Page 40 of Everything In Between
THIRTY-THREE
jersey
“How’s it going over there?” I ask Hayes when he grunts in frustration.
He turns his eyes to me and scowls. A few beads of sweat form along his brow from his band exercises. “This shouldn’t be that hard. I’m an NFL quarterback for fuck’s sake, and I can’t even bend my leg.”
I give him an encouraging smile. “You’ll be back to a hundred percent soon.”
“Hopefully,” he grumbles. “I feel like these exercises are going to be the death of me.”
“It will pay off.” I get up and walk over to him, planting a kiss on his cheek before sitting next to him on the bench.
“Maybe you need a change of scenery. I’m heading back to LA next week to start prepping for my upcoming shows.
And you’ll love how much nicer January feels in LA compared to Wisconsin.
It’s not crazy hot, but warmer than here. ”
Hayes gives me a sharp look. “I’m not on a vacation, Jersey. Playoffs are this weekend. On top of that, I have to meet with the coaches and trainers and come up with a schedule to get me back as soon as possible.”
“They can’t expect you to be there, can they?” I ask him incredulously. They were quick to get Hayes in for his knee surgery the day after New Years, as planned. “You just had surgery a week ago.”
“Even still, this rehab won’t do itself. My doctors said these early weeks are the most important for my overall outcome. I don’t have time to jet off to LA”
“You could do your exercises there. Meet with the training staff virtually.”
He shakes his head and frowns down at his knee. “I need to be around for the team too. Hopefully I’ll be able to sit on the sidelines and cheer them on. There’s so many reasons why it would be better for me to stay home and focus right now. I have to be in the best shape for next season.”
My shoulders deflate and I twist my hands in my lap. “I understand.”
Moments later, Hayes reaches for my hand and threads our fingers together. With a dejected sigh, he says, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get snippy with you.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him and meet his eyes.
“I’m just sad I won’t get to see you for a while.
My first show is the first weekend of February.
But then maybe I can come back here to watch the Super Bowl with you and spend a few days before I go to Austin for the second one.
” I pause and then add, “You know, if the team doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl. ”
He’s wearing an expression I can’t place my finger on, but his eyes have softened from frustration to affection, making me melt inside. “What?” I ask him.
His gaze traces my face, and he raises his hand to cup my cheek. My breath catches as he leans in and places a gentle kiss over my lips, making me swoon right where I’m sitting.
Finally, he pulls away and his lips curve into a sad smile. “Nothing. I want every second I can have with you. I just—I wish things were a little different right now.”
“It’s a transition period. You’ll be back and better than ever, and all of this will be behind us.”
“I hate feeling like I’ve let people down. The team, my coach, you.”
“You haven’t let me down, Hayes. And you haven’t let the team down.”
“I hope you know how special you are to me.” His voice turns husky. “I don’t want you to ever feel like you’re not. Even when things like this get in the way.”
I lean my forehead against his, loving the way his presence surrounds me. “You’re special to me, too.”
When I close my eyes, I imagine what the future will bring. I can see each of us fulfilling our dreams, reaching our goals, knowing one is behind the other, supporting and cheering the whole time.
It’s everything I could ever want.
Hayes is everything I could have ever wanted.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22
The next few weeks in LA are a whirlwind of checking boxes and meeting required deadlines. The next two months contain six shows across the country. All my time is spent in rehearsals, nailing the choreography and set list, or in the studio, finishing the recordings for the next album.
“Jersey!” Cal hollers for me. “We need to re-record these harmonies. Chop, chop, this is our last day in studio for months, so there’s no time to waste.”
“Okay, coming!” I call from my position on the couch. The recording studio has become my home for the last few days, and I’m grateful Hayes decided to stay in Milwaukee for this period. He would’ve been bored out of his mind by himself.
I hand my notebook to Kelsey before getting up. “Will you slide this in my bag for me?”
“Of course.” Kelsey nods and takes my stuff for me. “Also, before you leave today, we need to discuss scheduling some interviews for before and during your next stretch of shows. I have a few good ones lined up. We just need to find a time that works for your schedule.”
