Page 49 of Everything In Between

FORTY-TWO

jersey

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Hayes offers Kelsey as soon as she settles herself on the living room couch.

Hayes stands at the top of the two steps leading down to the living area.

He has his arms crossed over his chest and he watches me with hawk eyes as I settle myself next to my publicist and face her.

“Um, I’ll take a water if it’s not too much trouble.”

Hayes nods and takes a few steps into the kitchen where he pulls out three glasses, setting to work filling them up. While he’s doing that, I turn back to Kelsey.

“What did you mean? When you said you’re the reason my song got leaked?”

When I had spoken with my publicity team earlier today—the team Kelsey is a part of—there had been no mention of this.

She had been on that call but had remained silent, letting some of the higher-ups on the team take the lead and work on perfecting the PR statements.

At the time, my head was still spinning, and I hadn’t thought too much of it, but now that she’s here sitting in front of me trembling, I suppose I should have.

Kelsey inhales a shaky breath and turns her tear-filled eyes to mine. “I want to start by saying that I’ve really loved working for you and getting to be a part of your team.”

“Kelsey—” I start, but she shakes her head, cutting me off.

Reaching into her bag, she pulls out my notebook, the exact same notebook I believed to be back in my condo in LA, stuffed among all of my other items I brought with me to my last recording session.

“What . . . how did you get this?” I ask, confused.

“When you were recording your last session in studio a few weeks ago, Callum approached me.” I frown.

Kelsey is on my team, but I sometimes forget that she has ties with Silver Shadows as well.

“I didn’t really think anything of it, at first. He was talking to me about this and that, trying to get a feel for our current PR ideas and what not.

But then he turned things around on me.”

“What did he want?”

“He played me.” She shakes her head, her tone growing hard, as if she’s berating herself inside. “He told me you had discussed a song that you wanted to run by him, and that you told him you’d give him your notebook to review it.”

My blood runs cold. So my song was stolen right out of my notebook. Hayes comes back to the living room and sets down the glasses of water on the table in front of us before perching on the arm of the couch, hovering above me protectively.

“He told me you probably got sidetracked with recording and forgot to give it to me. I should’ve been more cognizant, especially when you explicitly asked me to put the notebook in your bag.

If you had really meant to share it with him, you would have told me to give it to him, or told him where to find it.

Or given it to him personally.” Kelsey squeezes her eyes shut.

“Things have been so busy, and I’ve been so overwhelmed that I haven’t been sleeping—so I wasn’t thinking clearly. ”

I reach over and grab Kelsey’s hand. Despite it all, I’m sympathetic toward her. Kelsey and I have worked together for years now. I have no doubt she wouldn’t hurt me with malicious intent.

“You gave him my notebook?” I ask her, even though I know by now that she did.

She looks regretful. “I did. I promise I put it in your bag when you asked me to, but then Callum asked me to give it to him, and so I did. I took it back out of the bag and handed it to him while you were busy talking with Bethany.”

I draw in a deep breath and roll my lips together. Kelsey bows her head, ashamed, and picks at her fingernails. The truth falls between us like a barbed wire. Both of us unsure how to move forward now.

Inside, I’m a mess, my head reeling with the implications of what she’s saying.

She took my notebook with my lyrics in it and delivered it to Callum personally.

While I was in the same room. I should’ve known it would be someone close to me professionally.

My stomach sours and I wonder if I might throw up again, only this time with disgust at myself.

Here, I thought Hayes betrayed me like that.

Before I can fall into a full-blown regret spiral, Periwinkle peeks around the edge of the couch.

The Shih Tzu notices Kelsey and saunters up to her, tags jingling with every step.

She nudges Kelsey’s leg, grabbing her attention.

Kelsey reaches down and rubs at her ears.

I get up from my seat and go over to Peri, scooping her up and setting her on the couch right next to Kelsey so she can pet her better.

“She’s cute,” she murmurs, rubbing the little dog, who is eating the attention up and grunting like a guinea pig.

“Let me get this straight,” Hayes interrupts.

His voice is level, but I catch the hint of annoyance at the situation.

I’m sure it’s frustrating to him that she’s sitting here, petting his dog like she didn’t just stab me in the back.

“Instead of asking her to confirm Cal’s story, while she was right there, you went ahead and went through her things until you found her private journal, which she asked you to put in her bag, and then gave it to Callum.

Knowing that things between the two of them are what they are. ”

Kelsey blinks a few times under Hayes’s scrutiny.

Her eyes well up again with tears, but she fights them back.

Her gaze cuts to mine, and she nods, not hiding anymore.

“Yes, I’m so, so sorry. Jersey. I had no idea it was because he was planning on stealing from you.

I wouldn’t have if I had known, I promise. ”

“I’m not sure what to say,” I tell her, truthfully.

