“I-I am. I’m just a little terrified after they talked like your world tour would be our death sentence. That Ishould try to keep things light or my heart would be ripped from my chest in a few months’ time.” Atear jumps ship and rolls down my cheek. He wipes it away, “Like it’s an inevitable reality.”
“Interesting how one minute they love me and the next minute, I’m a complete fuckwit who can’t keep his dick in his pants. Zero self-control, Jett over there, ready to rip our daughter’s heart out.” He takes a deep exhale, and it gives me the chills.
“That fire in your belly lights up your eyes, Jett,” Jasmine interjects, “you can use it to prove them wrong.”
“God damn right Ican,” he says resolutely, “but what really matters is, I’m gonna prove it to you, Baby. All right?”
I nod as another tear escapes and Jett kisses it away. Might as well give up this wholewe’re just having funlie I’ve been saying to protect myself. Itfeels like Jett’s tattooing his name on my heart. Like risking it all is the only choice available now that it’s etched in permanent ink. “So, we’re in this, for real.”
“You want that?” he asks. Inod like a crazy person, and Jett laughs, showing me all his teeth. Iwant to kiss them. So, Ido, and it makes him laugh even more. “Fuck yeah! Let’s do this!”
“I’m mixing new colors if you want to kiss her, Jett. Your cheeks are both pinker than they were before, and Ineed to grab a new shade. I’m not looking, Iswear.” Jasmine makes a kissy noise.
We both laugh, and then I’m floating on the pillowy cloud of Jett’s lips, and it’s nothing but bliss. All of this turmoil feels worth it just to know that these lips aremine.My insides explode at the thought, at the way Jett threads his fingers through my hair. Iwant to climb on his lap and rock against him until our moans shake all the windows in this loft.
I wish.
He pulls back to make sure he didn’t mess up my face. “You’re really mine?”
I decide to use my parents’ wisdom without mentioning them and ruining the moment. “Maybe Ialwayswas, Jett, and that’s why our other relationships didn’t work. Iknow that now, and it’s better late than never, right?” Ilean in and whisper, “Yours. I’m all yours, that’s all Iwant. To belong to you.”
His eyes are so bright when he says, “And I’m yours.Finally.I’m so fucking lucky, Baby. You’re more than worth the wait.” Jett kisses me carefully, making sure not to screw up my hair.
Jasmine clears her throat. “All right. Ineed to see your faces now if you want to make it to dinner on time.”
We know we’re supposed to look intense and passionate, but we keep grinning at each other like idiots, and Jasmine starts giving us that deep, exasperated sigh and a ‘stop smiling so big’ reminder about ten times. And then finally, she invites us to come see her canvas, and I’m shaking as Iwalk over to it.
Things are moving so fast and escalating so quickly, Ihave to yell at my brain to stop when Ipicture the framed portrait hanging above our marital bed years from now, with our kids looking at it in awe of how young and beautiful we were. Isee it, and two more tears spill over my lashes as Iworry about running mascara. Jett swipes them away.Gah, this is the most intense first date of all time!
“Jasmine, you are absolutely incredible.” Jett’s voice, an absolute, gold record earning powerhouse, actually sounds like it’s shaking, too.
I hug her. “Thank you, it’s so perfect.”
“It’s perfect because you two are perfect for each other. Thank you for going through the process. Can you see what magic can come from being open with each other?”
We nod and just stare at it in awe for the longest time. “I can come by later this week after Iframe it. Deliver it. Maybe bring my supplies in case your mum and dad want to sit for me.”
“Oh my God, yes! Thank you! That would be amazing! And if Ican convince them to let me date a rockstar, I’m sure Ican get them to sit for a portrait.”
Downstairs, Jett holds the door for me, and Istep into an adorable puddle of chaos. Isee Jett’s face flash panic for the first time, as several dozen of his fans have gathered.
“I don’t think Ihave time to sign things and—”
“Just photos? Quickly? I’ll help.” He nods and Iproject from my diaphragm to the girls, “only time for a quick picture! I’ll take it, phones out with camera on please!”
Jett gapes at me with reverence, and Iwhisper, “Go! Smile! Quick! I’ll snap them!” I’m hoping the look he’s giving me says, ‘You’re a goddess, Mads.AnnaBella would have never,’and Ismile at the made-up information in my head as Itake the photos as quickly as possible. Just to make his fans happy, because they’re not crazy, Jettismagic, andtheyhave very good taste.
After a few minutes, Bryson comes out and grabs him, tugging him towards the car and me too, in the process. Ilaugh as we pile in and the door closes behind us.
“Baby.” He kisses across my collarbone. “Thank you, you’re so perfect. You didn’t have to do any of that, but you did. AnnaBella would have never…”
I grin. “Yeah, Ifigured.”
We are headed toward Nobu in Malibu, and my stomach growls loud enough for other cars on the road to hear. Itry to cover it with, “If someone told me a week ago that today, you and Iwould be having our first couples counseling session without even having seen each other naked…”
“Yeah, yeah, you would’ve said they were completely cracked! But when in reality we’re the ones that are! I’m sorry that was an uncomfortable conversation in front of a stranger, Baby, but Ilove where it ended up. Ilove that you’re mine. Ilove that portrait, bloody hell, it’s incredible!”
“It really is,” Iagree, “and Isuppose Jasmine isn’t a stranger anymore.”
