Page 72 of Once Upon a Boyband
“Who would have leaked the news?” I ask.
“Definitely Kevin,” Ivy says. She then goes on to explain the way Kevin’sPR brainworks,the way he’s likely trying to build buzz before the concert news drops later this week.
Logically, I get it. It’s just weird to find myself at the center of it. And it feels impossible not to worry about how my personal life would be impacted if the news of my identitydidleak.
Pretending here, when I’m surrounded by people I don’t know, doesn’t feel stressful. But lying to my dad, my coworkers, clients. That feels so much worse.
Ivy loops her arm through mine like only an extrovert can. “Listen. Consumers of entertainment news are like goldfish. They gobble up what’s right in front of them, and then five minutes later, they completely forget about it because they’ve already moved on to the next most sensational thing.ThisTMZthing is a tiny blip, and it doesn’t say anything about you. Don’t stress about it.”
I smile and nod, even if I’m still dying on the inside.
“Here,” Ivy says, holding out her hand. “Give me your phone. I’m going to give you my number. If you need anything or just get freaked out by any of the craziness that’s going to happen the next few months, just text me.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“Okay, I’m off. I have to call the photographer for tomorrow’s photoshoot. But I’m serious, Laney. If you need anything, I’m your girl.”
I absolutely believe her. If Freddie is capable of getting everything he wants through charm, I think Ivy could probably do it through sheer force of will.
After another hour of rehearsal, I wander off in search of water bottles for the guys. I find an enormous spread of snacks and beverages in a dining area on the opposite side of the house and grab what I need, then head back into the rehearsal space just as they finish the chorus of “Memories of Yesterday.”
“What if we take the harmony there up instead of down?” Adam says. “Leo, can you hit that note?”
Leo finds the note on the piano. “I think so. Let’s try it.”
They sing the line together, Adam taking the melody and Leo harmonizing. “That’s it,” Leo says. “So much better.”
I hand the water bottles over one at a time, saving Adam’s for last. When he takes his, I lean close, pressing a kiss to his cheek just beside his ear. “You’re sexy when you talk about harmony,” I say.
I move away, but he catches my hand, tugging me back for another kiss. “Hey, can you go let Goldie out for me?” he asks.
“So that’s why you invited me here,” I say.
He kisses me a third time. “Actually,that’swhy I invited you here.”
“Okay. You like each other,” Jace says dryly. “We get it.”
“Be back soon,” I whisper to Adam.
Goldie and I end up taking a gorgeous walk around the grounds of Stonebrook Farm. We visit goats and chickens and wander through the apple orchard and meet a goldendoodle named Toby who decides to join us for the last half of our walk, like it is his personal responsibility to show us all the best parts of his home.
By the time we make it back to the farmhouse, the guys have finished for the day, and Ivy is briefing them on what we can expect for tomorrow. Absent a band manager, it appears she has become the one in charge because no one is questioning anything she says.
“The photographer will be here at two,” she says. “So that means you have to be downstairs for wardrobe and styling by noon. And Adam?” She lifts a hand to her face and strokes her chin. “It’s time for the beard to go. People are going to think we replaced Deke with someone else if you don’t shave.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Laney
“I promise they’re closed,”I say to Adam who is currently hiding inside the bathroom.
I am, as he requested, sitting on the end of the bed, eyes closed in preparation for the big reveal.
Because Adam just shaved off his beard.
He knew better than to argue with Ivy about it, but he was grumpy through most of dinner, which I found highly entertaining and adorable. I love Adam’s beard, but I’m still excited to see him without it.
The past twenty minutes of waiting have been absolute torture. Actually, torture is probably a strong word. I’ve been lounging in ourverycomfortable bedroom, enjoying a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, watching the sky turn orange and purple as the sun drops behind the horizon.
