Page 50 of Saving the Rockstar

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I let him lead me offstage, his hand warm and reassuring in mine.

I could feel the panic rising up in me like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under.

My chest was tight, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps as I stumbled along beside Jared, his hand a vice grip on my arm as he led me through the winding corridors of the arena.

Just as I thought I might shatter into a million pieces, Jared was there, his arms wrapping around me like a shield, his body solid and warm against my own.

"I've got you, Ash," he murmured, his voice low and soothing in my ear. "You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you."

I clung to him like a lifeline, my face buried in the crook of his neck as I tried to steady my breathing, to slow the racing of my heart.

When I finally pulled back, my cheeks damp with tears and my breath still shaky, he cupped my face in his hands. And then, in a gesture of pure instinct and care, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips warm and soft against my skin.

It was a simple thing, a fleeting moment of intimacy in the midst of chaos. But our moment of peace was short-lived. For unbeknownst to us, hidden in the shadows of the arena, a paparazzo had captured that intimate exchange, his camera lens trained on us like a sniper's scope.

And within minutes, the image was splashed across social media, accompanied by rampant speculation and lurid headlines that made my stomach churn with dread.

Asher Roth Caught in Intimate Embrace with Bodyguard.

Secret Gay Affair Rocks Novocaine Dreams Tour.

In the dressing room, our manager Vivian was in full crisis mode, her phone glued to her ear as she fielded calls from the record label, from media outlets demanding a statement, an explanation for the bombshell that had just been dropped on the music industry.

"No comment," she barked into the phone, her free hand massaging her temple as if to ward off an impending migraine. "Yes, we will be releasing a statement in due course. No, I will not put Asher on the phone."

I watched her from my perch on the couch, my knees drawn up to my chest and my arms wrapped tightly around myself as if to hold the broken pieces of my psyche together. I felt like a ghost, a spectator in my own life, watching helplessly as everything I had fought so hard for crumbled around me like a house of cards.

Beside me, Jared sat in stoic silence, his jaw clenched as he listened to Vivian's increasingly frantic conversations. I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves, the barely contained anger and frustration that simmered just beneath the surface of his skin.

With a shaky breath and a trembling hand, I reached out and laced my fingers with Jared's, my grip tight and desperate as I clung to the one thing that felt real, the one thing that felt true in the midst of all the chaos and the noise.

Chapter 16: Jared

As we stood together in the empty venue, I could see the fear and the uncertainty etched into every line of Asher's face. He was physically closer to me than ever before, his hand finding mine. But there was a distance in his eyes, a haunted look that spoke of the wars being waged within his own mind and heart.

"Jared, I'm scared," he whispered, his voice raw and trembling with emotion. "If I confirm the rumors, if I come out and say that I'm... that I'm gay, it could all be over. The backlash, the hatred... I don't know if I'm strong enough to face that."

I squeezed his hand, my heart aching with the need to take away his pain, to shoulder the burden that weighed so heavily upon him.

"Asher, listen to me," I said softly, my free hand coming up to cup his cheek. "Living your truth, being true to who you are, even in the face of adversity, that's the very definition of courage."

I took a deep breath, my own emotions running high.

"I know it's not easy," I continued, my thumb stroking gently across his skin. "Believe me, I've been there. I've struggled with my own identity, my own fear of rejection and judgment. But I've learned that the only way to truly be happy, to truly be free, is to embrace all parts of myself, even the ones that don't fit neatly into society's expectations."

Asher shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "That's easy for you to say," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of resentment. "You have the luxury of keeping your private life private. You don't have to worry about losing everything,because you're not the one in the spotlight. You're not the one whose every move is scrutinized and judged."

The words hung heavy in the air between us, a palpable hurt inside me at the implication that my own struggles were somehow less valid, less important.

But before I could respond, before I could defend myself or my feelings, Asher's expression crumpled, his shoulders slumping as if under the weight of his own guilt and regret.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "I didn't mean that. When I'm in a dark place, mentally, I tend to push people away. It's a defense mechanism, I guess. A way to protect myself from getting hurt."

I softened, my hurt melting away in the face of his vulnerability, his honesty.

"I know, Ash," I said gently, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "But I need you to understand something. No amount of pushing is going to work on me. I'm here to stay, no matter what."

Asher's breath hitched, his eyes searching mine with a desperate intensity, as if looking for the lie, the catch, the inevitable disappointment. But there was none to be found. Only love, pure and true and unshakable.

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