A Spotlight Summer (Jack Gilinsky)

Chapter Forty-Six

Jack POV

"You disappeared last night," Johnson spoke, causing the conversation at breakfast to cease. I eyed my best friend from across his kitchen table and mentally cursed him out. I really didn't feel like discussing my personal life over Cocoa Pebbles with all of our closest friends listening in. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to drift my gaze toward Kelsey, who sat inches across from me next to Fiona. I could only imagine how red her face was turning.

Hopefully no one noticed.

Even though Johnson meant for his question to be innocent, the last thing I needed was for everyone to begin to connect the dots about my disappearance last night. I didn't want to put Kelsey on blast like that; she shouldn't have to sit there and become the subject of quizzical glances all while falling prey to the thousands of questions from the crazy blonde next to her.

I cleared my throat and quickly came up with a lie. "I headed home early. I wasn't feeling too good." Johnson drew his eyebrows together and I could tell he didn't believe me. I added, "I figured Fi would rather me leave than throw up in the middle of the dance floor."

Fiona raised her glass of apple juice and preached, "Amen."

The table erupted into laughter and went back to enjoying the breakfast Fiona organized for all of us before everyone had to return back to their homes. Now that the company was distracted, I stole a glance at Kelsey and frowned at her expression. She sat with her head bowed toward her plate of French toast and didn't raise her eyes even though I knew she could feel my gaze on her. She fidgeted with her fork, took her lip between her teeth, and finally abruptly rose from her seat and headed further into Johnson and Fiona's house.

I didn't know what was wrong, but I immediately stood up and followed her. I barely even worried that our secret would now most definitely be blown; I needed to make sure she was alright.

Endless scenarios ran through my head of what could be wrong with her, but I knew by now that I would have to just ask her point blank to tell me what was going on. I've learned that if you don't chase Kelsey Jennings, she will retreat back behind the walls she loves to hide behind and she will undoubtedly leave, despite what her heart wants.

I've been screwed by that over-analyzing brain of hers before and no fucking way was I gonna let her delve back into her ways of the past, not after our night together.

I caught up to her just as she wandered into the bathroom. When she saw my form, she rushed to slam the door but I caught it with my outstretched hand.

Kelsey rolled her eyes and complained, "You need to stop following me into bathrooms."

"What's wrong?" I asked, ignoring her sarcastic comment.

"Seriously. It's creepy. First at the rehearsal dinner and now—," I didn't give Kelsey time to finish another one of her rants because I closed the door behind us and eliminated the distance separating us. When I placed my hands on both of her arms, her mouth snapped shut and she couldn't help but cave beneath my touch.

Swallowing my cocky smile at how her body reacted to my touch, I asked again, "What happened?"

As if I could read her mind, I noticed how she looked ready to tell me and then at the last second she changed her mind. Refusing to allow her to run away, I tightened my grip on her skin and practically begged, "Don't do that."

"Do what?" Kelsey stalled.

My eyes searched her face and I hastily cupped her cheek and brushed away her stray hairs with my thumb. "Don't... go into self-destruct mode. I thought we were passed that."

"You are invading my personal space," Kelsey weakly replied. Frustration rippled through me and I stepped away from her. Doing my best to ignore the hollow feeling now that we were separated, I clenched my jaw and ran my fingers through my hair.

I raised my arms and then slapped then down at my sides. "What changed? Between last night and now, what changed?"

Kelsey searched for any means of escape before conceding defeat. "Are you ashamed of me?"

I swear swallowing poison would have hurt less than her whispered words. Is she crazy?

I spoke my thoughts. "Are you crazy?" Kelsey violently shook her head and I continued, "Where is this coming from?"

I dated Kelsey in the prime of my career and never once did she mutter or showcase any thoughts that she was feeling insecure. Kelsey has always been the strong one between the two of us—even when we broke up, she was never vulnerable or weak; she was determined and resolute.

If I was confused before, I was absolutely baffled now. I wasn't famous anymore. I wasn't playing shows anymore. I didn't have fans chasing me anymore. Even when I did, I was never ashamed to call Kelsey my girlfriend. I would always choose her over the fame. Hell, I did choose her over the fame, just too late. What did I do to make her question my feelings for her? After last night, there should be absolutely no questions about my feelings for her.

Kelsey stuck her thumb out toward the door as she spoke. "You lied at breakfast just now," she started. Realization dawned on me as she kept speaking, "Do you not want them to know? Was it not...real to you? Am I just some secret?"

This girl is going to put me in the hospital. Seeing this side of her, it made my chest want to burst. God, I love her. I hurried my statements, wanting to end her doubts as quickly as possible. "Kels, you're it for me. I'm done with the bachelor life and the secrets and all of that shit." I took a step toward her. "You've got me."

Kelsey played with the tips of her hair, still not wanting to look at me.

She needs more, my brain demanded. "I will walk out there right now, in front of all the people we love, and tell them you're my girl. I'll call my mom, I'll FaceTime my sisters, I'll post a picture on Instagram, I'll—," I didn't get to finish because Kelsey was now grabbing my face and crashing her lips to mine.

Just as I was ready to deepen the kiss, Kelsey pulled away and gently placed her open palms on my chest. "I was just making sure. I can't lose you again," she stared at my chest.

I tilted her chin up to force her brown eyes to see that I meant what I said. "I'm not going anywhere."

I kissed her temple as she wrapped her arms around my waist. We stood motionless for god knows how long, neither of us wanting to spoil the moment.

"You two better not be having sex in our bathroom!" Johnson's voice shouted from behind the closed door.

Kelsey burst with laughter when Fiona called in a few seconds later. "I disagree. I HIGHLY encourage you two to have sex in our bathroom!"

Kelsey reached for the doorknob and revealed the crowd who had been anxiously awaiting our emergence from the enclosed room.

They all stood staring at us expectantly, and after making them sweat it out for a minute because they were eavesdropping busybodies, I placed my hand on Kelsey's lower back and exclaimed, "Jack and Kelsey are back!"

Screams filled the open air and somehow, we got engulfed into a huge group hug. The girls were bouncing, the guys were slapping me on the back and after Fiona titled her head toward Kelsey and motioned for me to kiss her, I couldn't contain my grin as I grabbed the back of her head, meshed my fingers in her hair, and kissed her with everything I had.

"Fuck, this is better than our wedding!" Fiona squealed.

Johnson whipped his head to his new wife and said, "What?!"

Fiona winked at him as she took out her phone and snapped pictures of this momentous occasion.

Kelsey practically had me down on my knees when she whispered against my lips, "It's about time."

A/N: HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I hope everyone is having a great time off from school and work and living it up with their families/friends, and of course, eating way too much food. I hope this chapter adds to your list of gifts received and I'm wishing everyone a happy new year! Make sure to vote and comment on this chapter! #JELSEYISBACK