CHAPTER 16: ZOEY
I have never felt worse in my life. It’s been four days since I returned from New York. I haven’t been to work since and I even brushed James Jackson off when he came round to talk to me. I have nightmares. All I dream about is that Crystal woman on her knees and about to give him a blowjob. I wake up at night screaming and crying.
If this is what heartbreak is like, I never want to fall in love again. The pain is unbearable. Not to mention the crying. I do that twenty-four seven.
It has gotten so bad that I blame myself for the rift. I ask myself whether I should have sucked him off when we were intimate with one another. For me, our lovemaking had it all, but maybe something had been lacking for Noah. I don’t know anything anymore. It’s all just too confusing. The only thing that is clear is the pain I feel inside. It’s like a hot poker being twisted in my gut the whole day and night long.
Kaylee and Savannah try their best, but there is nothing they can really do. Love hurts, and that sucks. One evening they tried to get me drunk. I couldn’t get a drop of liquor down my throat. Another day, they attempted to take me on this long walk. All I did was break down and cry after about ten paces. I love them to bits for their efforts, but I think the only way is for me to work this through and hopefully forget all about Noah Jackson.
I haven’t even set foot in my studio above the garage. To go to the place where Noah and I made passionate love would rip my heart out. I currently sleep in my old bedroom in the main house. I always loved my parents but there is one thing I really learned during the past days, and that is that to have a mother and father is the greatest thing in the world. I don’t know what I would do without them.
I am sitting with mom and dad in the living room. We are watching the TV. Occasionally, I cast glances at my mom. She looks like both Kaylee, and I mixed together, although now, she has streaks of grey in her blonde hair. Dad is completely bald and has a moustache we all tease him about because it is a relatively new addition to his appearance. He is tall, and a small paunch protrudes form his front, betraying his love of food and Fall Creek draft.
There’s an erratic knock on the door that never ceases. “I’ll get it,” I say.
“Are you sure you’re up for it, kiddo?” asks my dad.
I smile at him. It’s the first evening I feel a little better. “I can’t hide from the world forever, dad.”
“No, I guess not.”
I walk to the front door. Who are these idiots banging on the door non-stop? The noise is starting to piss me off. I grab the door handle, ready to give the person pounding on the door a piece of my mind.
“You gotta switch to NBC!”
“Yeah, after you got to turn on the radio.
“No, let’s do both all at once.”
“What is going on?” I ask both Savannah and Kaylee who rush past me without another word.
“Something weird about my brother. I was not able to understand a word of their screeching all the way over here. You better go have a look what they are up to,” says Hunter with his two gorgeous daughters in tow.
Before I turn, I scan my brother-in-law closely. “You know exactly what’s going on don’t you?” He grins at me. “I know he’s your brother but how can you be on his side?”
“Because what happened was all some big misunderstanding.”
“And you know this how?” I ask, getting slightly irritated that he would blatantly believe his brother above me. How dare he; Hunter wasn’t there, and I was.
“Because he told both grandpa and me about what happened.” Hunter shrugs. “My brother may have made mistakes in his life, but he never lies.”
“Yeah, Uncle Noah never lies,” says Megan, coming to Noah’s defense.
“I think he likes you, auntie Zoey,” says Felicity.
I stroke the girls’ cheeks and storm in the direction of the living room. When I get there, I hear my song playing very loudly in the background. “What’s going on?”
“Your song is on TV, and it’s playing on all the national radio networks,” yells Savannah.
“Yeah, and Noah is shamelessly promoting you on the Tonight Show on NBC,” adds Kaylee.
“But how…I don’t get it?”My eyes focus on the big screen in our house. And there he is looking as handsome as ever in a perfectly tailored suit – my Noah. Immediately, I let myself be dragged away by the cadence of his voice that is so far away and yet so near and right in my heart.
“So, this new song you are promoting – tell us something about the artist, Noah? She must be something if you as the CEO of Butterbeat Records stand behind her,” asks Jimmy Fallon, the host.
“Well, she is, Jimmy. Zoey Brooks is just about one of the most talented women I have ever come across during my career. I know her jam is not what I usually promote, but when I hear this song, I had to have it.”
I swallow deeply. “But she is not only an artist for you…is she Noah?” asks Jimmy.
“No…Zoey is the woman I love. I guess I knew that before I truly met her. This magical song told me who she was and when I finally laid eyes on her, I knew that she was the woman I would spend the rest of my life with…I just took longer than most guys to admit that to myself and her.” Noah gets to his knees. “Zoey Brooks, I am sorry for what you saw in New York. I was ending something with my flight attendant, and it got out of hand – please forgive me.”
The audience starts clapping and shouting for Zoey to forgive him.
“Wow, beware of the flight attendant,” says Jimmy Fallon, inviting even more applause and many laughs.
“That is so romantic,” says Savannah.
“You got to forgive him now…nothing really happened Zoey,” says Kaylee. “He wouldn’t lie on national television.”
“Give Zoey some space will you. The poor thing can hardly breathe,” intervenes my dad.
I smile at him warmly. Finally, I focus my attention on Hunter. “You say he never did anything with the flight attendant in his office?” I give him my fiercest no bullshit stare.
“Noah says no, and I believe him. It’s enough for grandpa and me, and so it should be enough for you. Give the guy a break,” he says.
A smile appears on my face. “One thing, Hunter. How the hell did Noah get his hands on my song?”
Hunter chuckles. “A strongly worded letter from Glyn to DJ Zac was all it took in order to get a copy.”
The entire room bursts out laughing. I feel the weight of the world slide off my shoulders. I should have known. Noah would never have done that to me. However, I learned another thing. Now that he’s my boyfriend, I must allow nothing to surprise me when it comes to a woman’s persistence in getting what she wants. Damn, that Crystal tried everything. A man has to have balls of steel to resist that.
The smile on my face grows even bigger. My Noah must really love me. I know that from now on my life will be magical.