“So, tell me about your band,” I say, half out of interest, half out of a desire to let him convince me to take a chance on him.
“We’ve been together for ten years. I put a call out for band members when I was eighteen, and they were the dickheads who answered it. It took us about five years to really get our name out there and then we cracked the US market. Haven’t looked back.”
“I’m gathering you’re a pretty big international band, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How the hell can you get away with the stuff you do then?”
Confusion flickers in his eyes. “What stuff?”
I throw my arms out to the side. “This kind of stuff. We’ve been out a few times, and no one’s bothered you. If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t think you were a famous rocker.”
“Sweetheart, there’s security outside. I’ve always got them with me. You just don’t see them. They not only keep me safe, they keep the fans away,” he explains, making perfect sense. I should have realised he’d have security.
Our food arrives and we continue to trade stories about our lives. Jett continues to surprise me by revealing a man I’m impressed with.
“So, I know your parents are still together but do you have any brothers or sisters?” he asks.
“I’ve got an older brother, Stuart. We’re pretty close, but he lives overseas for work so I don’t see him very often.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s an actor and is trying to break into movies in the States. He’s been there for four years with no luck yet, but he’s determined so I hope that pays off soon. How about you? Any siblings?”
He nods. “Yeah, a younger sister, Claudia. She’s still living at home with Mum and Dad while she finishes studying to be a nurse. I try to keep an eye on her because she has this tendency to get mixed up with the wrong guys.”
“Ah, that must be hard for you to watch as the older brother.”
“Like you wouldn’t fucking believe,” he mutters. It’s clear to me he loves his family very much, and I love that about him.
We finish our mains, and as we continue to chat over dessert, I stop him to confirm something he just told me. “Wait, you sponsor ten children in Indonesia?”
“Yeah,” he says like it’s the most natural thing to do in life.
“That’s awesome.”
“We met them a couple of years ago.”
“Who is ‘we’?”
“Me and the boys. They’ve sponsored kids over there, too. But a couple of years ago we went over and helped build houses. I’ve gotta say, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.” His enthusiasm is infectious. Hell, if they hired Jett to promote those programs, they’d probably get a huge increase in people signing up to help.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“What?” I’ve totally confused him.
“You make it bloody hard for a woman to not want to date you,” I gripe.
He bursts out laughing. “Presley, has anyone ever told you how fucking sexy you are when you grumble like that?”
“No. Most men hate it.”
“Well, I like it, so don’t change, okay?”
Happiness flows through me at his words, and I’m sure I take the last step towards the edge of allowing Jett in. And by the time we finish our meal, I’m completely captivated by him and under his spell. I know I’ll probably give him whatever he wants now.
***
The next morning, I say goodbye to Jett at my front door and then head back inside. He stayed over last night and gave me another reason why I should date him. The man has mad skills in the bedroom, and I’m looking forward to seeing him again.
I shower and get ready for the day. I’ve got a full day ahead of me, editing more photos from the Crave concert shoot. As I sit down to get started, there’s a knock at my front door. A minute later, my happy bubble bursts when I find my husband standing on the other side of the door.
“Presley,” he says while taking a step inside.
I put my arm up to block him, and he comes to a halt, clearly stunned I would deny him access.
“No, Lennon, you don’t get to come inside. What do you want?”
“I told you I was coming home,” he says as if that answers my question.
“This isn’t your home. Not anymore.”
“My name is still on the deed.”
“Oh my god! That means jack shit, asshole. You walked out, so it’s not your home.”
“I made a mistake, Presley.”
“Yeah, you did, but it corrected the mistake I made when I married you, so let’s call it even.”
“I want to come home, baby.” His voice has that soft tone he uses when he wants something from me, but it won’t work anymore. A year ago, I would have given him anything he wanted when he spoke to me this way. I’ve since learnt my lesson.
“No. And don’t call me that anymore.”
His face tells me he wasn’t expecting this. He must have expected me to roll over and give him whatever he wanted, just like everyone else in his life does. “I’ll give you the baby you always wanted.” He promises me the one thing that came between us the most when we were together.
Anger mixes with pain, and I’m done. “Fuck you, Lennon. You can’t worm your way back into my life with shit like that. Yeah, I wanted a baby with you, but you never wanted that, so don’t come here now and make bullshit promises to get what you want in return. I don’t want a baby with you anymore.” I spit my words at him and then move to close the door in his face.