Page 67 of Once Upon a Boyband
My gut tightens at the thought of telling Laney we’ve been outed on the internet. She seemed willing enough to keep up the charade when we talked on the phone yesterday, but the way I framed it, it was more about keeping things chillhere.At least ten different people congratulated me on my engagement within an hour of arriving at the farm. Or, more within an hour of people figuring out who I was. Either way, I got tired of trying to explain because then people assumed I’d experienced a breakup and getting sympathy for that was even worse than the congratulations.
But this—an article onTMZ—this is a bigger deal.
This also puts Laney’s privacy at risk.
If her name were to be leaked somehow, she’d havefamily members, friends, co-workers who would all believe something about her that isn’t true.
That’s a lot to ask of her. A lot to expect.
As soon as Kevin gets here, it’s going to be hard not to punch him in the nose.
A car appears in the distance, slowly making its way toward the farmhouse, and I stand up. I recognize Laney’s black Honda from here.
For now, I pocket my phone and push the TMZ article from my mind. I’ll tell her about it as soon as I get her alone.
Laney jumps into my arms as soon as she’s out of the car, and I spin her around before lowering her back to the ground and pressing my lips to hers.
Behind me, the guys break out in a chorus of whistles and catcalls.
I chuckle as I drop my forehead to hers. “Hi. Thanks for coming. Sorry about them,” I say, tilting my head to the house behind us.
Laney finally looks up, and her eyes widen as her gaze moves from one band member to the next. She clears her throat with a sound that’s somewhere in between a gulp and a yelp. “It’s gonna take me a minute to get used to seeing you all together.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m still getting used to it, too,” I say. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
She lifts her hands and presses them to her cheeks. They’re flushed pink, the same color as her lips, and I resist the urge to lean down and kiss her one more time.
“Oh, hey, that’s a ring on your finger,” I say, noticing the diamond on her left hand.
She holds it out for me to see. “It’s beautiful, right? It was Percy’s idea. He borrowed it from Mimi, who promised it isabsolutely not real and if I lose it, she will still love me.” She lifts her gaze to mine. “Do you mind? Since we’re running with the engagement story, I thought it would be easier than explaining why I don’t have one.”
I swallow. The sight of a ring on her finger is impacting me in ways I can’t fully process. I haven’t even thought about proposing so far. We’re nowhere near that point. But the idea of her walking around wearing a ring that tells everyone she belongs with me—I do not mind it even a little.
Then there’s the fact that she’s willing to do this in the first place. To borrow a ring, to drive all this way. It’s so much more than I deserve.
“Itisbeautiful,” I say. “Thanks for thinking of it.”
We make our way over to the porch, and the guys come down the stairs to say hello. Ivy must have already gone back inside because she’s nowhere to be seen, so it only takes a moment to introduce Leo and Jace. They each shake her hand, then Freddie pulls her into an enormous hug. “Good to see you again, Laney,” he says.
“You too.” She smiles wide, then turns to Leo and Jace. “And it’s nice to meet both of you. I’m a big fan of your work.” She delivers this line, then looks at me and grins, eyes wide, like she can’t quite believe this is happening.
I like that she isn’t hiding this part of herself from me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that I met Laney and first got to know her without Midnight Rush factoring into the relationship. I remember questioning all the time, when the band was at its peak, if people were genuinely interested in me or just in my fame. I hated that the question ever had to be a part of making friendships or having relationships, so I was happy to leave that aspect of the band behind.
But now that I know Laney was a fan, and now that sheknows I’m Deke, I appreciate that she doesn’t feel like she has to play it cool or pretend like it’s no big deal.
When I was eighteen, I might have been uncomfortable dating someone who had my poster on the wall by her bed. And if Laneystillhad my poster by her bed, we might have a problem. But this far removed, it’s more…adorable.And humbling—that someone as brilliant and amazing as Laney dedicated so much passion to the music that was such a formative part of my life.
“This place is amazing,” Laney says, looking around at the farm. “It actually reminds me a little of Hope Acres. The way it’s nestled into the mountains. You guys should see Adam’s place. It’s beautiful too.”
Pride swells in my chest at her praise. I don’t have the careers that any of the other guys have. I’m not making music like they are or building platforms, gaining fans. But I am proud of what I’ve done with my life, even if it took me a little while to get there, and it means a lot to hear Laney’s words.
I press a hand to Laney’s back. “Come on. We can get you settled in upstairs, then you’re welcome to watch rehearsal, if you want.”
I look at Freddie. “What are we working on next?”
“I want to work on ‘Never Say Never,’” Leo says.
“But we should run through ‘Curves Like That’ one more time, now that Laney is here to watch,” Jace says.
