CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

MCKINLEY

Like on our flight to Italy, the majority of our time was spent in bed. What else is there to do on a fourteen hour flight? It was wonderful, but strange. Jagger told me continuously how much he loved me, like I’m about to find out he cheated on me.

We have a driver waiting at the tarmac again, and he helps me into the car before shuffling in beside me.

He holds my hand on the drive, still making me nervous.

“Is everything okay, Jagger?”

With a nod, he says, “Yeah, I’m good, baby. I’m just going to miss having so much alone time with you.”

That helps me relax a little, because it does make sense. We won’t get that kind of time together when he’s on tour.

The car pulls up to our hotel for the night, since he has a show here tonight in New York City. We get out and there are people everywhere. Of course, New York City always has tons of people on the street, but they all circle around Jagger and I, and men with cameras start taking pictures, but they aren’t yelling questions to him.

“McKinley Williams, how long have you been sleeping with the rock god?”

I turn to Jagger, who looks as shocked as I am. He shakes his head, telling me not to say anything, places his arms around my shoulders, and walks me into the hotel while I listen to the shouting.

“McKinley, does he know your history?”

“Does he know you’re mentally ill?”

“McKinley, do you have brain damage?”

I know exactly what they are asking about. He’s the only one that doesn’t. The second we walk into the room, he grabs my shoulders and turns me so I’m facing him.

“What do they know that I don’t? That shit was incredibly specific.”

“We don’t have time. You have to go. I’ll be here when you get back and we’ll talk. About everything.”

“Promise me, McKinley. No more fucking secrets.”

I nod, while I attempt to control my tears. “All will be revealed. I promise you.”

He kisses me softly. It’s short but sweet, and I wish I could’ve made it last forever. Why did the real world have to intervene in my happiness?

“I have to go, baby. I love you, no matter what. We’ll get through whatever this is. I swear to you, it’s going to be okay.”

I force a smile for him, because I don’t want him to worry about me while trying to perform a show.

“I know.”

He releases me and walks to the door, and the emotion threatens to break me.

“Jagger, I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. Always.”

And he is gone. Jagger doesn’t know this but I do; those were our last moments together.