Page 74 of For One Night Only

“We love you, but this is a terrible idea,” Keeley says. “Have you even talked about what happens after the concert?”

I open my mouth to say something, anything, in my defense, but I come up empty. Before I can even try, we’re being called over to go over the schedule for the rest of the day.

But the worst thing is, I’m worried Keeley is right. When all this is over, it’s entirely possible I’ll be alone and heartbroken. As we confirm plans for our first interview, I’m half listening.

I won’t let history repeat itself. I’ll fight for Caleb. This concert can’t be the end of it all, even if we’re not sure what any kind of future between us could look like yet.

I’m holding on to this happiness, and I won’t let go without a fight.

23

Caleb

The rest of the week goes by in a blur.

Interviews, photo shoots, VIP events with more fans. Despite what everyone hopes, it does nothing to make us feel free of Label Records’ expectations.

But Valerie thrives. As we get ready for the last photo shoot—a cover forPunk!magazine—she’s buzzing with excitement.

“My publicists just checked in—the press is so good!” she says, beaming at her phone for what feels like the hundredth time this morning. We’re in hair and makeup, and she’s letting them bleach her hair platinum again, with plans to tease it into a glam-rock look. I’m tolerating the extra product on my hair, the thick photo-friendly makeup on my face, but when the makeup artist pulls out a stick of Perversion, I grin.

“You did your homework,” I say.

Rowan—who has been supervising all of our prep—pops into my mirror over the makeup artist’s shoulder. “Didn’t feel right to put you in anything else. The goal is fresh but nostalgic. We wantfans to recognize you when they see these images but have a reason to keep looking—let’s intrigue them.”

“Sounds good.”

They place a hand on the back of my chair, gesturing to my face with the other. “You’re not twenty-two anymore, so I thought we’d go a little heavier on the makeup if you’re okay with it. You good with mascara, maybe a smoky eye?”

I shrug. I never really tried other makeup, with the exception of basic stuff for photo shoots and red carpets. It took me a lot of YouTube videos and more than a few mishaps to even get the eyeliner right. I’m curious, though. “I’ll defer to your expertise.”

Rowan’s eyes spark. “Oh, we’re going to have fun.”

They pull the makeup artist away into a huddle, and she starts taking notes as Rowan describes their vision. I take a chance to pull out my phone. It’s been buzzing off and on, and I grin when I see it’s not press inquiries, but the group chat with my sisters. I’ve been a little apprehensive all morning—I never loved being photographed—but seeing their flood of texts eases some of the tension in my shoulders.

Carrie:So Caleb, you’re like famous again??? I swear, every time I’m online, someone is talking about you.

Carrie:Also. You LIED to me when you said you and Valerie weren’t back together. There’s no way that kiss was just for clicks. I’m not totally clueless.

Carrie:I don’t think I’ve ever seen you go viral before. It’s weird.

Cameron:Oh gosh, I forgot you were like seven when “Midnight Road Trip” dropped. He was EVERYWHERE.

Cameron:I almost gagged the first time I saw him top a Gossip Daily list of “The Hottest New Musicians We’d Most Like to Kiss”

It wasn’t “kiss,” but I’m glad Cameron had the foresight to spare Carrie the gory details. Heck, I wishIhadn’t seen a paragraph of Paige Hart speculating how badly she wanted to find out if the “rumors about short kings are true.”

Valerie always got the brunt of the media, but it doesn’t mean the rest of us didn’t get our fair share.

Carrie:EEW! That’s so gross!

Cameron:It was!

Cameron:There was so much back then.

Carrie:Caleb is so boring now. I always forget he’s very Google-able.

I send a selfie from hair and makeup, Riker photobombing in the background from the chair next to mine with a peace sign, his hair in foils.

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