Chapter Eight

Jude left the hotel and checked his watch. September twenty-sixth. When he stepped into the sunshine, he dragged a long breath into his lungs and held it. The warmth from the sun and losing the stress from the tour freed him. The weight on his shoulders was gone. All their tour stops had sold out and they’d ended their run on a high note. He wanted to record more music and hoped he’d have another blockbuster song, but even if that never happened, he had memories of the best summer ever.

He’d packed up his things in his hotel room and managed to get to the lobby without being accosted by fans. Most of Blake’s fans didn’t mind that Blake had come out, and almost all of them embraced him as Blake’s boyfriend. The few who didn’t like him being with Blake were in the minority. All in all, he and Blake had been accepted by the fans.

Not bad. When he’d been with Blake the first time around, the rumors had nearly killed his career and his record sales had dipped. Part of him wondered if Blake simply coming out had been enough for the fans, or if they wanted him to be happy and being with Jude made him that way. Jude wasn’t sure and opted not to question his good fortune. He held on to the handle of his suitcase and waited for the car to pick him up. The last he’d heard, a taxi or other vehicle would arrive and he’d be taken to the airport to go home.

He snorted.

Home? He lived in hotel rooms and camped out in Rachel’s guest house. He hadn’t lived in a proper house or even an apartment in years, and wasn’t sure where he was going to go.

His phone buzzed and he checked the device. There was a text from Rachel. He swiped to retrieve the message.

 

A car is meeting you at the hotel in about five minutes. You’re in for a super-duper surprise. Enjoy!

 

He laughed. Super-duper surprise? Only Rachel would call whatever was in store for him such a thing. What did he have to lose, though? He liked some surprises—not many, but some. Blake hadn’t sent an itinerary for the evening or clued him in to what they’d be doing. For all he knew, Rachel had the details.

A black sedan stopped in front of the building. The car door opened and Blake emerged. He wore some of his makeup and the muted look enhanced his natural beauty.

“Hi.” Jude wheeled his suitcase up to the car. “Are you my surprise?”

“I sure am.” Blake kissed him. “Let me help you with that.” He took the case from Jude and placed it in the trunk.

“What’s the schedule for the evening?” Jude climbed into the car and sat beside Blake on the backseat. “Anything exciting?”

“I hope so.” Blake knocked on the window, signaling to the driver to go. “We had a good run this summer, didn’t we?”

“Sure did. I enjoyed the tour. It was long enough that we made plenty of stops, but short enough that we didn’t get burned out.” Jude held Blake’s hand. “Are you thinking it’s time to plan another tour?” He hoped not. He wasn’t ready to go out on the road again.

“No. We didn’t write a winter song.” Blake laughed and leaned into him. “I’m not ready for another tour. I need a break.”

“So do I.” He’d like to work on some new music and maybe find a permanent home.

“Since we need a breather, I worked one out,” Blake said.

“You did?”

“I talked to Bob. He’s giving us free rein in the studio. Said he had a feeling we’d want to use it,” Blake said. “And…since he’s allowing us to use the studio on the cheap, we should have a home base.”

“I suppose we should.” He hadn’t considered that they’d live together. Then again, that was what they’d done for the last three months. The RV had become a home away from home and his safe harbor. His heart hammered. He and Blake had toyed with the idea of getting a house together, but none of the plans were concrete. “What are you thinking?”

Blake dipped his head. “I talked to Bob about a spot to settle down.” He grinned and pointed out of the window. “This is what we came up with. I hope you like it, because I’ve purchased it.”

“You bought it?” He stared out through the window. The house, a two-story stone-covered structure with a small porch and manicured lawn, sat back from the road. A gigantic fence seemed to ring the property.

“It butts up to the waterfront,” Blake said. “Which means we get our own private summer place all year long. We’ve got a beach!”

Jude said nothing as he and Blake rode up to the rear of the home. A true home. He’d lived in apartments and on the street when he was a kid. What would it be like to have an actual dresser, not having to live out of suitcases? He had no idea, but it might be nice to put down some roots. Why did knowing Blake had already bought the house send a ripple of fear through him?

The white stone glittered in the sunshine. The leaves on the hedgerow fluttered in the breeze. Jude held on to Blake’s hand a little tighter. The house was so big. Would it be too massive for them? “You could afford this?”

“I can and could.” Blake let go long enough to drape his arm around Jude. “We did well with that tour and I saved up some cash from the last two dreck movies I made. I didn’t let Kel have access to my money, which prevented him from stealing most of it. Had I done what he wanted and made him executor, then I’d be screwed and broke.”

The car stopped and Jude hesitated before leaving the vehicle with Blake. “It’s nice,” Jude said. “Big…and nice.” What did Blake want him to say? The weight of the moment overwhelmed him.

“You don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that.” He paused. “I’m a tad bowled over. Blake, I never had anywhere I could call mine and never lived in the same place for more than a year when I was a kid.” The worry about putting down roots came back. He wanted to do this with Blake, but he couldn’t shake the concern that he’d be doing the wrong thing.

