Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

EVERT

TWO WEEKS LATER

I hadn’t seen Jesse in fourteen days. Fourteen long, empty days.

We texted and called each other, every day, but with his schedule and mine, and getting close to the tour launch, there was no time. Finally, tonight was the night. We’d be working the press reception together and I was staying over at his place afterwards. I was so excited I could barely concentrate in the studio. And when I nearly dropped my favorite camera, Bailey teased me no end about the source of my ‘distraction’.

“Someone’s in love.” She winked at me.

I could deny it, but I didn’t live that way.

“I’ve got it bad, Bai. So fucking bad.”

“And what about Jesse?”

I didn’t want to utter the words yet. Not until I knew that Jesse was all in.

“You don’t need to answer that,” she replied quickly and patted my shoulder. “But he better be good to you.”

My friend was protective, and it warmed my heart.

“I’m a big boy. No matter what happens, I’ll be okay.”

I sounded confident but honestly, I wasn’t sure. If Jesse didn’t feel the same…

Then again, I’d survived one devastating heartbreak, I’m sure I could survive anything else. There were never any guarantees in life—certainly not when it came to love.

“See you at the event at eight?” Bai replied.

“For sure. But I only need you for an hour or so, and then the rest of the night is yours.”

“Don’t you get a night off?”

I shook my head. “Not for the next eight months.”

I had an hour to get back home, shower, change, and head off to the party. The label was going all out, and I even had a bodyguard escort. It was over the top, but the label insisted on it as soon as I signed the contract. For all public event appearances it was a must. And hey, I wasn’t going to argue. If I didn’t have to drive, I was good. Then I thought about me and Jesse. It had been two very long weeks and I missed him like crazy. How was I going to act professional and keep my hands off him at that party? I was shit at hiding when it came to the person I was in lov…was involved with.

In love? Bai got it right.

I grabbed my laptop and headed for the exit. Pulling out my phone, I sent Jesse a quick text.

Evert: I’m counting down the minutes until I see you

Yep, shit at hiding…

Jesse: Same. I haven’t accomplished a damn thing at work lately. Seema asked me if I was sick or something LOL. Then I started talking about you, and she knew.

Evert: Bai knows too. I got razzed.

Jesse: Are we gonna tell Averell tonight?

Evert: Or, we can make out at the party? No mistaking that.

Jesse: Don’t tease, I’m not going to be able to make business small talk. I can barely focus as is.

Evert: We tell Averell as soon as we arrive. The rest of the night you’re mine.

Jesse: All night

Evert: I can’t wait

Tonight was going to be special. Not the event per se, or the fact that we were only a week away from leaving for Japan. It had everything to do with Jesse.

After I showered, I slipped on my best pair of black leather pants, cowboy boots, and a charcoal pinstripe vest. Instead of braiding my hair, I left it loose and put on my wire-rimmed glasses in place of contacts. Bai arranged for delivery of our gear to the venue, so all I needed to bring was my camera. I placed it in my suede bag and waited for my ride.

Lennie showed up a short while later to drive me to the party. I was fidgeting so hard that my bracelets didn’t stop rattling the whole ride over.

“You alright, Ev?” Lennie asked as we pulled up to park.

“Yeah, it’s last-minute nerves. You know how it is. This tour is a big deal for all of us.”

Lennie turned to me with a knowing smile. “And how’s Jesse?”

How did he…wait, Lennie was at the rehearsal and saw me and Jesse kissing. Duh.

“I…uh…well,” I stumbled over my words, still nervous. I ran a hand through my hair and tugged on the ends. “We’re good. Really good.”

Lennie chuckled. “So, it’s like that eh? You got it bad, buddy.”

“Fuck, do I know it,” I blurted out.

He laughed harder. “What happened to casual hookups only?”

Lennie was referring to a conversation we’d had after the tour announcement, when he’d accompanied me to one of my gallery events. I was adamant at the time that I wasn’t looking for a relationship.

“Jesse happened,” I sighed, all up in my feels. “My partner passed three years ago, and I figured, that was it for me, you know?”

“I’m sorry, Ev. I can’t even imagine.”

“Thanks. I have no regrets about Zachary, but I didn’t think love was in the cards for me again.”

“I was a bumbling mess around Payton for the longest time and I figured it would never happen either. But look at us now.”

Lennie recently married the band’s flirty and charming hairstylist, Payton, in Vegas. They’d had another ceremony here in Nashville for family and friends and I’d been honored to take pictures for the occasion.

“Married life is good?” I asked.

“I’ve never been happier,” Lennie replied with a wide grin.

We got out of the car and ventured inside. My heart was thrumming fast, like a caged bird about to taste freedom and take flight for the first time. Every step closer to Jesse filled me with heady anticipation.

The event was taking place at Nashville’s swankiest hotel, and we took the elevator to the penthouse floor. When the doors opened, there was Jesse, standing with Averell and Elias, in front of my artwork. But the photographs didn’t hold a candle to the man who smiled and strutted towards me. Instead of his usual trousers and suspenders, Jesse fit in with the rockstar theme in black jeans, the world tour t-shirt, motorcycle boots, and a leather jacket. Sexy didn’t begin to describe him.

