“You are,” she says, pressing against me in a hug. “You’re helping just by being here. I can’t imagine if I had to go through this all alone.”
“You’re never going to be alone again,” I assure her. “You’re stuck with me now.”
“I love the sound of that,” she whispers, tucking herself against me tighter.
We sit together for a while, weathering the storm. Jersey stays glued to my side while she answers text messages and phone calls, constantly seeking that comfort of the connection between us.
The afternoon quickly disappears, the sun lowering beneath the horizon. We’ve been stuck on this couch all day, only getting up to use the bathroom or to grab a snack before returning.
To be honest, I like this fortress we’ve built together over the last few hours. I can tell Jersey’s feeling a little better, reassured by the endless stream of messages and promises from her team and her lawyers. The color has slowly returned to her cheeks, and she seems more alert and chipper than she was when this news first broke.
That’s not to say that she’s not still devastated, because she definitely is. But she’s being strong, powering through the pain.
Outside, I catch sight of a few snowflakes swirling around the windows. As I run my hands through Jersey’s hair, I can’t help but feel like the snow is hinting that this might be a new beginning for us. A new, exciting chapter. As much as it sucks right now, at some point the bad will have to end, leading into something that can only be good.
Out of nowhere, the doorbell rings and I groan, burying my face in Jersey’s neck. “Maybe they’ll go away.”
She laughs and taps my shoulder. Putting on emphasis, the doorbell rings again, and again. Swearing under my breath, I push off my girl and storm toward the front door, grumbling the whole way.
“Okay, okay,” I say right before swinging the door open. It rings again, right when I open it to reveal a young woman standing on my porch. Her eyes are wide and scared, her shoulders trembling from the chill of the early March air. I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen her before, but I can’t place her face. “Can I help you?”
She stands up on her tiptoes, looking around me. I don’t like that one bit, so I step closer, letting my broad frame block her view. She appears intimidated and takes a step back.
“I’m here to see Jersey. Can I talk to her?”
I cross my arms over my chest and glower at her. Is she a fan? How’d she find out Jersey was here with me? “Who are you?”
Jersey answers the question for me, peeking around my shoulder to see the visitor. I step aside, letting her past when I realize she recognizes the girl.
“Kelsey?” she asks, stepping forward. “What are you doing here? How’d you know where to find me?”
The girl’s eyes fall, and I catch a glisten of what I can only assume are tears. “I’m so sorry. I have your location on my phone. I’ve just been—I’m so sorry, Jersey.”
“Sorry for what?” Jersey takes another step toward her and places her hand on her shoulder.
“Your song,” Kelsey says, looking up at my girl now. Her eyes are rimmed red, and a tear streaks down her cheek. “I’m the reason your song got leaked.”
Jersey’s hand falls from the girl’s shoulder and she sucks in a breath. The world around us grows so silent we can hear the snow falling outside.
Oh shit.
I watch Jersey closely, to see what she’ll do. She rolls her lips together, studying Kelsey for a moment before she nods her head. What she says surprises me, yet it doesn’t. Jersey Matthews is one of the most compassionate people I’ve ever met, even when faced with someone who has wronged her.
“I think you better come inside.”
FORTY-TWO
jersey
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
“CanI get you anything to drink?” Hayes offers Kelsey as soon as she settles herself on the living room couch. Hayes stands at the top of the two steps leading down to the living area. He has his arms crossed over his chest and he watches me with hawk eyes as I settle myself next to my publicist and face her.
“Um, I’ll take a water if it’s not too much trouble.”
Hayes nods and takes a few steps into the kitchen where he pulls out three glasses, setting to work filling them up. While he’s doing that, I turn back to Kelsey.
“What did you mean? When you said you’re the reason my song got leaked?”
