Jason’s smile falls, shifting into a grimace. “You’re not even going to consider it? Take a few minutes to think it over? Be reasonable?”
“Nope.”
Jason sits up straight, his eyes laser-focused on me, almost like we’re about to have a battle of wills. “Have you at least looked over the brand partnerships I sent you? I’ve spent weeks negotiating some major deals with extremely favorable terms.”
“Saw them.” I sit at the table next to Kate and put my arm around her. “Not interested.”
Jason’s mouth drops open, shocked by the fact I’ve told him no twice. He clenches his jaw, briefly staring at his dress shoes before saying, “What about the opportunity to host the awards show? It would be a major feather in your cap and give you incredible exposure, especially with the new album coming out.”
I shake my head. “Pass.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Jason shouts, standing and pacing furiously in front of the couch. “Are you going to say yes to anything?”
“Only if it involves spending more time with Kate. Everything else is a hard no.”
“Are you being serious?” Kate whispers, so Jason can’t hear.
I tilt my head, locking eyes with her. “One hundred percent.”
“Anything else you want to chat about, Jason?” I ask, casting my gaze in his direction.
He runs both hands through his gelled hair, completely messing it up with a single tug. “I’ll be at the concert tonight. Maybe you’ll be in a more receptive mood afterward, and we can talk then.”
“Answer’s not going to change,” I reply before Jason leaves the bus.
I let out a loud sigh. Why doesn’t he get that my priorities have shifted? Understand there is more to life than just working? It’s all he ever does.
“Did you just turn down massive opportunities because of me?” Kate asks softly.
Adjusting my position, I turn toward her. “Yes. I’ll do the events already on my schedule, but I’m not adding anything new. You come first, always.”
“That’s great, but…”
“What? Did I do something wrong?” Confusion spreads across my face. The last thing I want to do in the world is disappoint her or cause her any frustration.
Her face scrunches like she’s smelled a skunk. Definitely not a good sign. Fuck. Is this one of those situations where I’ve screwed up and don’t even realize it?
“Yes and no.” She chews on the corner of her lower lip. “I love that you’re prioritizing our relationship. You always make it clear how important I am to you, both in your words and in your actions. That means the absolute world to me.”
“But…”
She exhales deeply, tilting her head to look at the ceiling for a brief moment. One of her tells that she’s preparing to say something that makes her uncomfortable. “You don’t involve me when you make decisions about your career. Not once have you asked for my opinion.”
“Oh,” I reply, pulling on the back of my neck. “I didn’t realize you wanted to be part of those conversations.”
“Ideally, we’d make all the decisions about our lives together. It’s your career, so obviously, your opinion has the biggest say, but it would be nice to feel included. Especially when it impacts me.” She reaches for my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine and pressing a kiss on my skin. “When you make decisions because of our relationship, like constantly changingthe schedule or turning down opportunities, it impacts how people see me. Everyone assumesI’mthe one making you do it. Although I’m working to not care what other people think, I don’t want your team to see me as the bad guy. Not when I don’t deserve it.”
Fuck. I’vedefinitelyscrewed up.
I rest my head against the wall, closing my eyes tightly. “What do you think I should do about the offers Jason presented?”
“At least consider some of them. You’ve worked your entire career to get to this point. Let’s not immediately dismiss everything that comes your way. We should be smart about it. Say no to the ones that won’t move the needle for you and yes to the ones that will. Find creative ways to lessen the disruption to our lives when you do take on these extra opportunities.”
I nod. She’s fucking right. I’m so worried about something coming between us, or not having enough time with her, that I haven’t thought about this long-term. How we effectively integrate our lifestyles, because the opportunities I’m getting won’t go away, not as long as my career is doing well.
We spend the next hour debating the merits of every opportunity, making a pro-con list that Kate documents in a spreadsheet. Because she’s Kate. Agreeing on what I will say yes to and what’s a pass. And somehow, I feel lighter, even though my schedule is becoming more jam-packed. Knowing I have Kate on my side, willing to help me figure it out, removes a weight I didn’t know I was carrying.
She’s become a true partner in my life. One I can’t live without.
