Page 32 of Taste of Surrender

8

MALACHI

Three and a Half Years Later– Present Day

The intrusive sunpierced through the crack in my drapes that I’d failed to close correctly. The guys and I were spending long hours in the studio as we recorded our new album “Neon Nights,” which was due to be released the first of the year, after which we would go on tour in the spring to promote it. I was used to staying up all night and sleeping all day, but not when the sun and drapes were working against me.

Groaning, I rolled over and checked the time. I thought I still had a few hours until my alarm was set to go off, but to my surprise, I only had a few more minutes until it was time to get up. My only motivation to get out of bed was knowing Savannah Sky was coming into the studio to record a duet our label had set up for the new album.

Life had been a rollercoaster ride since winningThe Band Showdown. We went from performing for small crowds in barsnear our hometown, to signing with Stellar Records, recording our first single, and hearing it on the radio! The track was a hit, and that led to our first album. It had been a whirlwind of appearances on talk shows, photoshoots for magazines, and performing for thousands at events and festivals. A year after we won the competition, we were the opening act for another band, which gave us a small taste of life on the road. Now we were going to be the headliners for a tour that would take us to more than thirty cities across the US and Canada.

It was going to be epic.

And exhausting.

But so, so worth it.

The studio buzzedwith activity as I stepped inside.

“Finally, you arrive, Sleeping Beauty,” Jesse greeted with a grin.

I flipped him the bird. “Not all of us have a wife who nags us to make sure we’re on time.”

Jesse and Olivia weren’t married, but they might as well have been. They’d been together for over six years, and she pretty much kept us all alive.

“Don’t be mad because you wake up alone every morning,” Jesse teased.

“That’s how I like it, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, none of us want to be tied down like you,” Silas stated, giving me a bro hug.

“Trust me, when you fuckers fall in love, you’ll understand,” Jesse retorted.

Elliott walked into the room with Savannah Sky on his heels. I’d never met Savannah before, but Stellar Records wanted usto collaborate, so here we were, recording the final song for Surrender’s album together.

“Why are we talking about love?” Silas asked.

I ignored my friends and stuck out my hand for Savannah. “Hey. I’m?—”

“Malachi Danvers,” she finished for me with a smile.

I grinned back as we shook. “Yep.”

“Are we ready to do this?” Jesse probed.

“I’m ready,” Savannah replied.

“Me too.”

We walked into the adjacent room, which was separated from where the producers sat by a large window. Our mics were already set up with the lyrics printed and placed in front of us. As the guys got ready, I took a swig of water and read the words one last time.

“Which one of you wrote this song?” Savannah asked.

All eyes were on me as I lifted my hand. “That would be me.”

“Oh wow. I love it.”

“Thanks.”