Page 52 of Everything In Between

JERSEY

ONE YEAR LATER

“What do you think?” I ask Hayes when I step into the living room. I do a little spin and my yellow dress swishes around me.

The weight of Hayes’s eyes hit me like a freight train, and if I wasn’t feeling beautiful before, I sure as hell am now. He gets up from his seat on the couch and saunters over to me, gaze trailing over my dress and landing on my face.

When he’s close enough, I see his attention flit down to the red stain on my lips before meeting my eyes again.

“That dress has me thinking that we should probably just stay in tonight.” His voice is low, promising something that has my toes curling and nerves tingling.

“You’d have me miss my own release party?” I say, my voice breathy.

“If I get to take that dress off you? Yes, absolutely.” I know he’s teasing—he’d never want me to put aside such an important event—yet the insinuation is fun and scandalous.

It only made sense to have the release party in my favorite little town on earth, so tonight we’re celebrating the album at Red Zone.

Preston and Mickey were over the moon when we asked them to host the party at their bar, sharing a quick glance and agreeing within seconds.

I made sure Preston knew Chloe was invited too, so he could bring her along.

We’ll be meeting up with our friends and a few lucky fans who were chosen by my new PR team to be in attendance.

“What if I make you a deal?” I ask him, playing along.

He bends down and nibbles a trail from my shoulder up to my ear, where he whispers, “I’m listening.”

“What if—” I pause, sucking in a deep breath when his teeth tug on my earlobe. “We go to the release party, and then you get to take the dress off after?”

“Deal,” he says without hesitation before capturing my lips in a deep kiss.

When he pulls away, my head is spinning. Crazy, given I haven’t even had a single drink yet tonight.

He has my lipstick smudged all over his lips and mouth, just like he always seems to when I put on makeup. It’s like he has to mess up the first coat just so I have to reapply a second one.

I reach up and wipe at his mouth a bit, unable to keep the amusement off my face. “You always do this.”

His eyes glint mischievously. “Maybe I like the idea of your lipstick smudged all over me. You all over me.”

“Your flirt game is strong tonight,” I muse.

“I’m just proud of you.” His voice has grown soft again, tender. “You’ve accomplished so much in the last year.”

“You have too,” I respond, thinking about the replica of the Lombardi Trophy sitting on Hayes’s trophy shelf at home. His Super Bowl win last season still goes down in my memory as one of the most unforgettable nights of my life.

“Maybe.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “But tonight isn’t about me. It’s about you—my beautiful, talented, incredible fiancée.”

I preen under his praise, thinking about the long days and the longer nights piecing this album together.

It was a daunting task, deciding I was ready and willing to put out my first independent album.

Without the weight of a big name label behind me, there was every possibility that the album could’ve flopped and it wouldn’t take me anywhere, but with the settlement on top of additional compensation for Meghan’s song helped with the production cost. Even without being a part of Silver Shadows, my fan base is devoted and willing to take a chance on me—the real me.

They’ve loved the album.

It shot up to the very top of the ranks, where it has stayed for the last few weeks. Words can’t even describe how thankful I am.

Silver Shadows has been working hard to rebuild their reputation in the time since I left.

Meghan Connelly—bless her—made a public apology, saying she didn’t realize the song had been mine, and she rescinded her offer with Callum, only agreeing to stay with Silver Shadows under different management.

Callum resigned after receiving significant backlash from the media and internet and is now officially out of the music industry.

Tonight, I’m making a statement. I’m taking this piece of the industry for myself and putting my name back out there.

Jersey Matthews. The real Jersey Matthews.

And after tonight, Hayes and I will start planning for our wedding.

We’re planning to get married next spring, in the offseason.

I’m not settling for anything short of greatness, for the both of us.

I can’t wait to be Hayes’s wife. I can’t wait to continue to accomplish all of my hopes and dreams with him by my side, and I can’t wait to watch him do the very same with all of his goals.

Thinking about all this, I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. “Thank you for believing in me, Hayes. I really couldn’t have done this without you.”

He kisses the top of my head and tightens his arms around me. “You could have. I just made it easier.”

He’s made everything in my life easier. I can’t imagine my life without him.

When we make it to Red Zone, I’m awestruck by everything once more. Fans are lined up outside of the bar, waiting for me to arrive. As soon as I step out of the car, they chant and scream my name, holding up photos and vinyl albums for me to sign.

I can’t fight the smile off my face, waving at them as I pass, choosing to stop here and there to take photos and thank everyone for coming and supporting the album. Hayes is behind me the whole time and keeps a hand centered on my lower back, letting me know he’s close by just in case I need him.

