Chapter 24
24
MALACHI
The next few days were a whirlwind. Silas agreed to go to rehab, and in the wee hours of the morning, the guys and I drove him to a place in Malibu so we could avoid the paparazzi. The facility was perched on a cliffside, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
We arrived just as the sun rose, which cast a golden hue over the tranquil waves. The facility’s Spanish-style architecture, with its terracotta roofs and lush, landscaped gardens, looked more like a vacation resort than a medical facility.
“Man, this place is beautiful,” Silas said from the back seat as Jesse pulled to a stop in front of the two-story mansion. “It’s hard to believe I’m here for rehab.”
“Yeah, it is,” I replied. “But it’s also the best place for you to get better.”
“Yeah, man. We’ve got your back. Just focus on getting well, okay?” Jesse said.
Silas nodded, taking a deep breath. “I know. Thanks, guys. For everything. And I’m sorry about the tour.”
Elliott turned in the front passenger seat to face Silas. “You and your health are more important than any tour,” he said.
We’d canceled the tour for the next thirty days and hoped we could at least do our Boston shows and the final one in New York City. I was okay with putting the tour on pause because, like Elliott said, Silas was more important. Plus, Jasper had agreed to stay with me in LA since he didn’t have a job or anything to go to in Boston. His sous chef, Garrett, did return to Boston, though.
“Absolutely,” I added. “We’ll be here for you, no matter what. The fans will understand.”
Silas smiled weakly. “I appreciate it, really. I’ll see you guys on the other side.”
We helped him with his bags and exchanged a few more words of encouragement. I had thoughts of spending the next thirty days in a similarly cozy location. It wouldn’t be rehab, but I pictured me and Jasper in a place overlooking the water in Hawaii or something.
“Remember, we’re just a phone call away.” Elliott clapped Silas on the shoulder. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need us.”
“Will do.”
We each gave him bro hugs and then watched as he was escorted inside by the staff. As we drove away, the silence in the car was heavy, as we were all probably letting the situation sink in.
Elliott broke the quietness. “You think he’ll be okay?”
“I hope so.” Jesse blew out a breath. “He’s got a tough road ahead, but he’s strong. He can do this.”
I nodded. “And we’ll be here if he needs us.”
We knew it would be a long thirty days for him, but we were ready to support him every step of the way.
“Pack your bag,” I said as I entered my condo.
“What? Why?” Jasper looked up from the TV show he was watching.
“The setting of that rehab place was beautiful, and it got me thinking some time away might be good.”
I really wanted to get out of LA for a while.
“Oh.” Jasper’s shoulders slumped.
“No, no, babe. I mean us. Let’s get out of LA.” I pulled him off the sofa.
His eyes brightened. “Really?”
“Hell, yes. Where do you want to go? I’ll book our flights and everything. Hell, maybe even a private jet if I need to.”
He looked past me as though he was thinking. “How about Cabo? I’ve always wanted to see those beaches and the Arch.”
“Cabo it is,” I said, grabbing my phone to make the arrangements. “But first, we need to pack.”
Jasper nodded, already heading to the bedroom to start gathering his things. “This is going to be amazing. Just you, me, and the Mexican coast.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “And no LA drama for a while. Just you and me in paradise.”
The next hour was spent packing and making the last-minute arrangements. As I booked the private jet, I felt a rush of adrenaline. This was exactly what we needed—a break from everything, a chance to recharge and find some peace. Just him and me being out in the open as a couple.
Finally, we headed to the airport. As we boarded the plane, I looked at Jasper, who was practically glowing with excitement. Seeing the look on his face made me hard as a fucking rock.
Once we landed in Cabo, we got into the limo I’d booked to take us to the resort where we were staying. Upon arrival, we checked in and got the keys to our suite, then followed a staff member who took our bags.
“Please let us know if you need anything, Mr. Danvers,” the staffer said.
“Will do.” I handed him a generous tip and he left.
Jasper and I walked into our suite and were immediately struck by its breathtaking ocean view. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was soothing. It was the perfect escape from the city.
“Look at this place,” Jasper said, looking around. “It’s amazing.”
“Yeah, it is,” I replied, taking in the luxurious surroundings. “Ready to hit the beach?”
“Hell, yeah.”
We changed into our swimwear and headed down to the pristine sands. The resort’s private beach was a stretch of heaven, almost too good to be true. We spent the afternoon lounging under a cabana, sipping on tropical drinks, and enjoying the warm weather. But it didn’t take long for our peace to be shattered. From behind the palm trees, a cluster of paparazzi emerged, their cameras clicking incessantly.
“Ugh, seriously?” Jasper groaned, slipping on his sunglasses. “Can’t we get one day without them?”
“Guess not,” I muttered, trying to shield my face. I thought for sure security would have made it so we wouldn’t be bothered, but someone at the resort must have tipped off the paps. “Let’s move further down the beach.”
We gathered our things and walked away from the intruders, hoping for a bit of privacy. But the paparazzi were relentless, following us with their lenses, snapping shots of every move we made, and yelling demands.
We tried to put on a brave face, laughing and joking, but I could feel the tension building inside of me.
“Hey, let’s go for a swim,” Jasper suggested, tugging my hand. “They can’t follow us there.”
We waded into the water, the cool waves washing over us. For a moment, it felt like we’d escaped.
Jasper floated on his back, looking up at the sky, and smiled. “This is what I came for.”
“Me too,” I agreed, trying to ignore the figures on the shore.
But as we swam, I could see the paparazzi still clicking away, some of them even wading into the shallow water for a better shot with their telephoto lenses. It was infuriating.
“All right, that’s enough,” I said, frustration boiling over. “Let’s head back to the room.”
Jasper nodded.
On the shore, I grabbed his hand, and we hurried to our room. Once behind the door and away from prying eyes, I pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry. I wanted this to be special for us.”
“It still is,” he assured me, resting his head on my shoulder. “We just have to make the most of it, despite them.”
He was right. We couldn’t let the paparazzi ruin our time together.
We took a long shower, ordered room service, and enjoyed dinner on our private balcony as the sun dipped below the horizon. The sky blazed with colors, a breathtaking end to the day.
However, before we even got to dessert , my phone was blowing up with notifications.
When I looked at the screen, I saw a headline from Star Nation that read:
“Surrender’s Malachi Danvers Spotted Enjoying Cabo Getaway with Bandmate’s Brother”