𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲✨

“That’s what I thought too until I heard those words come out of your mouth,” she said softly, giving a loose shrug. She hadn’t even ever thought of them as anything less than happily married soul mates until she heard those words and was left to wondering what the hell he meant. Jacob listened to her silently, she could tell he was really listening this time by the way his emotions were written all across his face. Jacob had little to no poker face when it came to her and they both knew it. “I don’t want you to feel bad though. I’m an actor too, I know how to fake it until I make it. It was a big night for you and I wanted to be there and be there for you. I felt off but it didn’t really hit until after the dinner thing and then everyone was getting up and mingling and I don’t know.. something didn’t feel right. The longer I tried to push through the worse it got until I just knew I needed air or I wouldn’t be able to breathe in there anymore.” Maia couldn’t put her finger on a certain moment when everything went to shit, but instead there was more of a build up to her breaking point.  Hearing her husbands explanation brought a heaviness to her heart. That night would always stay with her, until the day she died. But for her the fear of what almost happened to her is always swept away by knowing that Jacob had saved her. He hadn’t let anything bad happen to her. He’d gotten there just in time and she was safe the moment he came through that door. She hadn’t stopped to think about his side of things and the fear of knowing he almost didn’t make it. “Baby– I hate that for you. I hate that you had to relive that fear. Or that night.” Pulling back her covers she moved closer to him, damn near crawling on his lap and she moved to hug him as tightly as she could. Realizing it’d been almost 24hrs since she’d touched him made her stomach turn. She hated going 5 minutes without touching him and now her whole body felt starved for closeness with him. “You didn’t fail me. Not then… not ever. You never fail me, Jake.” Maia stroked his cheek softly, staring deep into his big brown eyes. “Maybe we should go back to that couples therapist but not to work on us, but to work through what happened together. I don’t want you holding onto this forever. You don’t deserve the weight of that on your heart.” 

“Of course I feel bad. I’m supposed to be the one person that knows you better than any facade you put up and I was so caught up in making sure everything went perfect that I missed it.” They could go back and forth forever trying to absorb the blame, that’s just the type of relationship they had so he quieted himself and gnawed on his lower lip as she continued. “It sounds like you had an anxiety attack. They’re horrible and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, much less the love of my life. I’m sorry for how I treated you last night...I didn’t know...and I know you feel bad for disappearing but don’t, okay? You have to do whatever it takes to survive in those situations.” 

Hailey had told Maia what she already knew, that she needed to talk to her husband. But her stubbornness and frustration with the situation hadn’t willed her up out of her seat yet. Afraid to have the talk on the plane because of who could be listening. They’d been burned by press too many times for her to think something like this would be any different. Maybe if she waited until the plane landed they’d both be cooled down enough to talk without tearing each other a new one. With her airpods in she was watching her comfort movie, She’s The Man, when someone slid into the seat next to her. By the large shadow cast on the back of the seat in front of  her, she knew it was Jacob. Looking his way she saw his make shift white flag, with the ring stain where his in flight drink had once been. He’d managed to get a small smile out of her before she plugged an ear piece out and offered it to him so he could watch too. It wouldn’t fix things or replace the talk they needed to have but it was both of them putting down their weapons and agreeing to peacefully co exist for a little while. Eventually Maia would drift off to sleep as she did through almost every movie they ever watched together. Instead of curling into her pillow perched against the window, she let herself fall asleep on Jacob’s shoulder until the flight finally landed. 

He gratefully took her peace offering in the form of an earbud and slipped it into his ear, the small smile playing on her lips mirrored on his as he took in her choice of movie; it was one they had watched together so many times he knew most of Channing Tatum’s lines by heart. Neither of them said a word but the longer he sat there, he allowed his frame to slump ever so slightly to the side until their arms were pressed softly together. By the time the credits were rolling, he mustered the courage to sneak a glance at Maia, only to find her snoozing quietly on his shoulder, catching up on the sleep he was sure she hadn’t gotten the night before. After a stop at the baggage claim and a quick car ride, they were home. They spoke only about the mundane and shot each other looks of concern when their Uber driver seemed to be going 100+ down the I-5, but didn’t dare broach anything more. 

Maia barely slept at all that night. Usually she was cuddled in so tight to her love that she was practically on top of him. But this time there was battle lines drawn and neither of them dared to cross it. Both backs to each other until Maia eventually heard the sound of the soft exhales that only a person who’d slept on his chest time and time again would recognize as him being fast asleep.  In the morning they remained just as quiet, the only moment together came from the kiss he’d given her when he’d ordered up a coffee for her. At first she’d smiled thinking this was him waving the white flag and giving some kind of a peace offering so that they could put this behind them and work through it. But as he turned around to get ready for the gym she realized it was something done out of habit and not out of love or motivation to fix whatever this was.  The second he left the room, she left too. Setting out on a walk with no destination in mind. Only wanting to get away and forget for a little while. 

