After a messy divorce, Joe Jonas finds himself lost within the inability to move on with his life. That is, until he unexpectedly starts to feel a love he never thought he'd experience again, let alone with a stranger.
If anyone were to take a look inside my car right now, they would think I was a funeral director with the amount of black décor that was stuffed in it. I carefully closed the door, making sure none of the black balloons escaped in a gust of wind.
Walking up to the rural house, I hoped this was the right address, otherwise this would have been really awkward. My knuckles knocked on the door before I leaned against the wall, waiting patiently for any sound of someone home.
Just as I had taken my phone out to call her, she opened the door, "Well, look who it is."
"Hey, Liv," I grinned, sliding my phone back in my pocket, "I started to wonder if you gave me a faulty address on purpose to embarrass the fuck out of me."
"I was tempted to, not going to lie," she gave me a slight smirk, "Come on it. Mi casa es su casa."
"Technically, it's your parents' house, not yours," I sarcastically rebutted as I stepped inside. It was simple, yet detailed with personalized meaning. The lingering silence made me believe that she was the only one home at the moment.
I followed Liv to her bedroom. It was decorated in a way that didn't feel like her, medical items and equipment neatly organized throughout in every direction.
"How's the last few shows going?" she asked, rummaging through one of her many bags that had been placed sporadically on the floor.
"Not the same without you," I answered honestly. It was weird not to see her backstage before and after the shows, making sure everything went smoothly and safely, but her health had quickly declined to where she had to move back in with her parents until the unthinkable.
Handing me the key I had asked for, she pressed her lips together, "Is the offer to celebrate tomorrow still available?"
"Of course," I remained hopeful that she could celebrate our very last show for a last hurrah, "Everyone would love to see you again."
"I'll keep you updated," she replied, sitting on the edge of her bed, "So why exactly do you need Tay's apartment key for?"
"I want to give her a perfect welcome home to come back to," I sheepishly smiled, "And I want her to know how proud I am of her for everything she's accomplished."
"Who knew you were romantic," She commented while the both of us headed back outside. The second she saw the inside of my car, her eyes widened, "Holy shit. Okay, please send me pictures once you're done!"
"Will do," I saluted to her with a chuckle, "Thank you again. And let me know about tomorrow. I really hope you're able to, but I get it if you can't. I'll have to bring the party to you worst case scenario."
"Only you would," she gave me a long, drawn-out hug before I hit the road, "Good luck. I already know she's going to love it."
"I hope so," I hopped in the driver's seat, "Love you."
"Love you too," she smiled before walking back to the front door, watching me about to pull out of the driveway. It was the first time she actually said it back just to me.
I don't know what came over me, but I put my car back into park and jumped out, running back to Liv.
"Did you forget some—" she went to ask me, but got cut off by my tight embrace, not wanting to let go, "Oh, um, are you okay?"
With my eyes closed, I took in her touch, her smell, her everything, "Just let me have this, okay?" Life was going to be different without her in it.
She didn't fight it. If anything, she melted into me, savoring our friendship.
"Okay, go," she pulled away, wiping her eyes to hide her raw emotions, "You have a shit ton to do before your show."
"I'll see you tomorrow," I said, my voice slightly cracking at one point.
On the drive to Taylor's apartment, I blasted the radio to distract my mind. I loudly sang along to my upbeat playlist until I lowered the volume pulling into the complex not to disturb her neighbors, although I'm sure they heard louder things before.
I unlocked the door before bringing all the décor inside in multiple trips. Looking at everything in front of me, I knew I should have preplanned. This was going to take me longer than I expected.
Sitting on her bed for comfort, I tied a black rose to each black balloon. There was at least a couple dozen roses hanging down all around me as the balloons rose up to the ceiling.
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With all this decorating, I almost forgot about one more thing. I took my phone out to call Nick and hit the speaking button to free my hands to keep at work.
"How's decorating, lover boy?" He answered after a few rings.
"Exhausting," I replied, tying the last rose to the balloon, "but worth it. Hey, I forgot to ask, is it okay if I perform a song by myself tonight?"
"Uh, sure," he approved of the sudden change in our setlist, "What song?"
"You know how I wrote Taylor an album?" I walked out to the living room, seeing how much mess I had made with all the trash on the floor, "I want to surprise her tonight and play her favorite one from off it."
"Of course, man," his voice couldn't conceal his happiness for me finally finding love, "Go for it."
"Thank you," I smiled, opening random doors to find where she kept her broom.
Bingo. I should've looked in the utility closet first. Grabbing the handle of the broom, the dustpan fell off into a half-opened cardboard box that sat on the floor by the wall right next to where the broom once was up against. I leaned down to pick it up, but something caught my eye in the box.
"Hey, I'll call you in a little bit," I told him, hanging the call up before he could respond.
I leaned the broom back up against the wall and picked the box up, taking it into the living room. Sitting on the floor, my heart dropped into my stomach with each item I took out. Cards for each occasion. Artwork that wasn't Taylor's. They were signed by her sister. A collection of family photos throughout the years. Some framed, some nothing protecting them. One in particular drew my attention. It was me from years ago. Me and my brothers with a girl in a hospital bed. Then at the very bottom was a funeral program. The death date was five years ago.
I sat there, numb, for a few minutes staring at the program. Then a shit ton of different emotions engulfed me all at once. Abandoning everything where I left it, I grabbed my keys and locked the door.
Driving to the arena early, I called the first person I needed and put it on speaker.
"Mom?" I barely spoke up as she picked up my call.
