Page 69 of Taste of Surrender
“I know, but he’s my best friend and your brother. There’s some unspoken rule about that.”
“Does it matter since we’re in love?”
I thought for a moment, then squeezed his hand. “You’re right. We’ll talk to him. But first, I need to call Savannah and handle this media storm.”
Jasper nodded. “I’m with you, no matter what.”
“I hope so because the celebrity news sites are going nuts.”
“We should probably determine which side is my best side,” he teased.
I laughed at his attempt to lighten my mood and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
While having a picture published of me kissing a guy wasn’t how I wanted to come out as bisexual, it was the least of my worries since I wasn’t sure how Jesse—my lifelong friend andbandmate—was going to react to me dating his brother. Also, maybe I didn’t care that the whole world knew I was with Jasper because it was him. He was my heart.
When I called Savannah,she said she was getting ready to head to Rina’s office with her manager. We decided to just talk there because we didn’t know what to do. Rina and the label could figure it out and we’d do what they wanted. Except, of course, if they wanted us to keep fake dating.
Savannah and I were done pretending. She wanted to pursue things with Elliott, and I wanted to be with Jasper. It almost felt refreshing that everything was out in the open, except I hadn’t spoken to Jesse yet.
I knew he was going to be pissed, but I hoped he’d understand why we’d never told him. From day one of Surrender, back when we were in middle school, I was known as the flirt of the band. It helped us gain exposure, and I never wanted to let the band down. Plus, I never knew how to tell Jesse that I was bisexual, let alone that I was with Jasper. But we were older now, and Jasper and I weren’t only fooling around. We were in love, and that had to count as something in Jesse’s eyes, right?
Jasper and I had a plan. I would drive Jasper to Jesse’s so they could discuss the matter. Meanwhile, I would head to Rina’s office and agree to do whatever Savannah and our managers thought was the best way to handle the matter. After I was done meeting with Rina, I would head back to Jesse’s so I could work things out with my best friend. Except, when I arrived at Rina’s, it didn’t go that way.
I walked into the conference room and saw Jesse, Elliott, and Silas sitting around the table. Before I could ask why they were called in, Jesse sprang from his seat, his face twisted with rage.
“You didn’t think to tell me you were messing around with my brother?” he shouted, charging toward me.
I had no time to react before his fist collided with my jaw, sending me stumbling backward as pain radiating across my cheek. The room erupted into chaos as Elliott and Silas shot up from their seats to intervene and Rina shrieked.
“Jesse, stop!” Elliott yelled, grabbing him by the shoulders and trying to pull him back.
I recovered my balance, but my anger flared. I lunged forward, grabbing Jesse by the collar and pinning him against the wall. “You think this has been easy for me?” I shouted, my voice shaking. “You think I wanted to lie to my best friend? You have no idea what it’s been like!”
Jesse struggled against my hold, his eyes wild with anger. “Then why didn’t you tell me? Why did you do it behind my back?”
Before I could answer, Elliott stepped in again, forcefully prying us apart. “That’s enough!”
I released Jesse, my chest heaving. He straightened his shirt, still glaring at me.
“We’re supposed to be brothers,” he said, his voice filled with hurt. “How could you do this?”
“We are brothers,” I replied.
“Well, you did a hell of a job fucking that up.” He shook his head. “I need to get out of here. I can’t look at you right now.”
Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the conference room. I stood there, stunned and hurt, my hands shaking from the confrontation and my heart pounding in my chest. Was he only upset about Jasper, or was it also because I didn’t tell him—or anyone—that I was bi? I wasn’t sure.
Rina cleared her throat, breaking the heavy silence. “We need to focus on the issue at hand. Savannah will be here soon. We need to release a statement within the hour.”
“All right. Is it from me or the band?” I asked, still wondering why my bandmates were there. I didn’t mind, since we’d been friends for so long. Even though I’d hidden my relationship with Jasper from them, I was okay with them knowing the truth now. Hell, everyone was about to find out anyway.
“Since it affects the band, I asked them to come in,” Rina clarified. “We all need to be on the same page.”
I was surprised Silas was there and he didn’t look hungover or high or anything. As for Jesse … “Well, I guess one of you can let Jesse know.”
Elliott put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “No, man. You need to talk to Jesse. This isn’t over.”