“You’re scared, and that’s okay.” Blake stood beside him. “Look around the property with me and give it a chance. Please?”

“Sure.” He wasn’t ruling out living there, but going from hotel rooms to a house was a big change. He ventured across the lawn to the back patio area. He’d only seen homes with such landscaping in magazines. “It’s beautiful.”

“There are six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a music room, huge kitchen, a pool and the beach. We’ve got a vacation home all year round.” Blake stopped. “I love you, Jude. I want to marry you and never stop this summer we’ve created. I don’t want to let you or what we’ve got get away.”

He stared at his boyfriend. “Who said it would? I love you, too.” Jude shook his head as a thought occurred to him. He’d nudged and pushed Blake so many times. Now it was his turn to put up or shut up. “I told you to get rid of the fear when you were worried about coming out, and I can’t seem to shake my concerns.”

“You can’t?”

The longer he looked into Blake’s eyes and the more he thought about the chance before him, the more Jude knew what he wanted from life. “Until now. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted—love, stability and now a home. I didn’t think I could have any of those things.”

“Because of your parents?” Blake tipped his head.

“Yes.” Shame washed over him. He hated talking about his past and only Blake knew most of his history. “They never could afford to stay in the same place twice. It feels easy to keep moving and fall into their traps, even if I can afford to put down roots. There are so many times I feel like I’m right back to when I was eight and my father was drunk. It’s like I’m there with my mother when she’s hoarding pennies, trying to make the rent before Dad drank it away. The memories of his verbal and physical abuse haunt me, and having a home, in some ways, feels like I’m welcoming trouble.”

Blake directed Jude to the middle of the back yard. The view stole Jude’s breath. The yard stretched right down to the beach. There were no palm trees, but lots of oak trees and shade. The space would be perfect to watch sunrises and sunsets. It’d be good for picnics and lazy afternoon swims, too. He could see himself living here and he hadn’t even ventured into the actual house.

Still, Jude rubbed his arms, despite the heat. “Sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Blake curled his fingers under Jude’s chin, forcing him to look him in the eye. “I knew this would be tough for you and I had the feeling you’d freak out. I can’t imagine growing up in the circumstances you did, but I can guarantee I won’t abuse you—physically or emotionally. I want to protect you. This house and the way I feel about you should prove that.”

When Jude looked into Blake’s eyes, he knew the truth. He could trust this man. “Okay.”

Blake tipped his head and slid one arm around Jude. “Just okay?” He half-smiled. “I love you, Jude.”

“I love you, too.” His fears melted and he nodded. “This is our new beginning.”

“It is.” Blake rubbed Jude’s shoulder, then chuckled. “I have a confession to make.” He dropped to one knee. “I said I love you, and I do, Jude Allen Sanders. When we wrote Summer Song, I knew you were the one for me. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me? Will you make my life complete and be my husband? I need you more than my next breath.”

Jude sank to his knees in front of Blake. “Of course I’ll marry you. We didn’t fumble through this summer to split now. I can’t wait to be your husband.”

“Yes.” Blake produced a ring from his pocket. “I think I was supposed to give this to you before I proposed. Sorry.” He slid the ring onto Jude’s finger. “My love.”

“I love you, too.” He marveled at the ring—simple and elegant. “It’s beautiful.”

“Bob helped me pick it out. He might have given me a lot of help with the house, getting the use of the studio, the ring…sorting myself out…” Blake tugged a piece of paper from his pocket. “He also gave me this note and said I wasn’t supposed to open it until you said yes.” He stood and helped Jude to his feet. “I guess we should read it.”

Jude unfolded the piece of paper. Blake crowded in beside him as he read the note.

 

Dear boys,

You’re both just about the hardest-headed people I know. When I set up the tour, I knew it would be ridiculously well-received. I also knew it would force you to sort out your differences. All it was going to take was a little push for you to realize what I already knew—you belong together. Now that you’re engaged, I’m proud to say I made it happen. It took everyone—Rachel, Darnell, the team, the band and the rest of the people who love you to make this all work out. Congratulations. We’d all better be invited to the wedding and I’d better see you at my studio to record. You’re hard-headed, but you’re good men and I’m honored to work with you. Now get married, have a life together and be happy. You deserve it.

Love you both,

Bob

PS: I guess a summer was all it took! Congrats on a great tour and here’s to your future.

 

Jude snorted. He handed the note to Blake. “He’s a pistol.”

“He knew all along.” Blake laughed. “We did need a shove in the right direction to get this—and us—sorted out.”

“We did. All it took was a friend who wouldn’t quit, a tour and a song we’ll never forget or be allowed to ignore.” Jude embraced him. “So, it looks like I’m living here with you.”

“It looks like it.” Blake laughed again and held Jude tight. “I want to spend every summer and the rest of my life with you. You’ve made my summer.”

“Mine too.” Jude sighed and watched the water move across the lake. If he’d been asked back in May if his life would turn out like this, he’d have laughed. He’d have said they weren’t meant to be, but he’d been wrong. He had the man of his dreams and the best life ever. Now he and Blake had the time to enjoy their second chance, and their summer song would never have to end.