Chapter 11
11
Jasper
My phone rang as I sat at the dining table in the apartment I shared with another chef. Garrett and I met when we worked at the same restaurant after I returned from France. We had quickly formed a friendship and decided to be roommates.
Glancing at my phone, I saw my brother’s name on the screen, and I smiled as I answered. “Hey, bro. What’s up?”
“Hey, I’m glad I actually caught you. Gotta a minute to talk, or are you working?”
Jesse and I texted each other about once a week, but with our busy schedules, we didn’t get many opportunities to chat.
“Just writing up a grocery list. What’s up?”
“The guys and I are meeting with our manager about our upcoming tour.”
I put my pen down. “Okay …”
I had no idea why he was calling me about his band stuff, but if he was talking about his upcoming concerts, maybe I would get a chance to ask him about backstage passes for Ryan and Morgan.
“Turns out the company they were going to use for catering fell through. I suggested they hire you, and our manager agreed to offer you the job if you want it.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. Say you’ll do it.”
“I don’t know. I have clients who depend on me.”
“I know, but think of all the doors this could open for you. The record label would be a great connection for you later.”
He had a good point. “What all does the job entail? Would I be cooking for hundreds of people every day?”
He chuckled. “It’s nice you think we’re so big we’ll have hundreds with us on this tour, but no. I don’t know all the details yet, but you’ll probably only have to do a big dinner on show nights. Otherwise, it’s just us, our manager, a couple of directors, Midnight Thunder who will be opening for us, and Savannah Sky. You know the guys and I are chill about what we eat, but you’ll need to make some vegan options for Savannah and maybe some other staffers.”
“Savannah Sky is going on tour with you?”
“Did I not mention it when we last talked?”
“Uh, no.” I snorted. “Pretty sure I would have remembered if you had.” Savannah Sky was an up-and-coming pop star with incredible vocal range who had recorded a song with Malachi. Between her blonde bombshell looks and being featured on Surrender’s new album, she had become a regular on all the celebrity gossip sites.
“Yeah, it seems everyone loves ‘Whispers in the Night,’ so as long as Malachi can keep his dick in his pants and not make her mad, she’ll be performing it with us. There’s going to be an announcement about it tomorrow.”
My stomach dropped at the mention of Malachi being with someone else. “What do you mean? Are they together?”
Jesse laughed. “No, but I’m pretty sure she has a thing for him. You know how he is, though. No serious relationships for him.”
“Dude, fuck off,” Malachi grumbled in the background and hearing his voice again made my heart race.
“Anyway, what do you think about the job? You’ll get to travel all around the US and Canada. I know how much you love visiting new places.”
It was true. After I finished culinary school in Paris, I took advantage of the train system in Europe and visited several other countries. My goal was to one day travel across the US since I had seen little outside of the Northeast.
“It’s a lot to think about,” I said. “When do you need an answer?”
“Like in a week. Rina suggested you come out next month and start cooking for us during rehearsals. It will give you a few weeks to figure out anything you might need and work with the label to get it all set up. She also said it would be a good idea for you to bring an assistant if you know of anyone.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know.”
I spent the next few days weighing the pros and cons of going on tour with Surrender. Jesse was right about one thing; working for a major record label had the potential to boost my career. Plus, traveling and spending time with my brother would be great. But one thing held me back—or rather, one person.
Malachi Danvers.
Being in his presence every single day had the potential to make me fall for him all over again, and I didn’t know if I could handle having my heart broken for a second time.
I shook my head, trying to rid it of the intrusive thoughts. Malachi wasn’t out as being bi. I didn’t know if he ever would be, and for that reason along with him being Jesse’s best friend, I knew nothing could ever happen openly between us.
I entered my apartment and saw my roommate, Garrett, standing at the stove.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked when he noticed me.
“Not much. You got work tonight?”
He shrugged. “I do, but I’m not looking forward to it. Nigel has been a terror lately, and I’m sure he’s going to yell at me the whole time I’m there.”
Nigel, the head chef at the restaurant where I used to work with Garrett, was a dick. It wasn’t unheard of in the restaurant industry, but I understood why Garrett wasn’t looking forward to his shift.
I took a seat at the dining table, which sat just off the entrance to the kitchen. “About that. I’ve got something I wanted to run by you.”
He turned off the burner and spun around. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “My brother offered me a job as the chef on his upcoming tour.”
“Seriously? That’s awesome. Are you going to do it?”
Despite my concern about being around Malachi, the more I thought about it, I couldn’t deny how great of an opportunity it was. And maybe seeing Malachi wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Years had passed since we were together. Time had a way of changing people, and it was possible I was worried about nothing. Surely the feelings I had before wouldn’t be the same now. At least, I could hope that was the case.
“I think so, and when I was talking to Jesse, he mentioned I should find another chef to help me out. You interested?”