Her head snapped in his direction the second he heard those words come out of his mouth. “than i have no business calling myself your husband”. The words felt like icy daggers stabbing her chest… while at the same time they lit a fire in her. Feeling herself get angry for the first time since last night. She’d let him be mad, she’d let him yell and ignore her.. but this… this was too much. “Really Jake? I thought we’d at least make it past our first fight before you threw the idea of a divorce in my face.” The words were quiet, out of respect for the other passengers on the plane but harsh enough that he’d know he was out of line. “Maybe for a fucking second you could stop and think that none of this was about you.” It was useless though, she was talking to herself as he sat with headphones on drowning her out for the rest of the flight. Seeing an empty seat in their row, Maia flagged down the stewardess and asked if she could move seats. “In case you were wondering, I’m going to sit over there. Enjoy your flight,” she mumbled as she collected her pillow and carry on bag. The whole flight she wanted to yell and fight and stand up for herself after last night but she couldn’t. She just had to sit there and stew in her anger from 30,000 ft in the air.  

The car drove around the block a few times while Maia wracked her brain trying to remember the name of the hotel. The stress of the paps outside the Gala were enough to leave her a little shaken. Her phone was still in the tiny handbag on the seat next to her but it never dawned on her to open her phone and look for the address. Maybe it was the fear of what horrid photo those photographers probably posted of her already… or maybe she just might see the Boss ambassadors looking stunning in their matching black attire. Either way, her mind was so focused on remembering the hotel name and getting someplace quiet and calm that she blanked on everything else all together. Missing Jacob’s texts entirely.  “Umm 7th and … something else with a 7. The Times Square EDITION,  I think it’s called.” She finally managed to tell the apathetic driver. 

When she got back at the hotel she didn’t have a key to the room. Of course she didn’t. She barely had room in that stupid clutch for her phone let alone anything else. Besides, why would she need one when she never left her husbands side? Until this moment, that had been true. After 10 minutes of talking to staff members and managers she was finally given a replacement key without ID or a credit card to verify her identity. By the time she got up to the room she was in tears and practically tearing the dress off herself. Feeling claustrophobic in the damn thing the whole way up the elevator and down the hall. She was in the bathroom scrubbing the last of the make up off her face when she heard the door open. The sound made her jump a little and she tied her robe a little tighter as she peaked out the bathroom in time to hear Jacob’s voice. “You scared me,” she let out a soft sigh as she moved away from the door frame. “I’m here– I’m sorry– I just had to get out of there. I told them to tell you to stay and have fun, you didnt have to come back so soon”. 

Normally, Jacob was pretty good at reading Maia’s energy; when she was happy, he could feel it and when she was upset, he knew it on some organic level that only soulmates possessed. But after the day he’d had that culminated in such a horrific and flustered way, he wasn’t exactly in the headspace to be receiving her energy, too wrapped up in his own. When she appeared in the bathroom doorframe and accused him of scaring her, he could do nothing but scoff and shake his head as his large hands came to unbutton his tux jacket, revealing the simple white t-shirt underneath. “You scared me!” He shot back with obvious frustration in his voice. “I can’t believe you would just leave without a fucking word. Do you have any idea how worried--” Finally processing the sight of her wrapped up in her luxurious bathrobe with her hair pulled back and her skin glowing and make up free, looking as if she was living her best life, that frustration bloomed into anger. 

The Met had once been a thing of glitz and glamour. Something she and Cierra would dream of getting invited to. In their fantasy it was a day of pampering leading up to this magical red carpet and a fabulous dinner surrounded by Hollywoods finest. The turned out to be nothing but a pipe dream, as the real thing was chaotic and stressful. From having to do last minute fittings and make up touch ups to being snuck in through the back of a hotel where everyone waited to be shuttled to the actual event. Everything was go go go, and all the while strangers were yelling at them and flashing cameras in their faces. She felt like a deer in headlights and like she couldn’t keep up. There was a small voice in the back of her head  reminding her that this was a part of why she’d taken a step back from acting. After 6 months away from events and limelight like this she felt out of place and stressed. But she was doing her best to hold it together for Jacob, who she knew needed to go to these things to network and keep his name top of mind in these actor circles. 

