Page 84 of Taste of Surrender
Jesse’s Audi Q7glided 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 maître 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.
26
Jasper
I stoodin Malachi’s kitchen debating what to make for dinner when I heard the front door open. “I’m in the kitchen.”
A second later, Malachi walked around the corner and greeted me with a kiss. “You makin’ dinner?”
“Don’t I make it every night?” I teased.
He smiled. “You do, and I appreciate it more than you know, but I don’t want you to think you need to cook all the time.”
One of the many things I loved about Malachi was how thoughtful he was of those he cared about. He’d been the same way when he was younger, and all of his fame hadn’t changed him.
