You're the One - Part 2 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 209: One Drink

I held my stare on the doorway until I couldn't hear Sam's footsteps anymore.
"He wasn't doing anything." I said softly. I felt Jake's grip get tighter around my feet.
"I never said that he was." He said simply.

I knew that tone.

"Jake, he just wants to help." He shook his head, peeking up at me.
"You're defending him again." I bit down on my lip, feeling my cheeks burn.
"Y-yeah.. I am." I finally said. "We can't just shut him out completely."

"Wanting my kids to be our business is not shutting him out, Jess." I brought my eyes back down to his hands.
"I don't want to fight with you."
"I didn't know we were fighting." I felt my heart beating faster.
"We're.. we're not." I sighed, pulling my feet away. He looked back up at me confused.

"Jess, you heard what he said before.. and you really think he's just trying to help?" He asked. I nodded, getting up from the couch.
"I do." I said, grabbing my camera bag. He sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, I guess we are fighting." He silently followed me out of the dressing room as we made our way backstage and through the wings.

I subtly reached over, gently brushing my hand against his. Even at times like this, especially at times like this, something as simple as his gentle touch made it better. I felt my heart jump as he eventually slid his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers as we got to his side of the stage.

"Jess.. after that night in the van, I really just.. don't want him alone with you, okay? If he wants to help.. fine. But.. only if someone else is there too. Like me." I nodded, now feeling tears come to my eyes.
"W-why are you crying?" He asked, moving in closer, gently running his fingers through my hair. I shrugged, wiping my eyes.
"I don't know." I whined. "It just happens now. It's awful." He giggled to himself, pulling me into a tight hug. I couldn't help but smile, hugging him back, hiding my face in his chest.

"I don't want to fight with you." I mumbled. He shook his head, one hand moving into my hair.
"Don't worry. We're not fighting." He sighed.
"I.. I understand what you're saying." I nodded, peeking back up at him. "But.. you can't shut him out. You know how he gets. You have to show him that you trust him, or else he'll just.. have another breakdown, or go on another bender or-" He gently held my face in his hands as he tilted my head up to meet his eyes again, staring back at me, his clenched jaw finally relaxing.

"Okay. Fine." He sighed. "But you know you can't just start crying all the time to get whatever you want, right?" He laughed. I bit down on my lip, containing my smile.
"Yes, I can." I giggled. "Cause I'm the one that's having two babies at once. So, sometimes.. I get what I want." He stared back at me with that same dazed look in his eyes, pulling me into a gentle kiss.
"Okay." He sighed, leaning his forehead against mine. I moved my hands up, wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as I heard the crowd start to get louder.

"We can talk about it more later." I said. He nodded, pulling me into another kiss.
"And.. to be honest, if you ever need anyone else when I'm not around.. I would rather it be Josh." He said softly. I nodded.
"Okay."

Later That Night

"You were amazing." I yelled, wrapping my arms around him. He excitedly lifted me up into his arms, spinning me around.
"Mmm.." I managed, clinging on tighter, trying my best to control the nausea. He stopped, gently placing me down.
"Oh, I'm sorry.. the spinning, I forgot." He said, flashing me a sympathetic smile. I shook my head.
"It's okay. I.. I don't want you to stop doing it."
"And I don't want you to get sick on me." He laughed, gently kissing my cheek, sliding his hand back into mine as he guided me backstage.

Before we got back to the dressing room, I could see Sam down the hall, beer in hand, talking to Nick. I couldn't even remember the last time him and I spoke. But I knew if Nick was here, then Travis had to be close by. I gripped Jake's hand tighter, pulling him into the room, shutting the door behind us.

"You okay?" He giggled. I nodded.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." I said, forcing a smile. But he could tell.
"Hey.. why don't we go out tonight?" He asked. I felt my heart beat faster.
"Just.. the two of us?" I asked, my smile growing. He nodded, smirking back at me.
"Like a date?" I laughed. He flashed me a wide grin, his cheeks burning red.
"I hate that you act like that's such a foreign concept for us." He laughed. "But yes, a date."
"And then later.."
"And then later.. some alone time."

He grabbed his bag, leading us back out into the hallway where we were met with Josh, also with a beer in hand.
"Hey, we're all gonna go out tonight, you guys wanna come?" He asked cheerfully. I felt my cheeks burn as I peeked up at Jake. I never wanted him to miss out on going out and having fun just because of me, even before.. this. He looked back down, giving me a questioning look, before turning back to Josh.

"Jess and I were actually gonna-"
"No, it's okay. We.. we can go out with everyone if you want."
"Oh, I.. you don't want.. just us-"
"I don't want you to miss out-" He shook his head.
"I can get drunk with them any day of the week." He laughed. I shrugged, knowing that wasn't true anymore. He was with me most days, and sometimes I felt guilty with how often I pulled him away from everyone else.

"We.. can have our night.. another night." I said. He bit down on his lip, holding his stare on me for a moment before turning back to Josh.
"Y-yeah. Okay, sure. Just the five of us?" Josh hesitated.
"Well, Sam's been talking to Nick and-"
"Who's Nick?" Jake asked. My stomach dropped.
"He's in the band with Travis." I felt Jake's grip get tighter, his jaw clenching.
"If they're going then we're not-"
"Well, he didn't say anything about Travis." Josh said softly, peeking back over at me. I felt my heart beating faster.

"Jake, it's okay. We can go."
"I don't want him around you."
"If we're all out, who's to say we'll even see him." I said, gently rubbing his hand. He peeked back at Josh before turning to me again, pulling me to the side.

"We don't have to go out if you really don't want to. I.. I was excited about the idea of just a date night with you. Really." I couldn't help but smile, reaching up, gently touching his cheek.
"Jake, you've been amazing but.. you're on tour, and.. you deserve to act like it. I don't want to keep you from this, and I knew.. this wasn't something I was going to be able to do when we.. decided this." I said softly, gently resting my hands on my stomach. "If you want to go out, then we can go out. Or.. if just you-" He shook his head.

"I'm not gonna leave you alone while we all go out."
"Honestly, it would probably be for the best." I laughed. "I've been nauseous all day anyway."
"If you don't feel good then I should stay back and-"
"Jake.." I laughed. "I'm okay. I don't want to be the one to take this away from you."

"Jess.. do you realize how happy you make me?" He asked. My heart jumped, my whole body getting hot. A smile escaped my lips, unsure of how to respond.
"I don't need that to be happy. I would trade a thousand nights of getting trashed in bars I'll never walk into again just for one night with you. I just.. that's not fun for me anymore. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a dad now and.. dads shouldn't be doing that anymore."

I reached up, pulling him into a passionate kiss.
"I love you so much." I sighed. "We can just.. go out for a little, you can have one drink and then we can come back and be the boring parents again." I laughed. He nodded, pulling me back into another quick kiss.

"Okay. One drink."