Page 26 of Taste of Surrender

That was in a few weeks.

“That soon?” I questioned.

“Yeah, man,” he replied. “We’re about to have a crazy few months, at least. More if we fucking win.”

“Whenwe win,” Silas stated. “We’re fucking winning.”

“Hell yeah!” Elliott and Silas high-fived.

A few months of us in LA, while Jasper’s back in Boston. The realization hit me hard. There would be no sneaking around. No kissing. No touching. No seeing him every day, and I knew deep down I was going to miss him like crazy.

“You good?” Jesse clapped me on the back.

“Yep.” I nodded and plastered on a smile, despite my internal thoughts. “Just can’t believe it.”

“Well, fucking believe it! We need to go tell everyone.”

Tell everyone … Tell Jasper.

Shit.

“Let me get my parents over here so we can let everyone know together.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket.

“I’m going to head home and share the news with my parents,” Silas stated.

“Me too,” Elliott said.

Our friends left, and I dialed my mom.

“Hey, honey,” she answered.

“Hey. Can you and Dad come down to Jesse’s?” I asked.

“Is everything okay?” she questioned.

I nodded and looked at Jesse with finally a genuine smile. “Things are amazing. We have news.”

She gasped. “You made it to the live auditions?”

“Just come over.” I chuckled.

“We’ll be right there.”

I hung up and followed Jesse into his house.

“Fam,” he yelled. “Come to the kitchen!”

“What’s going on?” his dad asked, coming into the room.

His mom was right behind him, but I didn’t see Jasper. He was probably sound asleep with earplugs in, so he couldn’t hear us practicing. I didn’t blame him.

“You’ll find out in a second. We’re waiting for Mal’s parents, and where the hell is Jasper?” Jesse questioned.

“In his room,” Mrs. B replied. “Does this mean Surrender is going to LA?”

Before Jesse could confirm we were, there was a knock on the front door.

“I’ll get it,” I said.