Page 69 of Once Upon a Boyband
She’s here, for one. Taking time off work, rearranging her life so she can hang out with me, justbe here,because I was feeling overwhelmed and thought having her around might keep me grounded.
It’s already working. I need to tell her about theTMZthing, about the potential for Kevin to leak a photo ormore.But it doesn’t feel as scary as it did a few minutes ago. Now that she’s here, it just feels like everything will be okay.
Like she’s the anchor I’ve always needed.
She looks up and sees me studying her, and her lips lift into a smile.
“What?” she asks.
I hold my hand and help her to her feet, then wrap my arms around her waist, tugging her against me.
I lift a hand to her cheek and press a lingering kiss to her lips. “I don’t think I deserve you, Laney Lawson,” I whisper against her lips.
And it feels like the truest thing I’ve said in a very long time.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Laney
The oversized diningroom in the farmhouse, which I think they call the ballroom and use for indoor weddings, has been fully converted into a rehearsal space. Tables and chairs have been shifted to the back and hidden behind a wall of mirrors that reach almost to the ceiling. There’s a piano, a couple of guitars, a bass leaning against an amp, and stools and microphones for each of the guys.
Adam leans over and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “Please don’t laugh at my dancing.”
“Why would I laugh?”
“Because I’m twenty-six doing a dance that was choreographed for a bunch of teenagers?”
“‘Curves Like That’ dance moves are timeless, Adam,” I say in a serious tone.
“Yeah, says the person who doesn’t have to do them on stage.”
“I could if I had to,” I say. “I know every move.”
He takes a few backward steps and smirks. “You shouldn’t have admitted that, Laney.” He finally turns and walks to where Jace is standing in the center of the room while I find a chair near the wall. Leo and Freddie soon follow, and I have yet anotherpinch memoment. I can’t even begin to explain what it feels like to see them standing together like this.
They all look older. Broader shoulders. More facial hair. But they’re still Midnight Rush. Standingright there.It’s completely surreal.
“All right, let’s do this,” Jace says. He looks at a sound technician across the room. “Hey, Trav, we’re doing full vocal this run through. Can you bring over headsets for us?”
The tech runs over and helps them connect their mics, then they move into position, forming a diamond, Jace in the front, Leo and Freddie on either side, Adam directly behind Jace.
Adam glances my way, grinning and giving me the tiniest eye roll as he picks up his arms and positions them in front of his face for the start of the song. A tiny thrill shoots through me at the sight. I recognize this.All of it.
Jace nods once, then the opening notes of “Curves Like That” pipe into the room.
Before I knew he was also Deke, I’m not sure I ever would have looked at Adam in his flannel and baseball caps and thought, I bet this guy can slay on the dance floor. He’s so mild mannered, it just doesn’t fit the idea of him in my head.
But seeing him like this, surrounded by his bandmates, it’s clear Deke is still in there. He doesn’t dance as well as Jace. But he holds his own, and it’s so fun to watch.
Especially because he’swatchingme watch. And he can’t stop smiling at me.
They make it all the way through the song, and the eight or so people scattered around the room clap and cheer. “Sounded great, guys,” Trav says.
Adam leans forward and says something to Jace, who immediately looks my way.
“All right, Laney,” Jace says. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
My eyes widen. “Um, what?”
