my legs perfectly, and now we’re closer to eye level.

“I want to start with something I should have told you weeks ago.” Her hands rest on my upper thighs, face relaxing. She knows what I’m about to say, but the words haven’t been spoken out loud yet. “Joey, I love you. I’m in love with you. I think I have been since the moment I met you, which sounds fucking insane,” I chuckle softly, and she does too. I trail a hand down her side. “You’re it for me, baby. I don’t care what any sleazy gossip website posts about us or my career. Fuck them, and I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’d give it up for you. Every last bit of it.”

Joey blinks, shaking her head. “West, I don’t want you to do that.”

I shrug. “It wouldn’t be your decision.” She looks like she’s about to argue again, but I beat her to it. “Come on, you know damn well a little lighthearted controversy never really hurt anyone’s career, and if being in a relationship with you is what it takes to end mine, then I’m probably not as funny as I think, and maybe you were right.”

She scrunches her brows together as if to ask, about what?

“Maybe people only think I’m funny because I’m a hot washed-up hockey player fuckboy with dimples and a nice ass.” I haven’t changed my sets too much. I still flirt with older women. I’m always going to make jokes about sex, but I’m learning to put new twists on things with Hex in my back pocket. Joey can separate West Parker from who I am in real life. It’s what’s changed off stage that matters, anyway. Everyone knows since Joey walked into my life I’ve had absolutely zero interest in anyone else. I don’t think it could be any clearer.

Joey looks sorry as she asks, “that was kinda mean of me to say, huh?”

“All I heard was hot with a nice ass, which meant I had a shot,” I admit. “And then I went online and immediately bought a T-shirt with Hex on it, so I think it’s safe to say I’ve never been afraid of your thorns.”

I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes, but she keeps her hands on me, and she doesn’t shy away. “So, what’s your plan?”

Her question does surprise me, though, and I cock my head. “Aren’t you usually the one with the plan?”

Joey nods. “Well, I have one. Become CMO of Hell & Hollow Publishing. Are you moving back to Michigan?”