It’s nearly two hours into the show and I know it’s soon coming to an end. Which means it’s almost time for me to go.
A part of me is struggling with the decision. A big part.
Simone and I are standing off stage in the left wing with Stuart so we have clear view of the guys, but all I’m looking at is Jake.
It’s all I’ve done for the whole show. It’s impossible not to.
But he hasn’t once looked, or even glanced in my direction.
Whether that’s a deliberate thing or he’s just so caught up in the show, I’m not sure.
Stuart beside me, puts his hand to his jacket pocket, feeling for his phone. He pulls it out, glances at the screen and taking the call, puts his finger in his ear and disappears off stage.
With Stuart gone, I move closer to Simone, linking my arm through hers, to continue watching the show.
I glance at her face. She’s all bright eyed watching Denny on stage.
I feel a pang of pure envy. I wish Jake and I were still like they are.
A minute later I feel a hand tap me on the shoulder. I turn and see it’s Stuart. He jerks his head to the side, signalling for me to follow him.
I slip my arm from Simone’s and follow him off stage and down the steps.
Stuart leads me down a corridor where it’s quiet. He does a quick look around making sure we’re alone. “I just got a call advising me that the girl, Kaitlyn, will be officially withdrawing her story about Jake.”
“What?!” I’m surprised. No scrap that, I’m stunned.
“She’s admitting she lied about sleeping with Jake.”
“And why would she all of a sudden do that?” I give him a suspicious look.
Stuart shrugs.
My spidey sense kicks in. “Stuart, do you have something to do with this?”
He purses his lips. I can see considering in his eyes, which immediately tells me he did.
“Maybe,” he utters.
I smile at him, shaking my head, relief filling me. Even though I figured Jake was telling the truth, to hear it from Stuart, well from the horse’s mouth, is such a weight off my mind knowing Jake has been telling the truth all along.
“How did you get her to fess up?” I question him.
He grins. “Let’s just say I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”
“Stuart…?” I press.
Letting out a breath, he says, “I went to see Kaitlyn at her home. Jake doesn’t know this, and don’t you tell him either.”
“And she agreed to see you?”
“Well, I turned up on her doorstep under the guise of been a reporter. Once I was in her house I told her who I really was, and there wasn’t much she could do about it then. She wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t going anywhere until she listened to what I had to say. She needed to hear what this was doing to Jake … to both of you.”
My chest starts to feel tight at the memory of this last week. Of Jake being in pain.
“And she listened?”
“Yes. She might be money hungry, Tru, but she’s not a bad person. And that’s what it was all about – money. She’s desperate for cash. The reason … well, she has asked me to keep private, and I can’t break that promise. But that night with Jake, she saw an opportunity and she took it. Knowing what I do, I figure I’d have done the same. So I offered her what she needs in return for her to tell the truth. The deal was that she’d retract her story, publically clearing Jake of any wrong doing. She said she needed time to think it over. I gave her my number and told her if she decided to do the right thing then to call me. That was her on the phone just then. She’s going to issue a statement tomorrow telling the truth.”
“That’s brave of her knowing the shit she’s going to get from the public.”
“It’s surprising what people will do for their children.” I can tell the instant he says it, he knew he shouldn’t have.
My eyebrows go up. “She has a kid? She only looked like a kid herself.”
He sighs in on himself. “She’s twenty. And an old twenty at that. Her kid is sick, really sick. The dad’s not around. She has no family, and she needs money to pay the hospital bills.” He glances around. “I’m telling you this because I know I can trust you.”
I touch his arm. “You can.”
And then it’s suddenly very hard to hate her when I know she was only doing this for her sick kid.
“Is there anything I can do to help her?”
He looks at me surprised. “She’s made your life hell this last week, and you’re asking if you can help her? You will never cease to amaze me, chica.”
I shrug. “My mum and dad raised me to care for others in need, no matter the cost.”
“That’s some good folks you have there. And thinking on that, there’s someone out there who could do with a touch of your caring nature right now.” He tilts his head in the direction of the hidden stage.
“I know,” I sigh.
I want to help Jake, I really do. I want him to feel better, but I can’t help him the way he wants. I can’t live this lifestyle with him.