“Perfect. I’ll find you when I’m done here.”
Bethany is tapping away on her phone but looks up when I approach her a few minutes later after doing a few neck and upper back stretches. “Do you need lunch or a coffee or anything?”
“A sandwich and coffee would be great.” I look over to where Cal has his head bent as Kelsey hoists her bag over her shoulder.
She nods at something he says and glances away from him quickly.
She’s probably running the press options by him too before we discuss later.
“I have a feeling today’s going to be a long day. ”
I’m right on the money. By the time I get home, I’m exhausted. I drop my work bags in the guest room and run myself a hot bath. My muscles ache from rehearsal and I need a chance to unwind before tomorrow.
Half an hour later, when I’m relaxed, I tuck myself into bed, snuggling into the pillows. Reaching for my phone, I click Hayes’s contact information and the FaceTime starts ringing. We haven’t spoken much more than a few quick texts over the last few days and I’m missing him something fierce.
He answers shortly, giving me a tired smile once he sees me. “Hey, honey.”
“You look like you’ve had a day like mine.”
His raspy laugh confirms my suspicions. “Long day full of exercises that kicked my ass when they shouldn’t have.”
“You’re getting stronger every day,” I remind him. “Have you spoken with Beckett since the playoff game?”
Hayes nods forlornly. “He’s pretty frustrated about it still.”
“Not at you, I hope?” I ask, and he shakes his head now and sighs heavily.
“No. Not at me. More with the overall circumstances. We should’ve had that game. We should be the ones in the Super Bowl in two weeks.”
“Maybe, but even still, the team did make it to the Conference Championship. Don’t dismiss that accomplishment too quickly.”
Hayes averts his eyes. “I should’ve been there.”
“You’ll be there next year, and it will be your best season yet. I know it.”
His lips quirk up at my strong conviction. “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through this without you.”
“You give me too much credit. All of your resilience is your doing.”
“Even still. You played a big role in all of it.” His eyes grow soft as he studies me through the screen. “I miss you. It’s the worst thing coming home from therapy and not having you snuggled up on the couch. Peri agrees. She misses you too.”
“I feel the exact same,” I whisper.
“Tell me about your day.” He changes the topic.
“Nothing exciting. I was at the studio this morning to get some last-minute recordings in, more fine-tuning things like harmonies and background vocals that needed adjusting. After today, the album should be pretty well ready to go.”
“Can I listen to it?” Hayes asks. “Get some VIP early access?”
“Of course.”
“Won’t be as good as if it were all your songs,” he says, his voice growing more serious. “But I know it’s amazing still.”
“Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to say out loud that my album was fully written and recorded by me.”
“You will.” The way he sounds so sure when he says this sends my heart soaring. The gruffness and confidence of his low timbre, the perfect ballad to my soul. “So you’re all ready for the first show?”
“Mostly. We have rehearsal time scheduled throughout the week and breaks in between, so I can fine tune anything that comes up. But most of it is the same as the shows last year, so it’s muscle memory at this point.
” Our very first show is in ten days in San Diego.
The clock is ticking, but I’ll be ready, and I know the rest of my team will be, too.
“Still, that’s a lot of dance moves to remember.” Hayes shakes his head. “I don’t think I could do it.”
“I mean, you all come up with your touchdown dances. Don’t you have one too?”
Hayes laughs. I love the sound of his laugh. “I don’t get many touchdowns, so I don’t really have one on retainer.”
“We’ll need to change that,” I say, a grin forming on my face. “Once your knee is feeling better, I’ll show you some moves.”
“Then I’ll have to get myself a touchdown to show them off.”
“See?” I tease. “A win-win.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I miss you so much, Hayes. I can’t wait to come home in two weeks.” The idea of being able to snuggle up next to Hayes again makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. It will be my first Super Bowl weekend, and there’s no one I’d rather spend it with than him.
His lips turn up. “Home, huh?”
I fight off a smile. “Home.”
“I do like the sound of that.” He sighs. “It’s not home anymore without you.”