Page 37 of Taste of Surrender
I satat the long conference table in our manager’s office, tapping my fingers lightly on the polished wood. The afternoon sun streaming through the tall windows cast a golden hue on the band posters that adorned the walls and made the room warm.
My bandmates, Savannah, and the guys from Midnight Thunder, the band opening for us, were seated around me, each absorbed in their own thoughts. I hadn’t seen Savannah since we’d hooked up after recording “Whispers in the Night.” We both knew it was a one-night thing. Hell, maybe it would turn into more than a one off since she was going on tour with us. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but if she was down to fuck, I wasn’t going to turn her away.
At the end of the table, Rina, our manager, sat with her laptop open and a stack of papers beside her. She clapped her hands together to gather everyone’s attention. “All right, let’s get started. We need to finalize the setlist for the tour and discuss logistics and some other things.”
“Let’s start with the setlist,” I suggested. “We need to make sure it flows well and keeps the energy up.”
Jesse looked up from his phone. “I was thinking we should open with ‘Rising Tide.’ It’s a strong start and gets the crowd pumped from the get-go.”
Elliott nodded. “Yeah, and we can follow it up with ‘Echoes of Tomorrow.’ That bass line is killer and transitions perfectly.”
I scribbled notes on my notepad as we continued to put our set together. “How about ‘Midnight Reverie’ in the middle? It’s slower, but it showcases our range.”
Silas stopped tapping his sticks, his brow furrowed in thought. “I like that. And then we can bring the energy back up with ‘Fading Lights,’ ‘Crimson Sky,’ ‘Chasing Shadows,’ ‘Gravity Pull,’, and ‘Silver Lining’ before we hit the finale with Savannah.”
Rina’s fingers flew over the keyboard as she made notes on her laptop. “Great suggestions. Remember, we also need to consider the timing and any potential encores.”
I exchanged a glance with Jesse, who gave a subtle nod.
“We should definitely save ‘Surrender’ for the encore,” I said. “It’s our namesake and the perfect closing song.”
She smiled approvingly. “Sounds like we have a solid setlist. Now, about the tour logistics. We’ll start in Toronto and then hit major cities across Canada and the US.”
“We need to make sure our gear gets to every show on time. Last time we were in Canada, we had a mix-up with customs. It was a nightmare,” Jesse stated.
Rina nodded. “I remember, and I’ve already arranged for a more reliable transportation service. Everything will be where it needs to be, I promise.”
Silas looked up. “Any press interviews?”
Rina nodded. “A few, but I’ve kept the schedule light so you all have time to rest and prepare between shows.”
I caught her eye and gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks. You’re making this easy for us.”
She waved off the thanks, but her eyes softened. “Just doing my job. Now, any other concerns or suggestions before we get into some other things?”
“I know I’m new and all and kinda like tagging along, but any chance we can get vegan options for me?” Savannah asked. “It’s not always easy to find places to eat on the road.”
“I’m glad you brought up food,” Rina said. “That brings us to a minor issue.”
“An issue? What kind of issue?” Jesse pressed.
“Our caterers fell through yesterday, and we need to find someone fast,” Rina replied.
“How about my brother?” Jesse questioned.
I sucked in a small breath. “Jasper?”
“Yeah.” Jesse nodded as if he had more than one brother. “I bet he’d be stoked to do it.”
“He’s back in the States?” I asked. Last I’d heard, he had stayed in Paris after he finished culinary school.
“Has been for a while,” Jesse answered.
My mind was racing at the thought of Jasper going on tour with us. The mention of him brought back all the memories of what we once had. Every secret kiss, every time I snuck through his window. The way he tasted, smelled, and felt in my arms.
Jesse and Rina discussed more about him, but I was lost in my thoughts, imagining his smile, his voice, just him in my life once more. The possibility of being close to him again was making my heart race. I missed him more than I wanted to admit, even to myself. What if he didn’t feel the same about me? What if he was seeing someone?
Glancing down at the crescent moon on my wrist, I wondered if he still had his. I’d gotten a few more tats over the years, but I never added to the moon or covered it up. Did he?
