Chapter Twenty-Four

December 1, 2024

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reeva His passenger princess 👑
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jacopfatu 😍

Jacob's rental car rumbled down the quiet streets of Vancouver, the soft hum of the engine blending with the rhythmic pulse of Christmas music playing from the speakers.

Reeva sat beside him, her phone held up to her face as she snapped selfies, her wide smile capturing the excitement in her eyes. Each time the car came to a stop at a red light, she leaned over to include him in the shot, her laughter light and carefree.

It made Jacob's chest tighten, that joyful, effortless laughter of hers. He wasn't used to people wanting him around, but Reeva had changed that for him, in the most profound ways.

Jacob was possessive by nature, a trait he recognized but didn't mind. It was only natural when it came to Reeva. He'd only known her for a short while, but in the way that their fingers intertwined and their eyes found each other in a room full of people, it felt like they'd been together forever.

He knew the world around them was noticing too. His cousins had teased him relentlessly, saying that he and Reeva were practically inseparable. If it wasn't for work and the kids he shared with his ex-wife, they might as well be living together. But it didn't bother him—didn't bother them. Reeva seemed to revel in it, the idea of them being a package deal.

Jacob knew his possessiveness wasn't entirely rational, but he didn't care. It was like he had discovered something he didn't even know he was searching for, something so rare that he was willing to guard it fiercely.

His ex-wife, who he still co-parented with, had even expressed her approval of Reeva. They were good friends, better now than when they were married.

When Reeva had helped their seven kids with math homework a few days back, his ex-wife had called him and said, "I can't believe how good she is with them. You two are good for each other, you know." That affirmation had made him feel warm inside, like he wasn't just being selfish by loving Reeva so openly.

"Almost there," he said, breaking out of his thoughts as he pulled into the driveway of the studio.

The parking lot was filled with cars, and the air seemed to buzz with anticipation. This was the day Reeva was releasing her Christmas album, A Very Reevmas, and Jacob knew how much it meant to her. She had been so meticulous about every detail, from the lyrics down to the album cover.

But at the last minute, her label had decided her original Christmas photo was too plain, and she'd needed a professional photoshoot to bring her vision to life.

Reeva dropped her phone on her lap and looked at Jacob, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You ready?" she asked, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek.

Jacob nodded and smiled, catching the faint scent of her perfume, something soft and citrusy. "Always, pumpkin."

They got out of the car, and Reeva pulled her jacket tighter around her. The December air was crisp, the city lights reflecting off the glass windows of the studio. They were met by a team of stylists who ushered them inside. Reeva's manager, Marco, was already waiting, his clipboard in hand and his ever-present, sharp-eyed gaze fixed on the two of them.

"Jacob, we've got a surprise for you," Marco said with a grin that was equal parts mischief and excitement. Reeva's eyes widened as she turned to Jacob, her fingers lacing through his.

"I need you to be my hood Samoan Santa Claus," she said with a playful wink.

Jacob's mouth opened in a chuckle, the deep, rumbly kind that made Reeva laugh along with him. "You're serious, aren't you?" he asked.

"Dead serious," she replied, a sparkle in her voice.

As soon as the styling team swept Jacob away to get changed, Reeva was left in the dressing room to prepare. It was a flurry of activity as they transformed her into the sultry, confident Mrs. Claus. Jacob didn't see her again until he was done in his own outfit—a custom-designed red suit with a white, fur-lined hood and pants that hung low, accessorized with gold chains and a Santa hat that cocked to the side.

When he stepped out, the studio lights blindingly bright, he caught the flash of Reeva's eyes as she took him in. The transformation was complete; she looked every bit the glamorous, holiday goddess, while he—well, he looked like a Santa Claus who had walked straight out of an urban legend.

"Perfect," Reeva whispered, and Jacob felt a warm thrill course through him.

They walked together onto the set, where lights sparkled and the air was filled with the sound of Christmas music. The first notes of Red Christmas began to play, and Jacob's heart swelled. He had always known that Reeva's music had power, that it had a way of making a room feel alive, but hearing it now, with the two of them standing side by side, felt like something special.

The camera clicked, flashing in bursts as the photographer directed them into poses. Reeva leaned into him, her hand on his chest, and he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. In that moment, as they smiled and laughed for the camera, Jacob felt as if time had stopped. It was just him, her, and the soft hum of the music.

He wasn't entirely sure what the final visualizer for the song would look like, but he didn't care. The sound of Reeva's laughter and the warmth of her touch were enough. He was happy being her prop, her partner, her everything in that moment. And that was more than enough.

