Chapter 10
10
MALACHI
I sat at the long conference table in our manager’s office, tapping my fingers lightly on the polished wood. The afternoon sun streaming through the tall windows cast a golden hue on the band posters that adorned the walls and made the room warm.
My bandmates, Savannah, and the guys from Midnight Thunder, the band opening for us, were seated around me, each absorbed in their own thoughts. I hadn’t seen Savannah since we’d hooked up after recording “Whispers in the Night.” We both knew it was a one-night thing. Hell, maybe it would turn into more than a one off since she was going on tour with us. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but if she was down to fuck, I wasn’t going to turn her away.
At the end of the table, Rina, our manager, sat with her laptop open and a stack of papers beside her. She clapped her hands together to gather everyone’s attention. “All right, let’s get started. We need to finalize the setlist for the tour and discuss logistics and some other things.”
“Let’s start with the setlist,” I suggested. “We need to make sure it flows well and keeps the energy up.”
Jesse looked up from his phone. “I was thinking we should open with ‘Rising Tide.’ It’s a strong start and gets the crowd pumped from the get-go.”
Elliott nodded. “Yeah, and we can follow it up with ‘Echoes of Tomorrow.’ That bass line is killer and transitions perfectly.”
I scribbled notes on my notepad as we continued to put our set together. “How about ‘Midnight Reverie’ in the middle? It’s slower, but it showcases our range.”
Silas stopped tapping his sticks, his brow furrowed in thought. “I like that. And then we can bring the energy back up with ‘Fading Lights,’ ‘Crimson Sky,’ ‘Chasing Shadows,’ ‘Gravity Pull,’, and ‘Silver Lining’ before we hit the finale with Savannah.”
Rina’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she made notes on her laptop. “Great suggestions. Remember, we also need to consider the timing and any potential encores.”
I exchanged a glance with Jesse, who gave a subtle nod.
“We should definitely save ‘Surrender’ for the encore,” I said. “It’s our namesake and the perfect closing song.”
She smiled approvingly. “Sounds like we have a solid setlist. Now, about the tour logistics. We’ll start in Toronto and then hit major cities across Canada and the US.”
“We need to make sure our gear gets to every show on time. Last time we were in Canada, we had a mix-up with customs. It was a nightmare,” Jesse stated.
Rina nodded. “I remember, and I’ve already arranged for a more reliable transportation service. Everything will be where it needs to be, I promise.”
Silas looked up. “Any press interviews?”
Rina nodded. “A few, but I’ve kept the schedule light so you all have time to rest and prepare between shows.”
I caught her eye and gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks. You’re making this easy for us.”
She waved off the thanks, but her eyes softened. “Just doing my job. Now, any other concerns or suggestions before we get into some other things?”
“I know I’m new and all and kinda like tagging along, but any chance we can get vegan options for me?” Savannah asked. “It’s not always easy to find places to eat on the road.”
“I’m glad you brought up food,” Rina said. “That brings us to a minor issue.”
“An issue? What kind of issue?” Jesse pressed.
“Our caterers fell through yesterday, and we need to find someone fast,” Rina replied.
“How about my brother?” Jesse questioned.
I sucked in a small breath. “Jasper?”
“Yeah.” Jesse nodded as if he had more than one brother. “I bet he’d be stoked to do it.”
“He’s back in the States?” I asked. Last I’d heard, he had stayed in Paris after he finished culinary school.
“Has been for a while,” Jesse answered.
My mind was racing at the thought of Jasper going on tour with us. The mention of him brought back all the memories of what we once had. Every secret kiss, every time I snuck through his window. The way he tasted, smelled, and felt in my arms.
Jesse and Rina discussed more about him, but I was lost in my thoughts, imagining his smile, his voice, just him in my life once more. The possibility of being close to him again was making my heart race. I missed him more than I wanted to admit, even to myself. What if he didn’t feel the same about me? What if he was seeing someone?
Glancing down at the crescent moon on my wrist, I wondered if he still had his. I’d gotten a few more tats over the years, but I never added to the moon or covered it up. Did he?
“Let me call him,” Jesse said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Great.” Rina stood. “Let’s take a break while you make the call.”
What if Jasper said yes?
It still hurt to think about the last time I’d gotten to see him …
The car Stellar Records, Surrender’s new record label, ordered for me and Jesse, arrived at the bistro where we were meeting our families. He and I slid out of the car and walked inside the restaurant. Immediately, I spotted my sister as she waved her hand in the air and flagged us over to where they were seated at a large table for all of us.
“There they are!” Mom beamed as she stood and rushed to hug me.
Everyone was still on a high from winning The Band Showdown . Who was I kidding? I was fucking ecstatic too. Jesse and I had just come from a photoshoot for Celebrity Style and in the morning, we were appearing on Sunrise LA to talk about being the winners and what was to come next. That, of course, was to record our first album.
“Are you guys wearing makeup?” Norah asked as she hugged me.
“Don’t be jealous, we just worked it for the cameras,” I teased.
“I’m totally jealous, but happy for you.”
“Thanks, sis.”
“We all are happy for you two,” Mr. B stated. “Silas and Elliott too.”
Our other bandmates were meeting with their families at other places before everyone returned to Boston. The guys and I were staying in LA while we finished up everything that came with winning the reality competition.
I was torn with how to feel because a part of me wanted to go home and see if Jasper and I could pick up where we left off, but the other part of me knew Surrender was finally going to live the dream. Somehow Jesse and Olivia were going to make it work, so maybe Jasper and I could too?
After the hugs with everyone were out of the way, I took a seat across from Jasper, realizing he hadn’t hugged me. “You okay?” I asked him.
He swallowed. “Yeah. Just a lot on my mind.”
“He’s flying to Paris in a few hours,” his mom cut in.
I balked. “Paris?”
“I’m starting culinary school there next week,” Jasper said.
Before I could ask him more, the waiter approached and took everyone’s order. Nothing more was said about Paris or the fact that even if the guys and I returned to Boston, Jasper wouldn’t be there, and the reality hit me hard.
I suppose in the back of my mind, I always assumed Jasper would be there waiting for me when I returned home. But as I looked at him, I felt a pang of something deeper. It wasn’t just the loss of a friend or the distance that was about to stretch between us—it was the realization of how much he meant to me.
His eyes met mine, and I wanted to tell him. To reach across the table, take his hand, and spill everything I was thinking. The truth was, I was in love with him. I had been for a long time, even before we started secretly dating.
But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when he was about to live his own dream.
I forced a smile, nodding in understanding as our families chatted around us. During the meal, I watched as he laughed with everyone as if nothing had changed.
But I finally realized it had.