“I’d be playing my own music, even writing songs for other artists.” The few he’d sent away were getting great airplay. And he’d been asked for more.
“Then follow your dream,” she urged.
“It’s not as simple as that.”
His grandmother slumped back in her chair. “You’re the only one who’s making things complicated.”
Nate couldn’t listen to his grandmother’s lecture any longer. He’d heard it all before. Although he’d never admitted it out loud, he’d rather be playing his own music. That, he only just recently discovered. And the part about Jade was new too. Did his grandmother think it was easy for him to leave her? But he had to do what was best for them both.
He said his goodbyes to Fi-Fi. It was always hard leaving her. Even though she was a fit seventy-nine-year-old, she was getting older, and he didn’t know how many more times he’d get to see her. But by the way she was going, she’d probably outlive him.
“I’ll walk you out,” Toby said as he headed for the door.
Once outside, they stood by Nate’s rental car.
“Are you sure you need to leave?” Toby asked.
“You’re not going to start with me too, are you? I’ve heard enough from Fi-Fi.”
“What about Jade, how’s she taking it?”
Nate had put her quietness down to the stress of the last few days, the paparazzi, the newspaper article, and being on leave. But maybe it had something to do with him too. He knew it wasn’t just a fling for her, no matter what she’d said at the start. It hadn’t been a fling for him either. He genuinely cared for her. Leaving wouldn’t be easy.
“Watch out for her for me, will you? And give her back her fucking job.”
“You should watch out for her yourself.” Toby sounded pissed. “You promised me you wouldn’t mess around with her feelings. And I told you if you hurt her, you’d be dealing with me. Do I have to kick your arse?”
“I’d like to see you try.” Now Nate was pissed. Why was everyone on his back? He had a job to do—commitments. No one seemed to care that leaving was cutting him too.
“I could kick your arse from here to New York,” Toby grumbled. “Tell me, am I going to find Jade a broken mess?”
Maybe he should let Toby kick his arse. Beat him up so badly he couldn’t feel a thing anymore. But he knew that even if his body was numb, his heart would still ache.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But if she’s feeling anything like I am at the moment, it isn’t good.” Nate’s shoulders slumped.
“Do you love her?” Toby’s voice lost some of its heat.
His heart thumped at the question. Did he? What he felt was something stronger than he’d ever felt for any woman.
When Nate didn’t answer, Toby blew out a long breath, clearly taking his silence as confirmation. “Then make it work with her.”
“Even if I wanted to, she’s so caught up in that curse she wouldn’t let it happen.”
“If you stay, I’m sure you could convince her it’s all bullshit,” Toby suggested.
Could he stay and let his father’s legacy go? But what if Jade couldn’t let go of her beliefs—then what?
“At least think about it,” Toby said.
“Okay, I will.”
Chapter 26
Thursday night dinner at Jade’s mother’s house was a monthly occurrence. One that Jade didn’t feel up to, but she knew if she didn’t attend, her mum would whinge about not making an effort for the family. Although Jade wasn’t sure how her mother could complain since Jade popped over all the time. Except for the last few days. She’d avoided coming past because she hadn’t told her mum she’d been put on leave.
With no job to go to, she’d cleaned her place from top to bottom, ironed the pile of clothes that had been sitting in the laundry for months, did some grocery shopping, and briefly spent time with Ava, Nick, and baby Adriana.
Usually, Jade looked forward to her mother’s cooking and spending time with her siblings. But today, she dragged heavy legs inside the house. She attributed her lethargy to a busy day and not because Nate was leaving in the morning.