You're the One - Part 1 || Greta Van Fleet

Chapter 58: Simple

The idea of having Sam for a brother.. I couldn't help but smile. I had loved their family. They were everything I imagined a family should be; they were everything I wanted growing up.

"Whether you can help me with them or not.." I laughed, gently touching his cheek. "I do appreciate having you to talk to. It does get lonely sometimes." He smiled back, nodding.
"Of course." He sighed.

"What's going on?" I heard from behind me. I quickly turned around to see Jake, standing there with his hands shoved in his pockets, staring back at us wide-eyed. I pulled my hand away, turning to him.

"Jake." I said, feeling my cheeks burn. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask him the same thing." He said, looking over at Sam. My stomach dropped.
"He was already out here when I came out.." I said. "We were just talking-"
"Yeah, that seems to happen a lot, huh." He said simply.
"W-what do you mean?" I asked. He bit down on his lip, shaking his head.

"You said you wanted to be alone.. but.. you just wanted to get away from me." He said softly. My heart sunk.
"Jake, no that's not-"
"Do I have to worry about Sam now too?" He asked.
"Jake no. Of course not. We're.. we're just friends. He was just-"
"Yeah, it sure looked friendly." He snapped.

"We were just talking." Sam said, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. He took a big drag, flicking it off to the side.
"Yeah, everyone seems to 'just be talking' these days." Jake sighed, looking away.

"Jake, no it's.. it's not like that." I said softly, going over to him. I reached over, taking his hand, pulling him closer. He stared down at me, skeptical.
"Come on." I said, pulling him away down the sidewalk. I felt him stop.
"Well, it sure looks like that." He said, looking back at Sam. Sam shook his head, taking another drag.

"Jake, you really think I'd get involved in this mess?" Sam said, he looked over at me. "No offense." I shook my head, holding on tighter.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time." Jake muttered.

"Come on. Let's just go back inside. We'll talk in the room." I said, pulling him back towards the hotel. He held his glare on Sam for a moment, and then finally gave in, following me back through the main lobby. 

He stayed silent the entire walk back to the room. When we got back inside, I shut the door, leaning back against it as he went over and sat down on the bed. He held his stare on me.
"Nothing was happening with Sam." I finally said. His cheeks burned.
"Yeah, you've said that before.." He mumbled. My heart started beating faster.

"I'm sorry." He bit his lip, looking back up at me.
"Why am I not enough?" He said softly. My heart sunk.

"Jake, you are enough. I was just.. Josh.. he took me by surprise and I-"
"Are you really surprised?" He said. "He is just waiting for me to fuck up, just waiting for the perfect time to swoop in. Do you know how much pressure that is, Jess? Knowing the second something goes wrong, Josh is just.. there and ready to make it all better."
"I.. I didn't ask him to-"
"You don't have to ask him." He snapped. "That's the problem. All he needs is a few minutes alone with you and suddenly.. you question everything. Why do you let him get in your head? Suddenly you're asking me about getting married and having kids and.." He stopped, looking away. 

I made my way over to the bed, sitting down close next to him.
"I hate seeing you like this." I said quietly. "I hate that I'm the reason why you feel like this all the time." His face dropped.
"Why can't we just be together?" He sighed, staring back at me. "Why does it have to be so complicated? The way it should be so simple.." I could feel my heart beating faster the longer he stared.

"It could be simple." I said, reaching up, gently holding his face in my hands. He stared back at me, wide-eyed. "You know, I really did love the idea of having a drawer at your place. And then things.. started to feel like they were moving so fast again, but maybe.. that's just what we do." I giggled. I could see a small smile spread across his lips as he stared back at me. My cheeks burned.

"You know.. Sam told me that.. you guys are going on another tour. Right after this one." I said. He bit down on his lip, holding his stare on me.
"We are." He sighed. "I didn't know what that would mean for us so.. I didn't want to bring it up until.. I knew how you felt.. about us."
"Well, he was saying how.. he'd talk to management about letting me stay on." His eyes got wide.
"So you'd.. you'd stay?" He said softly, his smile growing.
"I mean, if you all wanted me.." I mumbled. He giggled, reaching up, holding my face in his hands.

"Of course I'd want you to." He said, leaning in closer.
"And.. I don't want to risk you falling for the next girl you guys hire." I laughed, tangling my fingers in his hair. He smirked at me, leaning in, gently kissing me on the lips.
"Never." He sighed. I couldn't help but smile, pulling him into another kiss. He kissed me back harder, his hand moving to my neck, pulling me closer.

"There's.. there's really nothing going on with you and Sam, right?" He asked, leaning his forehead against mine. I laughed, shaking my head.
"Absolutely not." I said, kissing him again. I felt him smile.
"So then, w-what do you guys talk about?" He asked.
"We've gotta work on your jealousy, Jake." I said, smirking back at him. His cheeks burned as he scrunched up his face.
"Jess.." He said, staring back at me. I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"We talk about you, okay?" I said quietly, feeling my cheeks burn. His smile grew.

"Okay." He said, pulling me back into another passionate kiss. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. He reached up, sliding off his jacket from over my shoulders, tossing it onto the floor. I moved closer, climbing onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. I felt him smile as his hands moved up my chest, gently tracing along my neck.

"What are you doing?" I sighed, staring back at him. He smirked, reaching under the collar of my shirt, pulling his necklace out from underneath.

"Just making sure."