Page 186 of Don't Leave Me

Jack and Adam finally emerged into the back where we were, Jack sweaty and his black t-shirt clinging to him. He immediately had his attention on me.

“What did you think?” he raised his eyebrows at me, widened and seemingly nervous.

“Amazing,” I answered, out of breath. “Did you write that one?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Is it about me?”

Jack nodded again. “They all are.”

51

Chapter 51

I couldn’t keep my hands and mouth off of Jack that night. It was perfect timing: the next day was our reception party and I already knew with perfect clarity that I was supposed to be where I was. Jack was right all along: I was bored with my old life. He knew by the way I looked at him, all those months ago, that I craved the “bad boy,” that I was a sucker for a tortured artist and that I needed that unconventional life that Jack would provide me with. Jack had won: he had won me, he had broken all other perceptions of him and of my life before, and he was winning me over more and more each day. He knew I wouldn’t run anymore. He was confident that I was his now.

The next night, Jack and I were headed towards the Bowery Ballroom, both of us donned in all black, hand in hand as we quickly walked on the busy sidewalk. I had my usual red matte lips on and let my wavy hair do whatever it wanted as the wind blew it faintly back, the mid February air cold and damp after a day of rain. We were heading to the Bowery 30 minutes early: we wanted to make sure everything was in order for us and our 15 or so guests. Jack had invited Jessica, his mom and brother from London (who said they’d be there), my parents, Emily and Adam, Billie, and various other friends of his from around town whom I’d never met before. I was nervous about seeing Jessica, and Billie, and I suppose everyone else. All eyes would be on us all night, and that was always something that was hard for me to deal with.

We walked into a big room at the bottom of the venue that held a bar, booths, tables and some TVs to showcase the stage of whatever band was playing at the time. That night, a rock band from Austin was headlining and currently sound checking, and although I had no idea who they were, Jack was excited that they were there. There were booths all around the room with some tables around the bar area; it was a perfect little set up for what we wanted. Not long after we arrived and as Jack chatted with the bartender, Emily and Adam arrived with a cake and a big bag that held what looked like some books and pens.

“We need a fridge. This is ice cream cake,” Emily suddenly ordered to the bartender, her bossiness always frightening to whoever was on the receiving end.

I looked at Jack and we both smiled at each other - how odd that we both knew exactly what the other was thinking.He kidnapped you, a voice screamed in my head.I love him, I screamed back.

“Hey guys,” Adam happily greeted us, draping his jacket off.

We watched as Emily went behind the bar and put the cake in a small fridge, then put her bag atop the bar.

“I have some balloons and a banner I want to put up, and I made a little photo book of pictures of you and Jack from the wedding day. Oh, and a little guestbook,” Emily started sorting out her bag.

“Wow, Em, you didn’t have to do all that,” I widened my eyes, walking towards her and her party supplies.

“Of course I did. I’m your maid of honor, your best friend. I knew you guys were gonna be super lax tonight, so I wanted to dosomething,” she smiled at us, her dimples making me smile back.

“We really appreciate it, Emily,” Jack appeared beside me, putting his hand on my back.

“Of course. Now Han, you and Jack can put that banner up over…” Emily looked around the room. “There. The middle of the wall. Adam will help me do balloons?” she instructed us, and Jack and I moved quickly, the banner in my hand and a box of sticky plastic pins in Jack’s.

We all prepared the room, it now looking festive enough for our wedding reception, as Emily finally laid the photo book onto a table next to the guestbook.

“People should be arriving any minute,” Jack looked at the time on his phone.

“Oh, and I made a playlist. Will you put this on the speakers, please?” Emily was finally kind to the bartender, another LES, tattooed hipster.

“Sure,” he took her phone and plugged it into something under the bar.

Some new wave love song started playing on the speakers just as someone came through the door - it was Jessica, along with a guy that looked like Jack, and a woman - an older version of Jessica. This was Jack’s family. They all had the same kind, dough eyes that Jack had. I could see Jack beaming next to me as he outstretched his arms.

“Mum, Jeremy. You made it,” he smiled, walking up to them.

“And your dear ol’ sister, too,” Jessica said to him, then looked over at me and visibly tensed up. “Hi Hana,” she said kindly, a smile now appearing on her lips, giving the famous Maynor dimples that everyone in the family appeared to have.

“Hi Jess,” I said quietly before Jack took my hand and brought me over to his mom.

“Mum, this is Hana. Hana, this is my mum, Laura,” he introduced us.

Laura had big, blue eyes that were partially covered by her long, brown bangs. She looked delighted to see me as she smiled widely and put her hands to her cheeks.

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