They watched him leave and slam the door behind him.
“He’s pretty protective.” Nate smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
She wondered if he’d been as miserable as she’d been these past weeks. Probably not; he was the one who left. Now he was back. Why?
“He cares about me.” She lifted her palms and shrugged. “Why are you here?”
Chapter 30
Jade was leaving town. The suitcase sitting by the door confirmed what Connor had told Nate. Thank God he made it back in time.
Nate’s heart swelled as he gazed at Jade. Never had he seen anyone so beautiful. But when he looked closely, he saw that her eyes had lost the sparkle, and her face was missing her bubbly smile. He’d never forgive himself for putting the sadness in her expression. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss the sorrow away.
“Nate, I have a plane to catch.” She shuffled her feet.
“Where are you going?”
“Tell me why you’re here,” she said instead of answering.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “I need you to watch something.”
“I don’t have time for this.”
“It’s ready to play. Just swipe the screen.”
She frowned at him and then at the phone but did what he asked.
He stepped closer, watching over her shoulder, and breathed in her sunshine and floral scent. God, he’d missed her. But he needed to stay focused.
The screen lit up, she pressed play, and his band, him included, filled the screen. She glanced over her shoulder at him, their lips so close it took all his self-control not to kiss her.
“What is this?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
She looked at the phone again. The interviewer thanked the band for their time, made a little small talk, and got down to why they were there.
They stood in silence as they watched the clip. When the interview ended, her hand shook when she handed back the phone.
“You’ve quit the band?” Her voice sounded a little high-pitched.
He nodded.
“Why haven’t I heard anything about this? This news is huge.”
He slid his hands in his pocket; they itched to touch her, but he couldn’t—not yet. Maybe never. “It’s pre-recorded and airing tonight. I wanted to be the one to tell you before the news broke out.”
“But the band is your way of keeping your father’s memory alive.”
“I realized I didn’t need to dress up and play his kind of music to do it. There are other things I can do. I’m kinda going Graceland style and opening his house as a museum and displaying my parents’ stuff. I’ve had it in storage for years and constantly had offers from people to purchase it, but I never wanted to let it go. Now I can display his stuff for the fans, my mother’s fans too. Even for me when I feel the need to see it.”
“Won’t people wonder why you’ve just disappeared?”
“I’ll have to make the occasional appearance. A photo now and then will get leaked to the media. But it will eventually die down, and I’ll soon be forgotten.”
“It’s a lovely idea, but for years it’s been your life.” She looked skeptical.
“My father’s life, not mine. He shouldn’t have manipulated his young son with scraps of time and rare expressions of affection and make him promise to give up his life for something he didn’t love. I have a new life now. One I hope you’ll be a part of.” His stomach quivered. God, he hoped he wasn’t too late. “I screwed up big time. I’m sorry I walked away from you when you asked me to stay. It was the biggest and dumbest mistake of my life. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