An hour passed in what felt like minutes, and Reeva, breathing slightly heavier from the poses, looked over at Jacob. "You take a break," she said, a note of exhaustion mixed with relief in her voice. "I've got a few solo shots to do."

Jacob nodded, giving her a smile before stepping back and sitting down on the nearby couch. His heart still thudded from the rush of being next to her, from the excitement of it all. The room hummed with activity as the team adjusted lights and props, but Jacob's eyes never strayed far from Reeva. She moved like she owned the room, confident and full of life.

Three hours later, after a final flurry of shots and adjustments, the photoshoot was over. Reeva picked out the image she wanted for her album cover and sent it to Marco, who would take care of getting it approved in time for the midnight release. As the studio quieted, Reeva came over to him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright.

"Thank you for doing this with me, baby," she said, leaning in and pressing her lips to his. The kiss was soft, warm, and full of gratitude.

Jacob smiled, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Anything for you, pumpkin."

They left the studio, the night air cool against their skin. It had been a long day, full of work and laughter, but Jacob felt as if the day was far from over.

They were headed to grab dinner, a late-night meal of greasy burgers and fries at their favorite dive, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Reeva leaned against him as they sat at their table, their meal laid out in front of them. She took a bite of her burger, then wiped the grease from her lips with a napkin. "Yeah, I gotta get in the gym," she said, glancing at herself in the reflective surface of the table.

Jacob scoffed, shaking his head as he looked at her. "You look good, you don't need no gym."

Reeva stood up, twirling in front of him with a playful smile. "You think so?"

"I know so," Jacob said, his voice full of certainty. He reached out to take her hand and pulled her back to the seat beside him. The music from the restaurant mingled with their laughter, and in that moment, Jacob couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man in the world.

Reeva's eyes met his, and for just a heartbeat, he let himself get lost in them. The chaos of the day was forgotten, the demands of work and parenting were pushed aside. All that mattered was the warmth of her hand in his, the shared smiles, the comfort of knowing that they had each other.

For Jacob, that was the greatest gift of all.

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reeva A Very Reevmas 🎄🤶❤️
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Reeva sat back in the plush leather seat of the private jet, her phone clutched in her hands as she scrolled through the real-time updates on the performance of her Christmas album, A Very Reevmas.

Her heart fluttered with excitement as she saw the numbers climbing, the album sitting proudly at number one on iTunes and the views on the YouTube visualizers for the songs were skyrocketing by the second.

It had been a whirlwind few hours since its release, but as the plane hummed with its steady rhythm in the sky, Reeva felt a deep sense of pride wash over her.

"It's all happening," she whispered, the corners of her lips tugging into a wide, happy grin.

The soft hum of the engines and the low murmur of the flight crew in the background only added to the serene, almost surreal feeling of the moment. She glanced up from her phone to find Jacob watching her with a look of awe and amusement.

"I can't believe you own a private jet," Jacob said, leaning back and spreading his arms across the armrests.

His eyes were wide, full of the kind of wonder that made Reeva laugh out loud. He had been with her through every step of this journey, from late-night recording sessions to impromptu trips to the store for holiday decorations, but this was a new level of luxury for him.

"It's a family jet, so anytime you want to use it, you just have to call the captain," Reeva said, a playful smile spreading across her face.

Jacob blinked in surprise. "I can use it?" His voice carried a note of disbelief.

Reeva nodded, tilting her head slightly as she watched him. The soft glow of the cabin lights reflected off his face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the slight crinkle of his eyes when he smiled. "Yeah. Zilla uses it, so I've got you listed as an authorized user on the list."

Jacob's eyes softened at that, the smile broadening as he took in her words. "Good to know," he said with a nod, almost as if he was trying to commit it to memory.

Reeva squealed, unable to contain her excitement. She was on a high that she didn't think would ever end, and as the jet flew smoothly through the night sky, her thoughts turned to the future.

The album was projected to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and she couldn't help but let her imagination wander to what would come next. Maybe a holiday tour or a televised special. The possibilities were endless, and for the first time in a long while, she felt as if she could reach out and grab them all.

"Okay, I'm going live," she said, bouncing slightly in her seat as she positioned her phone to face her.

Jacob watched with a mix of curiosity and amusement as she tapped at the screen and the Instagram Live alert flashed across the phone.

Almost instantly, viewers flooded in. Reeva watched the numbers tick up as the comments came rolling in so fast that she could barely keep up. A hundred thousand viewers. It was a number she had hoped of seeing but never expected so soon. She adjusted the camera so it captured her and Jacob in the cozy space, then began.