For a while she’d hung around their friends, moving from table to table to mingle with the people she knew and loved. But eventually they all went off to network, take photos or mingle and she found herself hovering around the bar by herself. That feeling of being out of place only grew bigger inside her chest.  “Hey, I’m feeling a little tired and jet laggy. I’m going to go back to the hotel and lay down. Do you mind letting Jacob know when he gets back to the table?” she asked Hailey and Sydney as she passed each of them on her way out of the Gala. The walk from the ballroom to the exit felt like hours! She was hot and the air in her lungs felt heavy, like she was burning up and about to faint. Once outside she had a moment to breathe, inhaling as hard as she could. Her sweet relief from the party only lasted so long as the mob of journalists and paparazzi surrounded the only way to the car service. “Maia where’s Jacob?” “Maia look over here?” “Maia did you see Kendall and Jacob?” “Over here! Over your shoulder” “Maia!”  “MAIA!!”  they shouted over and over again. “Please just get me out of here,” she whispered to the driver as she frantically climbed in the car.

More than half an hour passed, folks were starting to leave the gala en route to one of the many afterparty options - both official and unofficial - at various nightclubs and venues around the city. But Jacob couldn’t even think about that until he found his wife. Panic had found a stronghold on his heart, squeezing tighter and tighter with every passing second that she wasn’t by his side. He slammed into every women’s bathroom he could find, dreading what he might find but thankfully coming up empty handed each time, mumbling explanations and apologies to any startled occupants. In the few moments where his brain was able to think clearly, annoyance turned to anger; she wasn’t abducted from the most highly guarded event in the city so why the hell would she wander off without a word? 

As long as there is still room for a nursery for future Elordi babies you can take over one of the other bedrooms and make it your photo nerd room. I will be too afraid to ever go in there for fear of exposing film and messing up the pictures but I’ll appreciate the photos … and enjoy not having to sit in the car while you nerd out over Kodak film with the old guy at the film store.  I don’t know what he’ll be more excited for… the beer fridge or the big screen. I hope you know we’ll be hosting movie nights, game nights and any other sporting event from here on out when the family finds out about your mancave. I like the way you think! It’ll be the first of many movie nights that end in us doing everything BUT watching the movie.

Yes ma’am. As cool as I think it would be to raise my child in a literal dark room, surrounded by the art of film photography, we probably shouldn’t let our firstborn become a gremlin that’s afraid of the sun. John is gonna set up camp in there and never leave, I hope you know. Lucky for us the season’s wrapping up and we’ve got six months to stock up on Tooheys for the old man. Having our home be the gathering spot is all I’ve ever wanted. Having our people around? It’s the whole reason we bought a house back home, right? I can’t wait to not watch all the movies in there with you, wifey.

Thank god for wedding lingerie and film cameras huh? Those two things kept my man nice and busy while the work was being done.  This side project way have been what kept me sane while I was being told by your sisters and Hailey to “trust the process”. I had to be a control freak somewhere, why not inside our house? But if being a little crazy is my superpower, I’ll take it baby. Don’t worry, I’ll come read my book in their while you’re working away… Unless I get bored of that and decide to be a tease instead. Then you won’t be getting any work done!

🎶 These are a few of my favorite things 🎵 I’ve got so much film to develop, it’s insane. I’m so fucking stoked. Can we convert one of the guest bathrooms into a dark room? Your control freak nature really came through for us this time, bubs. Dad is gonna freak out and then probably commandeer it to watch all his rugby games, just so you know. Another room in the house to christen as Mister and Missus? As if I’m gonna complain about that. 

It helped that they got all the construction done while we were playing newly weds at the hotel. I’m not sure I could have kept those snoopy eyes of yours away when they were loading in the drywall and paint and surround sound! All I had to do was decorate it while you were out for a walk with Layla. I may regret the mancave eventually, but I wanted to give you a space to unwind and work on your craft. You got me an engagement ring and let me be a princess for the day at our wedding, a mancave was the least I could do to spoil my hubby. 

There would have been no stopping the snooping eyes, you know it. Luckily, these eyes were well occupied marveling at all the fun that was had in our wedding suite. I was gonna say, the fact that you were even able to pull this off on top of the madness that was our wedding proves yet again that you are a mutant superhuman, X-Men style. A super sexy mutant superhuman. You get free admission to the mancave anytime you want it, baby. I’d get too lonely too quick if I holed up in there alone. 

Alright babycakes! I’m ready to reveal your top secret wedding present. The renovations are finally done and it has the Wifey seal of approval. Are you ready handsome? Close your eyes and gimme your hand. 