“I know there’s not much I can do at this point. It’s too late. But it was really important to me that you knew what happened. That it was my fault.”

I pause for a second, still overthinking everything.

I turn to Hayes, only to find his eyes already on me.

His eyes narrow a smidge, as if he’s trying to read what’s going on in my head.

When he finds whatever he’s looking for, his chin dips slightly in acknowledgment.

As much as I want to rage and cry and wreck everything, I can’t. Kelsey is a victim here too.

My voice is level as I say, “It was your fault . . . but it was also Cal’s. He tricked you, knowing that you respect him and his instructions, and you’d do what he asked without question. He took advantage of you, Kelsey.” I take a deep sigh.

“I’ll have to tell your bosses,” I continue, keeping my voice even. “From that point, it’s out of my hands. I don’t know what they’ll do with the situation from there.”

“I understand,” she whispers. A tear sneaks out of the corner of her eye and she is quick to wipe it away. “I’m the one to blame. I should be fired for this.”

Despite everything, I have nothing but sympathy for Kelsey. Maybe it’s seeing how she’s sitting in front of me, looking so dejected. I can see the self-loathing rolling off her in waves, and that breaks my heart.

She made a mistake, at my expense, but she is still a good person.

“Come here,” I say, reaching for her. Kelsey comes willingly and falls into my arms. I hold her tightly, hugging her and rocking her back and forth.

“I’m so sorry, Jersey. I never wanted to hurt you.” Her voice breaks off at the end and her shoulders shudder with a sob that she’s trying to control.

I rub my hand up and down her back. “I forgive you, Kelsey.”

That seems to do it. Kelsey’s whole body sags against mine, the tension leaving her with my forgiveness.

Hayes locks eyes with me again, a softer expression now on his face. “I’m going to go get the guest bedroom ready.”

I nod and Kelsey pulls away from me, wiping at her cheeks with both hands and taking in a heavy breath. “No, that’s okay. I’ll go find a hotel to stay in.”

“Kelsey,” I admonish. “It’s late, you’re upset. Stay here tonight. We don’t mind at all.”

“You’re sure?” she asks, glancing from me to Hayes with trepidation.

Hayes is the one to console her worries. “Positive. You can head back tomorrow once you’re feeling better.”

Kelsey looks down at her hands. “Thank you.”

I reach a hand out and put it on her shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up too hard, okay? People make mistakes. That’s what it means to be human.”

Lord knows I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life, too.

“Okay,” she says, forcing a nod. I’m not sure how much she believes me right now, but hopefully once the emotional warfare of this moment wears off, she’ll find it in her heart to forgive herself.

“I’m going to go see if Hayes needs my help. Just relax here for a little bit.”

I push myself off the couch and then head to the guest bedroom where Hayes is laying a freshly folded towel on top of the queen bed. He looks up when I walk in and immediately opens his arms for me.

Burying my face in his T-shirt, I breathe him in, letting the smell of him calm my nerves.

He presses his lips to the crown of my head and holds me tightly, knowing that’s exactly what I need right now.

I let myself bask in him for a few minutes, not saying a word. He lets me, lending me his strength.

After a few minutes, I untangle myself from him and take a deep breath, letting it clear my head as much as possible.

Finally, I whisper, “I’m sorry.”

He pauses. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I thought you—I should’ve known you’d never betray me. I’m so sorry for allowing that thought to cross my mind for even a second.”

Hayes rests one hand on the angle of my jaw, his thumb stroking over my cheek, eyes tender. “I forgive you. I would’ve done the same thing, jumped to the same conclusions.”

“I still feel terrible about it.” My eyes flicker away from his, ashamed.

“Don’t.” He leans down and pecks me on the lips. “I’m not upset about it, so you shouldn’t be either. Let it go, Jersey. We’re okay.”

I inhale a shaky breath and nod once. “Okay.”

With his hand still on my face, he asks, “Do you need anything else from me?”

I shake my head and circle his wrist with my hand. “No, I don’t think so.”

“I’ll wait for you in our room, then.” He leans down and gives me another soft kiss, which I return gratefully.

Hayes excuses himself, disappearing down the hall toward the main bedroom. I take another moment to collect myself before going back to find Kelsey. She’s wrapped around herself, holding her knees to her chest. She looks up at me with sad eyes when I walk into the room.

I throw a thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Lithely, she unwraps herself and follows after me down the hallway.

“There’s a bathroom right there, with soap and extra toiletries if you need them,” I point out. “And here’s your room.”

“I can’t believe you’re being so nice to me after everything I told you,” she whispers, eyes grazing over the guest room before falling on me. My throat tightens and I turn to her.

“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.

“Thank you, 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. Everything will be okay. What happened has happened, and now the only way to move forward is to weather the storm.