"I'm on a jet, so I may not be on here long. So how does everyone feel about A Very Reevmas so far?" she asked, her voice bright and full of excitement. The chat exploded in a cascade of heart emojis and messages of praise.

"Love it!"

"I've been playing it on repeat!"

"Best Christmas album in years!"

Reeva's heart swelled. The comments were exactly what she wanted to hear, but then one caught her eye. She read it out loud, unable to hide the laugh that bubbled up. "Someone just asked, 'Where's Jacob? Is he with you?'"

Jacob tilted his head and peered into the frame. "I'm right here," he said, his voice warm as he gave a small wave to the camera.

Reeva's smile widened as she glanced at the screen. The responses came flooding in, faster than ever. She read the comments to Jacob: "He's so cute!" "Y'all are goals." "When are y'all getting married?"

Jacob's brows shot up at the question. He looked at Reeva, who had an impish gleam in her eye, and then back at the screen. "When are we getting married?" he repeated, the teasing tone in his voice making Reeva's heart do a little jump.

Reeva leaned into the camera with a playful grin. "That's up to him," she said, arching an eyebrow at Jacob.

Jacob's smile turned wicked, and he moved forward, leaning into the screen with a mischievous glint in his eye. "She's already Mrs. Fatu," he said, a small laugh escaping him.

Reeva gasped, half-amused, half-shocked. "Great, now they finna run with that statement on the blogs. I hope you're ready," she teased him, her voice full of playful mock warning.

Jacob smirked, crossing his arms with a relaxed confidence that made her heart swell. "I'm ready. Let 'em talk."

The chat was now a whirlwind of messages, some full of surprise and others bursting with excitement. Reeva felt her cheeks heating up, a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration. This wasn't the first time they'd joked around about getting married.

The idea of them being together forever was something she thought about often, but saying it out loud, even in jest, made the thought feel more real. Jacob had been the one person who had made her feel like she could take on anything, and for a moment, as she looked at him, she could see that he felt the same way.

"Okay, I'm going to read a few more comments before we go," Reeva said, tilting her head to read through the scrolling text. One comment stood out among the rest, "Reeva, what inspired you to make this album?"

Reeva's eyes softened as she looked into the camera. "I wanted to make something that felt personal and familiar, but also new. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I wanted A Very Reevmas to be an album that people could play with their families, whether they're celebrating at home or on the go. It's all about making those special moments feel magical, you know?"

Jacob nodded, his eyes warm as they met hers. He knew exactly how much this album meant to her, and he couldn't have been prouder. It was more than just music; it was Reeva pouring her heart into every note, every lyric. He leaned back and watched as she continued, her excitement uncontained and infectious.

The comments were still flooding in, and the screen was a sea of messages. Reeva laughed as she scrolled through them, reading a few aloud. "Someone wants to know if we'll ever do a Christmas duet," she said, winking at Jacob.

"Oh, you think you're ready for that kind of heat?" Jacob shot back, the grin on his face playful.

Reeva clapped her hands and gave him a mock gasp. "I've seen you rap in the car. Don't act like you're not ready."

Jacob's smile turned sheepish, but the glint in his eye remained. "We'll see. I'll let you drag me into that, but only if you promise I won't embarrass myself."

Reeva laughed, the sound rich and full of life. "I promise. But just so you know, you'd be singing your heart out by the end of it."

The comments began to slow as the hours ticked on, and Reeva realized that she was starting to lose light in the cabin. The plane had transitioned into the darker sky of the night, the stars scattered above like diamonds. As the final waves of viewers started to trickle out, Reeva's heart felt full, a soft glow of contentment spreading through her.

"Thank you for tuning in, everyone. I can't wait for you to hear more of A Very Reevmas," she said with a smile, signing off the live stream. She leaned back in her seat, the phone now resting on her lap, and glanced at Jacob.

"I think that went well," he said, his voice low and warm.

Reeva nodded, the adrenaline from the night finally starting to fade. "I think so too." She looked at him, at the way the soft light cast shadows across his face, and her heart twisted with affection.

This was what she wanted—the music, the success, but most importantly, the moments like this, shared with him.

Jacob reached for her hand and squeezed it, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Reeva felt her cheeks warm at his words, and she squeezed back. "I'm just lucky I have you."

Jacob's eyes met hers, and for a moment, there were no words needed. The jet hummed beneath them, the world outside waiting to rush back in, but inside, wrapped in the glow of shared dreams and love, they were exactly where they were meant to be.