Maia leads Jacob down the hall to a room that had previously held boxes and junk they never sorted through when they moved in together. Outside the door was a film reel plaque made of steal, with the words J.E Theatre below it. On the other side of the door Maia had had the room sound proofed, repainted and transformed into his own personal movie theatre. Plush couches and chairs facing a massive white screen and surround sound speakers. At the back of the room there was a vintage reel projector and a modern projector for his streaming needs. Controlled by two iPads what connected to their digital library and streaming services. To the left, a concession stand with his favourite snacks and beverages.On the walls, vintage movie posters of his favourite Heath Ledger and James Dean films to inspire him.  Click Here

Taaaa Daaa! Welcome to your movie theatre baby! I wanted you to have a special place you could come to unwind and enjoy all your favourite films. Oh and the screen does lift up so you could use it to film your self tapes for auditions when we’re home. @ayyelordi​

Holy shit. Wait-what the fuck. Baby. Babyyy. I love it. I love love love it. What kind of incredibly badass (and maybe a little dumb) wife not only finances but helms up the construction of her husband’s mancave? Unless this was all just the long game for taking Netflix and chill to the next level. I can’t believe you did all this for me. Thank you, my angel girl. Best wife ever, no cap.

Maia chuckled at the two most important men in her life exchanging their looks and shaking hands. Having Charlie’s approval of the man she loved meant the world to her. They’d always been close, hell Maia had practically raised him after their father left and their Mum had to work her ass off to keep food on the table for them. As protective of him as she was, Charlie was twice as protective of his big sister. Knowing he trusted Jacob with her heart was the best wedding present he could have given her. With her attention solely on Jacob, she gave him a little nose scrunch before mouthing the words, “I love you more,” right back at him. It was a never ending battle that neither would ever win, but Maia would enjoy every single time.  

Like clockwork Mila offered Mai a tissue as soon as Jacob started his vows. After that, time stood still and all she could see was the love of her life standing in front of her promising to love her and cherish her forever. Every word felt more true than the last and through glassy eyes, she hung on every word he said. “I told you you weren’t allowed to make me cry,” she teased softly. The crowd erupting in laughter long enough for her to dry her eyes and him to catch his breath. She’d caught that little crack in his voice and knew he needed the pause. 

“Maia, and your vows,” the officiant said softly. With a nod in their direction, Maia cleared her throat and looked back up at the brown hues she knew so well. “Jacob Elordi– My Buba. My best friend. My rock. My human space heater on cold nights. My snack supplier when I’m hangry— and soon to be my Husband. You came into my life like a tornado, knocking me off my feet and turning my world upside down from the start. At first I think we both thrived on the chaos of our love but as time went on the thing that kept us going was the assurance that rain or shine we would always weather the storm together. Whether it was big or small, we would always figure it out together. When I look at you, there is now a calm in my chest because I know I am safe and so so loved. Those big arms will hold me and protect me and show me more love than I ever knew possible. And for that I thank you. Today I stand here in front of our friends and our family and I promise to spend everyday trying to make you feel as safe and loved as you make me. I promise to love you on the good days and the bad. To fight for you and for us ever chance I get. I promise to be your biggest fan and be the person by your side when all your dreams come true. To hold your hand through this life and never let you feel alone ever again. I promise to give you the life and the family you deserve and fill your future days with laughter and sooooo many babies!” Maia giggled softly, sniffling a little a she tried to hold it together and finish her vows. “I promise to be Michelle to your Heath, except in this case baby we’re getting it right. I love you Jacob, and I will be yours forever and always.” At the end of her vows she squeezed his hand, needing some ounce of touch before the officiant said the words they were both dying to hear. 

“With their vow’s shared, Jacob– Do you take Maia to be your Wife? And Maia do you take Jacob to be your Husband?” 

“I absolutely do,” she grinned back at him. 

Every beautiful word that flowed so perfectly from her lips sounded like a full orchestra in his mind: booming and harmonizing one moment, prayerfully intimate the next. Her cheeky jokes morphed effortlessly into solemn oaths of commitment that would stretch to infinity, ones that anyone and everyone in the room could tell in their hearts were prophecies that would one day come true. “Whoa now, you could at least buy me dinner first!” Jacob joked and chuckled along with the crowd, affording his almost wife a brief moment to compose herself; it was no small feat to put into words the promise of always and forever to someone else. But it didn’t really matter what she said because he knew how safe his heart was with her. He knew that his life would be sweet so long as she was there by his side. He knew from the way she hugged him to the way she made sure they always had his favorite coffee on hand that Maia loved him to her core. There was no greater feeling than being loved this hard by her.