Page 65 of Once Upon a Boyband
“In that case, there’s something else I need to tell you,” he says. “Everyone here except Freddie still thinks you’re my fiancée.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Adam
Behind me,the heavy wooden door of the Stonebrook Farm farmhouse swings open, and Freddie, Leo, and Jace file out, spreading out across the porch.
Leo sits down on the steps beside me and hands me a bottle of water while Jace and Freddie take the rocking chairs on either side of the door.
We just spent two hours working through “Curves Like That,” relearning the choreography. It’s our most dance-heavy song, with a series of moves fans will expect to see in the show. Fortunately, Jace still knew it all—he was always the best dancer out of the four of us—and took us through it, filling in the gaps when the rest of us couldn’t remember.
We were never NSYNC level dancers, which suited me just fine. I could always follow the choreography, but I wasn’t out front like Jace and was just as happy standing still at a microphone letting my voice do all the work.
“How are you feeling?” Leo says, glancing over.
I take a swig of water. “Out of practice,” I say.
“It’s all right, man,” Jace says. “We never held the dancing bar very high for you.”
Freddie chuckles, and I turn to face him. “What are you guys doing out here, anyway?”
We’re all on break, but I’m waiting for Laney, and it might be overwhelming for her to see all four of us sitting here like a welcome committee.
I still can’t believe she’s coming.
When I asked her, it was more of a pipe dream. I didn’t think she’d actually be able to make it work, but now she’s almost here, and I can’t wait to see her.
And I’d rather not have our hello after more than a week apart be witnessed by the rest of the guys.
“You looked lonely,” Leo says.
“I just followed Leo,” Jace says.
“What areyoudoing out here?” Freddie asks.
I look at him over my shoulder and rub a hand through my hair. “I’m waiting for Laney.”
“How come we had to rehearse somewhere close enough for Adam’s girlfriend to visit, but not mine?” Leo says.
“Do you even have a girlfriend?” Jace asks.
Leo frowns. “That’s not the point. If Idid, she wouldn’t live in North Carolina.”
“Girlfriends or wives or fiancées were not factored into the decision,” Freddie says. “This place belongs to Flint’s family. I told him we needed somewhere remote and private, he suggested we use it, it was available, end of story.”
“Flint, is it?” Leo says on a laugh. “You’re on a first-name basis now? It’s fine, Freddie. We know you’re the biggest star. You don’t have to name-drop A-list actors to impress us.”
Freddie rolls his eyes. “He’s a legit friend. I’m not just name dropping.”
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Jace deadpans. “But let me just call up my bestie Beyoncé real quick and see ifsheknows Flint Hawthorne.”
There’s an aspect of our conversation that feels familiar, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the words anyone is saying. It’s more the vibe. The fact that for three years, we were together every single day. We talked about everything. Teased each other. Bickered and complained and annoyed each other. But we also cared for and supported each other.
I did not expect to fall back into this so easily. I expected awkwardness, maybe even judgment. I at least expected Leo and Jace to demand an explanation as good as the one I gave Freddie.
But we haven’t talked about how things ended. We just started back up like it never did.
It could be Freddie’s doing. I can easily imagine him convincing the other guys to go easy on me if only to keep me around long enough for the concert to actually happen. Kevin made it clear I was the holdout. If they all think I’m a flight risk, it makes sense they would tread lightly.
