Page 75 of Taste of Surrender
“I hope you’re right.”
My eyes lockedonto Jasper’s as he stood in the front row, looking up at the stage as I sang the duet with Savannah. I winked and then looked back at Savannah. We were usually eye fucking each other during this part of the show, but tonight, it was different. It was almost as though I could hear everyone in the audience whispering about the so-called scandal. Maybe they were.
Once the guys and I sang our encore, we exited the stage. Sweat was dripping from every inch of my body and I grabbed a bottle of water and drank the entire thing in one long gulp.
“All right, guys,” Rina said. “Great show. We have the meet and greet starting in thirty. Go freshen up.”
We headed to Surrender’s green room. Jesse still was not talking to me, but I was done trying to get him to hear me out. When he was ready, he could come to me. I didn’t need his approval, and it was clear we could still perform without uttering a word to each other.
Grabbing my bag, I changed out of the tank top and jeans I was wearing and into a fresh tank top and pair of jeans. Jesse and Elliott did the same, but Silas was nowhere to be seen.
“Where did Silas go?” I asked.
“Said he left his bag in the car,” Elliott replied.
I nodded and went to the small makeshift bar and poured myself a vodka soda. The door opened and Olivia and Jasper walked in.
“Great show, you guys,” Olivia stated.
“Thanks, baby.” Jesse stood and kissed her lips.
I wanted to do the same with Jasper, but also didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire. Instead, I asked him, “Want a drink?”
“Sure.” He walked up next to me.
I poured him one, and then we sat on the couch. We still had about twenty minutes before we had to put on a smile and pretend we weren’t exhausted and just wanted to go home and crash before we headed back out onto the road. We had a show in San Diego the next day and would leave in the morning to head down. I just wanted to go to my condo, shower, and crawl into my bed one last time with Jasper before we were back on a cramped bus and sleeping in hotels again.
As the minutes ticked by, Silas still hadn’t shown up, and the meet and greet was about to start. Savannah, the one who took the longest to change, had even returned so she and Elliott could make out in the corner.
“Where the fuck is Silas?” I asked again.
We all shared a look, likely thinking the same thing.
“I’ll go look for him,” I said, setting my drink down. Jasper gave me a questioning look, and I mouthed, “I’ll be right back.”
I made my way through the backstage area and out to Silas’s car first, but it was empty. I headed back inside, searching every room along the way. Finally, I reached the bathroom. I pushed the door open slowly and my heart stopped at the scene in front of me.
Silas was passed out on the grungy floor, a bag of white powder lying next to him. The sight of his pale face and the shallow rise and fall of his chest sent a jolt of panic through me, so I rushed to his side.
“Silas!” I shook him, but he didn’t respond. “Help!” I shouted as my mind raced. I fumbled for my phone and dialed 911 as fast as I could with shaky hands.
“911. Where’s your emergency?”
I told them where we were, and what I thought was happening, and then yelled again for help from my friends.
“Come on, Silas, wake up,” I urged, shaking him again. His breathing was light, his pulse weak. My heart pounded in my chest, and time stretched into what felt like an eternity.
The bathroom door flew open, and Jesse burst in, followed closely by the others. Jesse’s eyes widened, and he quickly knelt beside me, helping to prop Silas up.
“Shit!” Elliott gasped.
“I called 911. The ambulance is on its way,” I stated.
“We need to keep him awake,” Jesse said, slapping Silas’s cheeks lightly. “Silas, stay with us, man. Come on.”
Security came into the small room, saw what was happening and muttered, “Fuck,” before running off.
“Come on, Silas,” I pleaded.
