They stayed that way for a long moment.What could she do to help?She felt completely helpless.Her dad.She needed to call her dad.He had been working quietly for the past few months, trying to find a way around the nonfraternization clause without causing waves.
“Dante?Let me go call my dad.This is, like, coercion or something.That’s not legal.”He would fix this.She leaned back on her heels and took her phone from her pocket, but Dante’s voice stopped her.
“I can’t do this.”His voice was hollow, bare, nothing like the Dante she knew and adored.None of his warmth.None of his strength.
It sapped her of her own.“Of course not.Of course you don’t need to do an interview with Casper, or share your story.”
“No.”
It was final, those two letters.And when he turned to face her, she saw it written there too.Tears started in her feet and worked their way up her body.
“No.I mean, I can’t do this, El.I can’t get up on that stage and fuck it up for everyone.”
“You won’t—”
“I can’t keep hiding.”
“What do you—”
“You know what I mean.”He sighed and kicked his feet out in front of him.“I’m proud of who I am.I don’t want to hide.Sneaking around with you… I love you, El.I love you, and I can’t hide anymore.I can’t.I can’t pretend to be someone else.I can’t watch you becoming someone you aren’t.”
Her heart stopped and started and fluttered.He loved her.He had never said it before, not outright.Though she had felt it, hadn’t she?Those nights when it was just them.In the way he looked at her.And she loved him too.She’d be a fool not to admit it.
“Dante, please.”It was all she could say.“Please.We don’t have to hide.I’m not changing, not really.I’m scared too.Okay?The show and the band…it’s all a lot.But we’re strong, right?We can figure this out.”
“It’s not what I want.”He wouldn’t meet her gaze.“I don’t want to pretend to be someone else, someone who’s okay with all of this, while Logan changes you until you’re unrecognizable.”
His words sliced into her.“I want you.”It was not enough, she knew that.He deserved to hear that she loved him.But it all felt too much, too powerful, a wave crashing into her and dragging her into the undertow.“Logan won’t change me.We can figure this out.”
“I can’t work with him.”Dante sank back into the chair beside her and threaded his fingers through the hair at his temples.She knew exactly how it felt, the soft curls and slight scent of citrus and pine.“I don’t want this.I want to play my music and be a part of the band, but I don’t want the notoriety that’s going to come from being on this show.I don’t want the whole shitstorm social media thing.Maybe if I were Casper, but I’m not.”
She was surprised she could speak, since all the air had left the room.“We don’t have to do the show.”
“Yes, you do.”He leaned over and picked up his bass.“You have to.Selene and Lorraine have to.Get your words out there.Inspire people, the way you inspire me.”
Tears rose and caught in her throat.Didn’t he realize he was her inspiration?Her muse?
“I love you, Dante.After the show, I’ll fire Logan.I promise.No more hiding.”
She met his gaze and saw the sorrow and hope commingled there.Her heart and soul burned.
“I hope so, El.I’ll always be there if you need me, but I think you’ll play better without me up there on stage.”He hesitated, for only a moment.And for a moment, she hoped.She hoped he would change his mind.The interview was ridiculous, another instance of Logan being an asshole.They could figure this out.She would never play the same without him.
Then he kissed her on the forehead, his lips so familiar and warm, and she knew.She knew it was over.Really over.
In the end, it was just her and Jasper and a microphone.
* * *
Excerpt,NotASnitch.com
…And who doyou think we saw last week canoodling outside Rocking Reilly’s?Two of the rising stars of the Vendetta, who are supposed to be submitting a song for this season ofAmerica Sings!We suspect Logan Groff won’t be thrilled about this…
Excerpt,It’s Music, Not Gossip
…So Dante Bakerleft town quietly last week, and Groff is already on the search for a new bassist.We suspect Groff is going to build up Ellery Vaughn as more of a solo act than the Vendetta allowed.We’ll see how Selene and Lorraine manage that.
The real question is why Baker left.Arguably, the band excelled while he played with them, and now he’s Seattle bound, per our reporter at LAX.
