Page 56 of And They Had a Great Fall

“She and Becca are fine, Jake,” she said. “They spend a lot of time with Becca’s grandparents, so I haven’t seen them much, but when I have, they’re doing well.”

“Good,” he said without elaborating. He was worried about the impact on Kat and Becca’s life because of his actions. He’d been surprised by the backlash that had come after the article, especially against Kat. Of course, there’d been plenty of positive reactions, but as Kat had predicted, his young female fans tore her apart.

He’d not expected so much pointed criticism of her. She was either not pretty enough (and didn’t deserve him) or too pretty (obsessed with her looks). They attacked her parenting (leaving her child to run off to a foreign city). She was too normal (professional working woman) or a total snob (New Yorker). No matter what, she wasn’t good enough.

When he talked with Cindy about the negativity, she’dshrugged and advised him to let it blow over. It didn’t blow over, and all he could focus on were the negative comments and posts made about Kat. Reading each one felt like scratching a tender wound. He’d finally made his own statement, a simple message posted on Twitter and Instagram. “My ask of the world: be kind and don’t hurt those I love.” No interpretation needed. His ask was clear, and his fans responded by backing down and moving on. He wished he’d done it immediately.

His mom’s voice brought him back to the present. “Honey,” she started, “areyouokay?”

They crossed the street and walked halfway down the block before he answered. “Yes and no,” he said. “I will be. I think.” He put his head down while they walked. “I love her, Mom. But I really messed it up.”

“Yes. Yes, you did,” his mom said.

“Thanks for the support,” he deadpanned. She was right, but her brutal honesty was hard to take.

“Jake,” she linked her arm with his, “you know I support you. You made the decision you believed you had to. I don’t believe you were trying to hurt anyone. But you have to live with the consequences of that decision … and so does Kat,” she said, with a matter-of-fact tone.

“I miss her,” he said, looking toward the sky.

“Jake,” she started with a slight nudge of his shoulder. “The universe has a way of working out just as it should. I’m not giving up on you two just yet.”

He smiled at her. He didn’t share her optimism, but in that moment, he wanted to believe she was right.

Bluestone Café was quiet when Jake arrived to meet Roger. While in New York, he’d requested a rare in-person meeting. There were things he needed to say, and he owed Roger a personalconversation. His mom offered to head home, but he wanted her there to support and understand his future.

He held open the door for his mom and stepped into the warm coffee shop. His eyes landed on Roger sitting in a back, private corner. As they reached his table, Roger stood up, gave Jake a hug and his mother a kiss on the cheek.

“It is so great to see you in the flesh, Jake,” Roger said as they sat down. “You look good.” Roger pulled out his phone and pushed it across the table. “Here’s the latest gross ofCloud Catcher. It has officially surpassed the one hundred-million-dollar mark globally. Congrats.” Roger’s face outwardly beamed with pride.

Jake barely looked at the screen. He wasn’t here to bask in his accomplishments. “Thanks … but let’s—” Jake started, but Roger started speaking.

“I saw a few rough cuts forZero Codefrom Garren. Jake, I’m telling you, it’s going to be another hit. Man, you’re really doing it,” he said. “The number of calls and emails I get every day about you? It’s astounding. I’m going to send a half dozen great projects you should consider over the next two years.…”

Jake leaned back in his chair, sighed, and waited for him to finish. He didn’t try to hide the irritation was on his face. He was tired of being talked at and had things he needed to say. Once Roger was quiet, Jake began again. “We need to talk. I can’t keep doing this.” Jake felt his mom’s hand rest on his arm, and he appreciated her silent show of support.

He watched the shock register on Roger’s face before continuing. He let it linger to allow the seriousness of the conversation to sink in. Typically, Jake’s thoughts were scattered, and he needed Roger to organize and drive business conversations, but today was different. He knew what he wanted and was focused on the direction his career would need to take. He needed a partner, not a father, and he wanted to see if Roger was willing to evolve their working relationship.

“Listen,” he started, “I’m very grateful for everything you’ve done for me through the years. I wouldn’t be anywhere without you.” He took a deep breath. “I still want to work. And IthinkI still want to work with you, but a lot has to change. If it doesn’t, this”—he gestured between himself and Roger—“isn’t going to continue.”

Roger was visibly relieved. “I’m listening. Go on.”

Jake spent the next hour outlining everything he would need for them to continue their working relationship. First and foremost, he needed breaks between roles and would no longer be convinced to work on a timeline that didn’t fit his life. He wanted a life that was boisterous, artistic, and even a little messy, but also grounded and mentally sustainable. He wouldn’t sacrifice himself or the people he loved for his career.

Second, if Roger was right, he’d reached a point where he could pick his projects, and he wouldn’t be pressured to take a role, no matter how lucrative. He was an artist and would take roles that interested him and refined his craft. He wouldn’t chase fame, awards, or even the next job. It might mean less money in the short term, but if he was able to sustain his career through the years, the long-term payout was higher—for Jakeandfor Roger.

Third, he wanted to build his team. His team was built for him by Roger when he was just a teenager. That team, built to guide and protect a fifteen-year-old, wasn’t the right team to help him navigate his adult life with this level of fame. He would listen to Roger’s suggestions, but he wanted to decide on a new publicist, accountant, assistants, and every single person to make sure they were what he needed to build a life, not just play a role.

Gone was the frenetic teenager, blindly following an agent who promised to lead him to fame. Instead, they were two adults, discussing the business of Jake’s career and what he needed to sustain a life doing what he loved.

chapter twenty-four

SIXMONTHSLATER

After a morning of hopping on and off double-decker buses, Kat and Becca lounged in their Airbnb overlooking London’s Regent’s Park. Becca played on her iPad while Kat relaxed on the couch and scrolled through the news from MyLondon and the BBC.

They’d been in London for three days already and had settled into the foreign city with the comfort of seasoned travelers. Becca was most in love with the British sayings she heard during their trip. When they first saw Buckingham Palace, Becca shouted to her mom that she was “positively gobsmacked” and then doubled over with laughter. Kat was enamored with watching Becca absorb and react to foreign cities.

A headline caught her eye:JAKE LAURENT VISITS LONDON ON A PRESS TOUR FORZEROCODE. She didn’t read the article, but the headline made her heart quicken. Her eyes wandered to the date and saw it was posted only yesterday.Zero Codehad just been released, and the early buzz was phenomenal. She hadn’t brought herself to see it, but the chatter surrounding the movie was about awards and accolades coming Jake’s way. His prominence had skyrocketed, and he’d risen into the space that only a few actors ever reach. He’d truly done it. She swelled with a pride tinged with sadness.

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