But I don’t.

It’s like I fit right back into the version of myself who was the world’s top charting artist with no hesitation.

Once I saw everyone there, excited to see me, it all came back, like riding a bike.

By the time I make it inside the venue, I’m filled to the brim with gratitude. My hands are shaking, but more from excitement rather than nervousness.

Roman and Bethany meet me not long after I’ve entered. Bethany hugs me while Roman shakes Hayes’s hand.

Bethany holds me at arm’s length, taking me in head to toe. “What a knockout dress.”

“Thank you,” I say, swishing the skirt a bit for good measure.

Mickey and Preston walk up on cue, Chloe standing next to her dad. She gives me a quick hug, and then asks, “So, what do you think?”

The lighting in the bar is lower, creating an ambience. A DJ is stationed at the other end of the building, vibing with all the dancers already out on the floor. Servers walk around carrying trays of champagne and appetizers.

“This is incredible. I can’t believe you guys organized all of this.”

“You deserve it.” Mickey grins and Preston readily agrees.

“And you two helped?” I ask Roman and Bethany, though I know their answer already.

“Moral support.” My brother winks.

I laugh and roll my eyes. Same old answer, same old Roman.

“Where’s Kelsey?” I ask, searching the room for my ex-publicist.

Roman surprises me when his expression hardens for a second, eyebrows furrowing in as he scans the room. “She’s here somewhere.” He rubs the back of his neck, for a second almost appearing worried. “I should go find her. She doesn’t love big events like this.”

I know he’s right. For being in PR for as long as she was, she really hated attending events.

Now that she’s working as Roman’s personal assistant, I can imagine being in this environment might not be her most favorite thing.

She was overjoyed when I told her my brother needed a new PA, and she didn’t hesitate to take the position.

When I told her I would have her back, I meant it.

And I’m so glad to still have her in my life as a friend.

Before I can get another word in, Roman saunters off, still looking slightly worried. I turn to Bethany. “What’s going on there?”

“Who knows?” She shrugs, unbothered, as she checks her watch. She’s been my friend long enough that she’s used to Roman’s odd actions every once in a while. “We should get you up there. I said we’d introduce you at exactly nine o’clock.”

Bethany grabs my hand and leads me up to the stage, where the DJ hands her a microphone. Bethany gets everyone’s attention and thanks them all for coming.

“We have a wonderful evening planned for you all. It means the world to Jersey and our whole team that you all showed up this evening to celebrate her and her new album!” Bethany looks at me, giving me a loving smile as she and the rest of the room clap.

“So now, the moment you all have waited for. It’s my pleasure to introduce Jersey Matthews to the stage to sing for you tonight! ”

I move to center stage, accepting the microphone and scanning the crowd. People cheer my name and hold up their phones as they snap photos or take videos of this moment to share later.

“Well, hi there,” I say, my lips curving up.

They all cheer again. “I want to thank you all for coming out tonight. This album means a lot to me, and what means even more is that you’ve stuck with me over the last year during all the changes and the radio silence.

Saying thank you is one thing, but I’d like to pay you back by singing a few songs. What do you think about that?”

I laugh when they all cheer again. One of the stage managers hands me a guitar and moves a stool out for me to sit on before positioning the microphone at the proper height. After getting comfortable, I strum a few chords and then look out at the crowd again.

My breath catches.

When I’d agreed to do some live performances of a few songs off the album, I didn’t think I’d be holding everyone’s attention.

I’m a little taken aback at how everyone is zeroed in on me.

Of course I’ve played much larger audiences in much larger venues, but this is the first time I’ll be performing my songs for anyone other than Mickey and Preston and the few patrons at Red Zone.

For the first time in a long time, everything feels the way it should.

I finally get to share my personal words with them.

They get to know a part of me that in the past felt so intimate.

I never thought those words ingrained in my being were ever worthy of being sung.

Now, that part of me knows it deserves to be heard, and I think that’s pretty magical.

So I do what I was born to do, and I sing.

As the words and the melody leave me, I scan the crowd, searching for the pair of amber eyes that I know are watching me.

When I find him, my heart skips a beat. The sheer level of pride and love in his expression is overwhelming, like he’s never seen anything quite like me before.

Holding his gaze, I think in the back of my mind that I’ve never known success until this moment.

It has nothing to do with the division championships, the Super Bowl, or best-selling self-titled albums.

It has nothing to do with any of that, and everything to do with him.

Without him, none of it would matter. The life that Hayes and I have built together is the greatest thing I’ve ever achieved.

Together, we’re unstoppable.

The End.