Page 109 of Conquest

“For now.”

Kenny got an apprehensive look. “For now?”

“We decided to appease Greg by not openly admitting anything for a little while longer, but we’re not going to deny rumors either. We just won’t comment on them.”

“But then you’re leaving people to believe the rumors are true,” Julian said.

“Which is fine. It’ll be less of a shock for when we feel the time is right to openly confess our relationship.” Jesse realized that out of everyone, Trish had yet to say a word. He hadn’t talked to her much since Christmas, or to anyone since he had been so focused on hoarding Evan all to himself, but when they were around her, she was fairly quiet, and he wondered if she still harbored a grudge against Evan for his actions toward Jesse. He made a mental note to get some one-on-one time with her and tell her it was fine to treat Evan normally. He glanced at her standing behind him. “You okay?”

Trish stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah. I think I’m still in shock that we just played for pretty much the whole country.”

“I know,” Jesse said with a contented sigh. “And I looked so damn good on camera, too.”

“Well, get ready Captain Pretty Boy or else you’ll miss your cue,” Kenny said.

Jesse turned his attention to the stage.

The stage lights flashed on with blinding brilliance, flames shot up in a quick blast from the pyrotechnics at the front of the stage, all timed perfectly to Evan’s band launching into the hard driving rock track, “Addiction.” Evan walked toward the front of the stage as if it and the entire world belonged to him, and let his baritone blast out,

“You’re in my mind,

You’re in my soul,

You’re everywhere.

I just can’t get away.

There’s no help for me.

But how I love this torture so sweet,

The ghost of your memory,

Haunting me.

I feel you there,

When I close my eyes.

This addiction,

It’s left me weak and sore,

But I don’t want to the cure,

It’d mean not having you anymore.

This addiction,

It’s pounding in my brain,

But oh how I love the pain,

Breaking my body down again,

This addiction…”

Just as Jesse prepared to step on stage with Kenny to join JJ in the guitar solo, Evan raised his left hand and dropped it down in a swift motion. The entire band stopped playing, the stage lights blackened. Jesse snapped his head around to look at Kenny, but Julian sprinted past him toward the stage, aiming for a black grand piano.