Chapter 25
25
MALACHI
The rest of our vacation in Mexico was spent in much the same way as our first day. When we ventured out of our resort, we did our best to avoid the photographers, but they were skilled at hiding and using telephoto lenses, so they’d gotten plenty of pictures of us to spread around.
By the time we landed back in LA, neither of us was feeling very relaxed from our trip. As we walked through the sliding doors of the private terminal at LAX to meet our driver, the all too familiar sound of cameras snapping photos and questions being shouted out started up.
As we hurried into the black SUV, I heard someone ask, “Is your relationship the reason Jesse’s leaving the band?”
Jesse leaving the band? What the fuck?
Over the years, I’d gotten good at ignoring the paparazzi and their thirst for the latest gossip, so I tried my best to show the question didn’t catch me off guard. It did, though. Was Jesse leaving? I’d always feared I’d be the one to make the band fall apart because of the secrets of my sexuality. Had I?
“What the hell was that all about?” Jasper asked as the driver shut the door.
I lifted a shoulder. “No clue. I should call Jesse to find out what’s going on.”
After the articles came out that identified Jasper as Jesse’s brother, we’d tried to ignore all the speculation, but maybe we’d missed something major if rumors the band was splitting up were flying around before I fucking knew anything about it.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Jesse as our driver pulled onto the 405.
“Hey,” he greeted. “Still in Cabo?”
“Nah. We just left LAX, but what the hell is going on? Are you leaving Surrender?”
“Fuck no. Why would you believe some bullshit rumor?”
“I don’t know.” I blew out a breath. “Guess I’m still not sure we’re really cool again.”
“We’re cool unless you break my brother’s heart.”
I looked over at Jasper and laced my fingers with his. I gave him a warm smile and then said into the phone, “That would never happen.”
“Good. And again, I’m not leaving the band.”
“Well, that rumor had to come from somewhere, right?”
“Who fucking knows. People just like to start shit. They see an opening and want to make money off someone else’s life.”
“True. We need to debunk it somehow.”
“Rina can make a statement.”
I shook my head slightly. “I don’t know. Feels like words won’t be enough.”
“So, what are you thinking?”
“Well,” I cracked a smile, still looking at my boyfriend. “We could go on a double date.”
Jesse snorted a laugh in my ear while Jasper’s eyes widened.
“A double date?” Jesse asked.
“Sure, why not?”
“I mean, I guess that’s what people do, but you better not fucking suck face with my brother in front of me.”
“I can’t promise that.” I winked at Jasper. “But you’re one to talk since you always have your hands all over Olivia.”
“No, I don’t.”
“You do kiss in front of us,” I reminded him.
“Well, she’s not your sister.”
“All right. You have a point.”
The ringing of my phone woke me from a dead sleep. Opening my eyes, I realized I was passed out on my couch with Jasper in my arms as we watched—or tried to watch—a movie to relax after coming home.
Jasper rose from our spooning, grabbed my phone, and handed it to me.
I sat up and swiped the answer button, even though I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mal. It’s Silas.”
“Hey, bro. How’s it going?” I mouthed to Jasper that it was Silas and he nodded.
“It’s going good, but I heard Jesse’s leaving the band?”
I closed my eyes, leaning back into the couch. “No, man, Jesse’s not going anywhere. I promise you that. It’s just some moron spreading rumors.”
“Damn. One of the patients here had her daughter visit. Huge fan of ours and was sad we were breaking up. I had to pay a nurse to let me use her phone to call you and not the monitored line they want us to use.”
I chuckled slightly as I envisioned him doing just that. “A lot of rumors are flying around, but trust me, everything’s under control. We’ve got a plan in motion. You don’t need to stress about the band right now. Focus on you and getting better.”
“Yeah, easier said than done,” he muttered. “It’s hard not to worry about it since I’m the reason we’re not touring right now.”
“Don’t sweat it,” I replied. “We need you back healthy, man. That’s the most important thing.”
There was a long pause, and I could almost hear Silas wrestling with his thoughts on the other end. “Malachi,” he started, his voice breaking slightly, “I can’t stop thinking about that night and thinking about if you hadn’t found me.”
My grip tightened on the phone. “Silas?—”
“You probably saved my life.”