And when his dark eyes met mine, I had a hard time breathing. Never mind breathing, I was so fucking hard. I had no idea how I was going to work for the next hour, or, at all.

Without hesitation, I walked towards him, meeting him halfway as we reached for the other. Two weeks felt like two freaking years. And I didn’t care about Averell or Elias anyone else who might be watching. Jesse clinched me tightly, and when our lips locked in a passionate kiss, the world around us faded away.

“Missed you,” I confessed in between kisses.

“I missed you too, Ev. And I?—”

“Anything you two would like to tell me?” Averell’s crisp voice interrupted us. “And, by the way, there are journalists taking notes as we speak.”

“Let them,” Jesse replied.

His bold statement was a total turn on.

“Let’s have a chat about how this might impact PR,” Elias added. “ If there’s something to talk about.”

“There is,” Jesse spoke, his eyes never leaving mine.

Fuck the party, I wanted to be alone with Jesse. Now.

“What my boyfriend said,” I announced.

Jesse leaned in and kissed me again. The bird in my chest took flight.

“Shit, not this again.”

Otis. I turned around and laughed out loud when I spotted the guitarist wearing cuffed jeans, scuffed boots, and a cowboy hat—but no shirt. Then I noticed the group of guests standing near the bar, looking over in his direction. Interested reporters and music titans, no doubt. No sign of the rest of his band, or Wayward, though. Then again, the guys tended to show up late.

“What the hell are you wearing? Or, not wearing,” Elias snapped. “This is a press event for God’s sake, not an afterparty. Put a fucking shirt on!”

“Lighten up, suit.” Otis tipped his hat back and glared at Elias. “Or find another line of work.”

Otis strutted off to the bar, cocky as fuck, bodyguard in tow, and got mobbed by guests eager to speak to him.

“Have you seen Bailey?” I asked.

“She’s with Ace.” Averell pointed to the far end of the room.

I looked around and when I spotted her, waved her over.

“I’ve got to start taking pictures,” I said to Jesse. “Meet you at the bar in an hour?”

“It’s a date.” Jesse smiled as he squeezed my waist.

“Where’s Brodie and Nate and the rest of the guys?” Averell asked.

“On their way,” Jesse replied. His phone buzzed and he let me go. “I’ve gotta check this?—”

I watched him saunter off, phone to his ear, as he passed Bailey and Ace, who were headed in my direction.

The elevator doors opened, and Wayward Lane stepped out, along with their detail. The rest of the guys from Killmine weren’t far behind. Otis wandered back over to join us and Bailey and I got to work. There was a private room we had access to, and Bai had set it up so we could take posed shots of the bands. Ten minutes in and the guys were uncontrollable, joking and laughing. I told them to enjoy the rest of the party and let them loose.

After that, I did a tour of the room and took candid shots of the guests in attendance. No matter who I was talking to, I was always aware of where Jesse was in the room. He was something else tonight, more confident than ever, smiling, and laughing with attendees. I held myself in check, but sixty minutes never felt so long.

Finally, when I done working the room, I spotted Jesse waiting by the bar.

“Buy you a drink, handsome?” I offered when I slid up beside him.

“Make that two.”

Jesse’s voice sounded off. Something was wrong.

“What’s up?”

“I can’t believe it?—”

“Tell me,” I insisted.

“Landry reached out to me.”

What the fuck?

“He saw the news about the world tour, and he wants to meet up when we hit Germany.”

I swallowed hard. Jesse wasn’t the only one in need of alcohol.

“How—” I tried to speak, but I wasn’t successful.

I flagged down the bartender for a glass of water. Once I got a sip down, I managed to finish my question.

“How do you feel about that? Are you happy?”

Jesse turned to face me, taking hold of my hip, and pulling me in tight.

“When he video-called me, everything came flooding back.”

I tried to pull away, but Jesse didn’t let go. I hated self-doubt, but the thought of Jesse reuniting with his former bandmate, the guy he’d once been in love with, had me questioning what was building between us. He had history with Landry. Me and Jesse had only known each other a year and we’d only been lovers a short time. What if, fuck, what if I’d been wrong about us? What if he wasn’t over Landry?

“But I realized that it’s only memories. That’s all,” Jesse implored as he stared at me. “I’ve moved on. I knew it as soon as I saw his face. He’s my past, Ev. You’re my present.”

I wanted to believe him, and everything in his eyes told me it was true.

Jesse reached up and cupped my face.

“I know it’s fast and maybe I’m crazy, but you’re the man I’m falling in love with.”

His admission hit me like a shockwave and had me reaching up to kiss him. Then I remembered where we were.

“Don’t leave me hanging, baby,” he whispered.

“Never,” I whispered against his lips. “And yes, I’m falling in love with you too.”

Jesse’s responding smile lit up the entire room.