Chapter Thirty-Seven
Nate
I needed to stop doing this. I bet Abby never sat in bed staring at me sleeping when she got up before I did. A little while ago, it had made me feel like a creep, but now it almost felt necessary.
I loved her. I couldn't believe I had her in my life. I couldn't believe that the day was coming when I wouldn't anymore.
I still had to figure out what to do. The call hadn't been made yet, so technically, it wasn't official that anything was changing. God, I already hated myself for leaving her, and I hadn't done it yet. I didn't fucking want to. It was as simple as that. I was healthy, happy, and in love. What the fuck did I still need?
I had loved music since I was a kid. I had put everything I had into Remus, writing my best songs, giving up years of my life just to make sure we got somewhere. But then we did, and what the fuck had it been for? Money?
Remus was supposed to make me happy. Waking up every day to make music was supposed to make me happy, and all it had done was get me on a plane here trying to escape it all. I couldn't believe it, but Keno had been right. I was still trying to plan for something I could take because it was right in front of me.
I loved this place. I loved this tiny island where nobody knew who I was, and I loved this girl who helped me beat my addiction and was more beautiful inside and out than anyone I'd ever met in my life. I lived in a million-dollar condo in downtown LA, and I'd never been happier than I was right now in a beachfront hut with Abby. I'd spend the rest of my life in this bed with her.
That was it. Why was I still looking? I had found it.
I slid out of the bed and pulled my underwear on before walking out onto the porch. Abby had a hell of a view. The morning was clear and sunny, and the beach had just a few people on it. I checked the time; LA was a couple hours ahead of here, but it was still early, sometime before nine.
Whatever. He was the one who wanted to hear from me, wasn't he? I dialed Wes Barry's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Nate, how are you?" he asked cheerfully. I smiled. I was about to ruin his day if he thought I had good news for him.
"Great. Listen. About that contract?" I said.
"Did you like what you saw?" he asked. Objectively, yeah. It was a good-looking contract. Lots of money, agency, freedom, everything I thought I wanted, which I would take if the trade wasn't so damn shitty.
"It's a pass, Wes. I can't take the deal." He was silent for a beat.
"What's wrong with the contract? We can negotiate if-"
"It's great. Really. I just don't want it."
"You sure, kid? An opportunity like this doesn't come along every day," he warned. A girl like Abby didn't either.
"I'm sure. Thanks again for the offer," I said, hanging up. The door creaked open behind me, and Abby came out to the porch. She was in a tank top and shorts – with no bra underneath, I couldn't help notice.
"Hey," I said holding my arm out. She walked into my embrace, hugging me.
"Hey. Is everything okay?" she asked looking up at me.
"It is now," I said smiling. I sat in one of the chairs and she sat on the other.
"Who was that?"
"Remember the producer who called me offering a contract last week?" I asked.
"I remember."
"I called to tell him I was turning down his offer."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. I told him I didn't want it."
"What are you going to do instead?"
"I guess I'm staying. Know anyone looking for a roommate?" I asked.
She beamed at me, crying and laughing and glowing with joy. In half a second, she was out of her seat and on top of me, and both of us were on the floor. She kissed me, pinning me between her and the floor of the porch. I laughed, stroking her hair. Best decision I had ever made.
"Are you sure?" she asked, sitting up on my lap.
"I'm positive."
"What about your life in LA?"
"You're the most important thing in my life, Abby. Nobody there is going to miss me."
"What about your dad?" she asked. He didn't live in LA, but she had a point. I needed to tell him. I asked her to grab my phone off the table and called him, putting him on speaker.
"Hello?" he asked, picking up.
"Dad? It's me," I said, hugging Abby close.
"How are you, son? What's going on?"
"I wanted to tell you something. I got an offer to make music in LA solo from this guy, Wes Barry," I told him.
"That's great news. Did you want a lawyer to look at the contract?"
"No need. I turned it down."
"You did? Why? I thought that was what you wanted." he said. I looked at Abby.
"It was, but things changed. I'm not coming back to LA. I'm staying on Lanai."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm finally happy here, Dad. LA was poison. I don't want to go back. There's nothing keeping me there."
"I'm going to support your decision, son. Your health should be your first priority. Are you happy there?"
"I am. I actually have something else to tell you. I met someone."
"You did? On the island?" he asked.
"Yeah. We've been seeing each other this summer. She helped me a lot with my addiction. She's right here; do you want to talk to her?" I asked, looking at Abby. She was biting her lip nervously. I squeezed her leg reassuringly.
"Sure, put her on."
"G-good morning, Mr. Stone," Abby said timidly. "I'm Abby. Nate and I have been seeing each other."
"Good morning, Abby. I suppose I have you to thank for Nate being in such a good mood lately?" he asked. I laughed as Abby blushed.
"Lanai is Hawai'i's most enticing island, I can't take credit for that," she said, making him laugh. "You have a remarkable son, Mr. Stone."
"I think so, too. Don't tell him I said that," he joked. "You watch out for him out there. Don't let him get into trouble."
"Of course, sir. I care deeply about him," she said, smiling at me.
"He needs more people like you in his life. Is he still there?"
"I'm here, Dad," I said, holding Abby close to my chest.
"What’s your plan of action?" he asked. "Are you going to work over there? You can still record music and distribute it independently," he said.
"I have a couple options," I said, smiling at Abby.