I swallowed hard, forcing the memories back into the box I kept them in. “You scared the hell out of me, Silas. Finding you like that ... it’s something I’ll never forget. But you didn’t die. You’re still here, and you’re fighting. That’s what matters.”
“I know,” he whispered. “I’m trying. I really am.”
“I know you are.” My voice cracked despite my efforts to keep it steady. “And I’m proud of you. We all are. You’ve got so much more life to live, so much more music to make. Don’t let this beat you.”
Silas was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was softer, more vulnerable. “Thank you, Malachi. For everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”
“You’re not alone in this. We’re a family. We take care of our own.” Jasper reached out to rest a hand on my thigh. I continued speaking into the phone, “You just focus on getting better, okay? We’ll handle the rest. Don’t worry about the bullshit gossip. Surrender isn’t breaking up.”
“Okay,” Silas replied, his voice steadier now. “I’ll try.”
“Good. And remember, we’re all here for you. Anytime you need to talk, you call me, all right?”
“Yeah, but getting a phone wasn’t that cheap.”
I chuckled. “We can afford it.”
“I know. Thanks again. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Take care, buddy.” I ended the call and let out a long breath, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees.
“How’s he holding up?” Jasper asked softly.
“He’s struggling,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “But he’s trying. That’s all we can ask for right now.”
He nodded and gave my thigh a comforting pat. “He’ll make it through.”
“I hope so.”
Jesse’s Audi Q7 glided to a stop in front of the valet stand at the entrance of the Beverly Hills restaurant we’d chosen for our double date. We’d ridden together to show no animosity remained among us. We’d picked a spot popular with celebrities, knowing the paps would be in full force.
Jesse shifted the car into park and turned to Jasper and me in the backseat. “Ready for this?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” I replied and gave Jasper’s hand a squeeze.
We stepped out of the car, and the valet swiftly took Jesse’s keys. As we made our way toward the entrance, the paparazzi wasted no time. Flashes burst around us, their bright lights temporarily blinding me.
“Jesse! Is it true you’re leaving Surrender?” a voice shouted.
More flashes followed, and suddenly we were surrounded by a swarm of paps, their cameras clicking furiously.
“Jesse, over here!” another called out. “Are the rumors true? Why are you leaving Surrender?”
He kept moving, Olivia clutching his arm tightly, her eyes focused on the ground in front of her as Jesse led her toward the doors.
“Jasper! Malachi! How long have you two been secretly dating?” My heart pounded, but I kept my gaze forward, my hand in Jasper’s as we walked behind Jesse and Olivia.
“Any truth to the rumors about Jesse?” another reporter pressed, shifting the focus back to Jesse. “Will Surrender replace him?”
I’d had enough and stopped abruptly, Jasper’s hand slipping from mine. My blood boiled as I turned to face the crowd. “Jesse isn’t leaving the band. And as for Jasper and me, our relationship isn’t a secret. We just prefer to keep our private lives private.”
The cameras continued to flash and we pushed our way through the throng to where Jesse and Olivia stood at the restaurant’s door. Once inside, the ma?tre d’ led us to a table by the window, which gave us a clear view of the paparazzi still gathered outside. It was an intentional choice because we wanted them to see everything was okay between all of us, an idea I’d gotten from when Savannah and I had our fake date.
Jesse pulled out Olivia’s chair for her and then took his seat. Jasper sat beside me, and the entire time, I saw the flickering of the flashes outside.
A waiter appeared almost immediately and took our drink orders. Once he left, we all exchanged relieved smiles.
“Well, that was intense,” Olivia said with a slight chuckle.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time since we were the ones getting hounded,” Jesse added, reaching for Olivia’s hand.
Jasper looked at me, his eyes warm. “You okay?”
I nodded, leaning in to kiss him lightly on the cheek.
“No sucking face!” Jesse chuckled.
I grinned. “I kissed his cheek. But just know we’ve done more than that with you in the room.”
“What?” His eyes widened as he gasped.
“Oh, god,” Jasper groaned and tried to cover his face with his hand.
I laughed but didn’t elaborate about the night of Jasper’s eighteenth birthday. While everything was cool between Jesse, Jasper, and me, some things he didn’t need to know.