Garrett’s eyes lit up. “You want me to work with you?”
“Of course. We already know we make a great team in the kitchen, and I know you’re dying to tell Nigel to shove it. We’re on a month-to-month lease here. Seems like perfect timing to me.”
“Hell yeah.” He walked over and pulled me up into a bro hug. “Let’s do this.”
“Cool. I’ll let my brother know, and then we can work out the details once I have more information.”
I headed toward my room and called Jesse. It rang a few times and then went to voicemail. Instead of leaving a message, I sent him a text:
I’m in
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.
Jesse: Awesome! Can’t wait to see you
Once I decided to take the job, I had to let all my clients know. I walked to Sean Ashford’s door and entered the code on the keypad to let myself in. I had texted him earlier to see what time he’d be home and told him I had something to discuss with him.
While working on dinner, I heard the door open, followed by two familiar voices. Ryan was with his father, and I was both grateful I could talk to them together and a little bummed my new job meant saying goodbye to Ryan as well.
It wasn’t because I wanted something more with him than the casual thing we had going, but I considered him a friend, and I enjoyed hanging out with him.
“Hey, Jasper,” Sean greeted. “I’m going to put my stuff down, and then I’ll be back.”
“Okay. Dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes.” I smiled.
When Sean walked away, Ryan sat at the island where he usually watched me cook. “Dad said you had something to talk to him about.”
I nodded, but said nothing.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, just work stuff.”
“Ah. Gotcha. Maybe we can hit up Chrome after you’re done here,” he suggested.
Any other night, I would have jumped at the chance to grab a couple of drinks and dance, but I had a lot I needed to do prior to leaving for LA.
“I wish I could, but tonight won’t work.”
He looked a little disappointed. “Raincheck, then?”
Before I could commit to going out another night, Sean returned and poured himself a glass of Macallan.
“Either of you want one?” He lifted the bottle.
Some people may have found it strange he would offer me a drink when I was there to prepare meals for him, but Sean never treated me as though I was just an employee. It set him apart from most of my other clients and was one of the reasons I would miss working for him the most.
“I’m good, but thank you,” I replied.
“You know I’ll never pass up a glass of your favorite whisky.” Ryan chuckled.
Once they both had their drinks, Sean took a seat and addressed me, “So you had something you wanted to discuss?”
“I do.” I turned on the oven so it could preheat and then took a deep breath and faced him. “I’m putting in my two weeks’ notice.”
Sean’s and Ryan’s eyes went wide, and then Sean spoke. “Oh. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve really enjoyed working for you, but my brother offered me a job while he’s on tour, and it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.”
“Wait,” Ryan said. “Are you telling us you’re going on tour with Surrender?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Holy shit. Wait until I tell Morgan. You know she’s going to be bugging your ass even more for those backstage passes now.”
I laughed. “I still don’t know how that all works, but I’ll do my best to hook you guys up with something when the tour comes here.” My eyes flicked back to Sean. “I hope you can understand my decision.”
He stood and walked around the island to shake my hand. “Of course I do. Not many people get a chance to travel around the country with a famous rock band, and it would be silly not to do it.”
“Thank you.”
He patted my shoulder. “And if you find yourself back in Boston and need a job, give me a call.”
“I appreciate it.”
The next two weeks were jam-packed, and before I knew it, I was in LA. Olivia picked me up from the airport, and we stopped by her and Jesse’s house to drop off my luggage before driving me to the warehouse where Surrender was rehearsing so I could meet up with everyone. Garrett was going to join us in Toronto when the tour started because he still had some shit to wrap up back home, so I was all by myself.
We checked in with a security guard at the gate, and then she stopped next to the building. “I’ve got an appointment to get to, but I’ll see you later tonight. We’re really happy you’re here.”
I leaned over and gave her a quick hug. “Thanks.”
Grabbing my notebook so I could take notes of everyone’s dietary preferences, I slid out of the car and gave her a little wave before she drove away. Turning around, I took a deep breath. The only thing standing between me and seeing Malachi again was the large steel door in front of me. Gathering all the courage I could muster, I pulled it open.
Malachi’s deep, smooth voice filled my ears as I stepped inside. The band was up on the makeshift stage, the bright lights shining down on them. It was dark where I stood, so I didn’t think they could see me from where they practiced.
He looked different from the guy I remembered. His dark brown hair was longer and hung over his forehead, almost covering his striking green eyes. He’d also bulked up, making the sleeves of his black T-shirt look as though they barely fit over his biceps, which flexed as he gripped the microphone. The years had been extremely kind to him, and I knew I was screwed. There was no way I could look at him every day and not want to relive all the secret moments we’d once shared.
As I walked closer, I could see he had more tattoos than the last time I saw him, but the crescent moon on his wrist that matched mine had been left untouched. It surprised me he hadn’t covered it up.