JAKE STARED AT the phone in his hands. He’d jumped on the first flight he could from Melbourne to L.A. and managed to charter a private jet from L.A. to Chicago. He needed to see her. He needed to explain. He’d left without telling Caleb what was going on. He didn’t need to add to his anxiety about Jake’s state of mind. He’d called Ang on his way to the hospital and explained everything. She was taking care of his luggage so he didn’t have to worry about it. Rob had insisted he get a blood sample drawn right after they’d hung up the phone. The hospital said they’d call him as soon as they had the results. As he tried to explain everything to Ang, he could hear how ridiculous the whole thing sounded. He had nothing else to go on. He would never cheat on Madi. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at another woman, much less sleep with a beast like Allison Gregory.
Rob promised Jake he’d have some old colleagues track her down. He was able to confirm she’d been in Australia, but they weren’t able to reach her publicist, agent, or even her mother, for that matter. She seemed to have disappeared.
Jake listened to Robin Thicke’s “Angels” as he stared out the window at the clouds. She just had to give him a chance to explain. He’d make her listen. Somehow, he’d make her see. Jake called her one more time, hoping beyond hope that she’d take a chance and answer his call. Rob told him that although he wasn’t able to speak to Madi, he’d been able to get Kendra to listen. She didn’t believe him, of course. She told him that until he had some kind of proof, she didn’t want him to give Madi any false sense of hope. As far as Madi was concerned, it was over.
The word “over” played in his head repeatedly. As soon as he thought he’d lost her, Jake cancelled his concert in Boston. He couldn’t sing and smile in front of people when his reason for smiling was being ripped from his life.
He’d looked at the pictures, trying to remember. In every single picture, his eyes were closed. He wasn’t there. His body might have been, but not his heart.
His phone rang and he pulled it to his ear without even looking. “Madi?”
“No, honey, it’s Mom. How are you holding up?”
Hearing her voice sent his emotions into his throat. He was instantly reminded of the countless times he’d fallen off his bike as a child, skinning his knee, managing to walk home without crying until his mom asked him if he was hurt. Then the tears would just flow.
“Jake?”
“I didn’t do it, Mom. I’d never…” Jake had to choke back the tears he could feel threatening to run free. The ones he’d bottled up inside.
“It didn’t even look like you. You were lifeless. What happened?”
As Jake explained Rob’s theories, his mother’s unquestioning faith in him made him feel stronger, more resolved. After she told him she’d pray for them, he almost lost it altogether.
“I’m going to fix this. Somehow, I will.” A few seconds after he’d ended the call with his mom, his phone buzzed again. It was Caleb.
“Caleb, I can’t talk right now.”
“You cancelled the concert in Boston? How could you? It was sold out! Do you know how much money you just cost us?”
“How much money I costus? It’s my money, Caleb. Whether I do a show or cancel one, you get paid the same. If I don’t want to sing, then I don’t sing. It’s my life and my voice. If you don’t like the way I handle things, then get the fuck out!”
“Now hold on, Jake… Let’s not get carried away. I’m just shocked. You’ve never done something like this before. Especially not over a silly girl.”
“A silly girl? Did you just refer to Madi as a silly girl? She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. If I lose her, I may never sing again. While you were off getting some sleep, it appears I may have been drugged.”
“Drugged? What are you talking about?” Caleb questioned.
“I talked to Rob and explained everything I could remember. I’m surprised you haven’t spoken to him yet. He said he’d tried to call you several times.”
“I didn’t have time to talk to him. I’ve been juggling call after call from the press. I have damage control to do. Do you know what your little escapade with Allison Gregory has done to your sales?”
“I don’t care…”
“They’ve skyrocketed! Do you hear me? They’ve tripled. It seems bad press is better than no press! I’ve had twelve calls from television shows wanting to interview you! Ha! Do you believe it?”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You act like I should be happy! Like breaking Madi’s heart is worth the sale of even one of my songs.”
“She’s young, Jake. She’ll get over it. Did you ever consider that maybe she’s just not cut out for your line of work?”
“What?” Jake jerked out of his seat and stormed the aisle. It’s a good thing he was practically alone in first class, or his language might have gotten him kicked off the plane.
“I don’t want her to get over it, or over me. She may be young, but she’s smarter than anyone I’ve ever met and she gets me. I need her, and if you can’t see what she means to me, then you need to just fuck off.”
Jake slammed his finger into the home button then motioned to throw his phone as he noticed a flight attendant eyeing him warningly. He quietly folded into his seat, rummaging his hands through his hair. For a moment, he considered Caleb as a suspect. He quickly dismissed the idea. Caleb had been his friend for ten years. He was fucked up in his thought process, but he’d never try to hurt him. Jake sighed. In a few hours, he’d be in Chicago and on his way to Madi’s school. He didn’t care who saw him, or what pictures they took of them together. He wished he’d just told the world about them. He placed his earbuds back into his ears and listened to Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down.” She was his center of gravity. He’d never let her go. Never… It couldn’t be over. He wouldn’t let her leave him.
***
