Page 111 of Everything In Between
“I presume since you came here telling me all of this that you’re willing to help make things right?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Would you be willing to release a statement stating everything you told me? That Callum stole my song to have Meghan release it?”
Kelsey’s eyes shutter for a second, but then she nods her head. Her releasing a public statement highlighting her involvement will solidify her grounds for termination “I will.”
I reach for Kelsey again, giving her a big hug. “Thank you. Everything will be okay. It will all work out the way it’s supposed to. Whatever happens next, know that I consider you part of my team. I’ll have your back for as long as you have mine.”
Even as I say those words, I have to convince myself they’re true. When it comes to Kelsey, I have two options: I can shut her out and dismiss her for betraying me, or I can forgive her—which I have already—and allow us both to move on.
“Thankyou, Jersey.” Her eyes glisten.
“Goodnight, Kelsey. Try to get some sleep.”
“You, too. Goodnight.”
I give her a sad smile and leave her to herself.
Inside our bedroom, Hayes is already under the covers and leaning against the headboard, waiting for me. He looks up from his phone when I enter and a sense of calm overtakes me.
After I get ready for bed, Hayes wraps me up in his arms, holding me tightly to his chest.
“I think I need to go back to LA tomorrow,” I whisper into the darkness.
His hold on me tightens. “I thought you might say that.”
I close my eyes, focusing on his heartbeat. When I tilt my head up, he’s already looking down at me. “Will you come with me?”
Relief floods his features, and he leans down to peck my lips. Then he reaches for his phone. “Absolutely. We’ll leave tomorrow. I’ll have my assistant arrange for a jet.”
“Thank you.” I snuggle back into his hold and close my eyes again.
The rhythmic sound of his heart thumping in my ear reassures me I’m not alone. Everythingwillbe okay. What happened has happened, and now the only way to move forward is to weather the storm.
FORTY-THREE
jersey
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
My mind runson full cylinders throughout the entire night. Hayes and I get up right at six the following morning and I’m still exhausted. When I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I can see it. My eyes are tinged pink from the lack of sleep, and I have dark circles under my eyes.
I run some cool water and splash it on my face, hoping I’ll at least feel a little refreshed from my night of restlessness. As soon as I’m dressed, I start packing, thoughts spiraling this way and that.
In so many ways, I’m helpless, I’m in a transition period waiting to get back to LA so I can work with Bethany and my lawyers to figure out what to do next. I hate feeling helpless, which is why one thought stands out to me more than the others right now. Something that Icando next before we leave.
“Hayes.”
He pauses at the sound of his name and turns, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, baby?”
I press my lips into a thin line, wondering how he’ll react to my slight change of plans. “I promised Preston I’d say hi to Chloe before we left...”
“Don’t you think we?—”
“Hayes, please,” I say, my voice breaking. “I need this.”
Hayes stares at me a moment, and then nods once, sliding his phone out of his back pocket, typing on the screen and then putting the phone to his ear. “Hey, it’s Hayes. We have an emergency and we’re going to need to leave town quickly today. Jersey wanted to say hi to Chloe though before we go. Do you think you could make that happen?”
