Ink & Intrigue -jaden hossler

Chapter 38: Stopping for a Moment

Londen's POV

The days on tour had been flying by—each show a whirlwind of energy, sweat, and excitement. But today was different. It wasn’t about the next performance or the screaming fans or the spotlight on stage. Today, we had a rare break between shows, a few days off in a small town that was far away from the chaos of the big cities.

It felt like a moment to breathe.

Jaden and I had decided to take a walk together, away from the cameras and the constant buzz of the tour. The world around us felt peaceful—quiet streets, little cafes, and an air that smelled like fresh rain. It was the kind of day that made everything slow down, and for once, we could just be us without all the distractions.

We strolled down the cobblestone streets, our hands casually brushing against each other as we walked side by side. The weather was perfect, with the sun poking through the clouds, casting a soft golden light over everything.

"I’ve missed this," Jaden said, breaking the silence as he gave me a sideways glance. "Just... being able to walk around without everything moving so fast."

I nodded, leaning into him slightly. "Yeah, me too. It feels good to just have some space. No shows, no crowds, no rushing. Just us."

Jaden smiled down at me, his expression soft and genuine. "I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s next, you know? Not just the tour or the shows, but after all of this. Where we go from here."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you mean? Like, after the tour?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I’ve been thinking about how crazy this has all been. The tours, the music, the fans—it’s all amazing. But... it’s also a lot, you know? And I just keep thinking about what matters most. What comes after the lights fade and the crowds go home."

I stopped walking for a moment, taking his hand and looking up at him. I could see the depth in his eyes, the quiet thoughts running through his mind.

"Jaden, whatever happens next, we’ve got this, right? We’re in this together. This is our life now. The tours, the music, the crazy moments, and the quiet ones too. It’s all part of our journey."

He smiled, squeezing my hand gently. "Yeah, I know. But there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you."

I felt my heart skip a beat, the words hanging in the air as I waited for him to continue.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

Jaden took a deep breath, his expression serious but tender. "What do you see for us, Londy? When the tour’s over and we finally get to be... normal again. What’s the next chapter for us?"

It was the kind of question that made my heart race, but also filled me with warmth. The future—our future—was something I’d thought about often, but hearing him ask felt like a turning point.

"I see us continuing this crazy ride together. Building our future, growing our careers, and creating a home—just like we’ve been talking about. But I also see us taking the time to really enjoy the little things too. The quiet moments, the nights in with no schedules, no deadlines. I see us building a life that’s both big and small, all at once."

Jaden nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I want that too, Londy. More than anything. And I’m ready for it. Whatever comes next, I’m ready."

We stood there for a moment, simply looking at each other. The world around us felt so still, so perfect in its simplicity. It was the kind of moment where everything else faded into the background, and it was just us. Just Jaden and me.

"I’m glad we’re doing this together," I said quietly, my voice filled with sincerity.

"Me too," Jaden replied, his voice full of that soft certainty that I had come to love so much. "No matter where life takes us, we’ve got each other. And that’s all I need."

We continued our walk, hand in hand, not in a hurry, just enjoying the moment. We didn’t need to talk about the future anymore. We both knew where we were headed—together. And for the first time in a while, it felt like everything was falling into place.

---

Later that day, we sat on the steps of a small café, the warmth of the afternoon sun still lingering on our skin. Jaden pulled out his phone, scrolling through messages from the team about the next leg of the tour, but it didn’t seem as important anymore. We were just two people sitting in the sun, enjoying the simple things.

And for that moment, it was enough.

"I think we needed this," Jaden said, glancing at me as he tucked his phone back in his pocket.

"Yeah," I agreed, leaning my head against his shoulder. "We really did."

We didn’t have to rush back to the bus or worry about the next show. We didn’t have to think about anything except being here, in this moment, together.

It was a perfect pause—a chance to reset, to remind ourselves of the bigger picture, and of all the reasons we were doing this in the first place. Because no matter how busy things got, no matter where the tour took us, there was one thing I knew for sure: we would always have each other.