Page 109 of Once Upon a Boyband
He shrugs. “I want you to go everywhere with me.”
If our last kiss was a warmup, this one is the main event. My emotions feel too big for my chest, too big for the entire freaking world. I’m so proud of him, so happy thathe’shappy.
Adam’s hands slide up to my face as he breaks the kiss, but he doesn’t pull back. He keeps his face close, his forehead pressed to mine.
“I know it’s a lot to ask when you didn’t sign up for this, for any of the weird fame stuff. To pull you into this world with fans and paparazzi and invasive questions. But I promise, Laney, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect your privacy. To protectyou.”
“I know. I know you will.”
His thumb slides across my cheek, and his expression shifts, revealing a new vulnerability. “I still have no idea what I want to do after the concerts,” he says. “If I’ll want to keep singing or…I don’t know. There’s so much I don’t know.”
“Whatever you decide, I’ll be right here,” I say. “You don’t have to know everything right now.”
He nods, hesitating for a beat before he says, “I probably need some grief counseling.”
My heart squeezes. “I think we all need counseling in one way or another. That’s a great idea.”
“And I promise I’mgoing to work on talking instead of running. You helped me recognize how important that is. How much it can help.”
“I want you to talk to me about everything, Adam.”
“I want that, too.”
My gaze catches on a silver pendant hanging around his neck and tucked inside his shirt. I reach for it, lifting it gently. It’s a smooth matte silver, with the shape of a flower etched into the top. I’ve never cared much about whether a man wears jewelry, but this looks good on Adam. Masculine and intentional and sexy, but still subtle. It’s not blingy at all. The fact that he’s wearing it against his skin so it only peeks out when he moves certain ways makes it seem like he’s wearing it for him, and not for his outfit.
Except,wait.This isn’t just any flower. It’s a dahlia.
“Adam,” I say, the pendant still in my hand.
“Sarah got it for me this week,” he says.
Tears spring to my eyes. “It’s a perfect way to keep her with you.”
“I think so too.” He settles his arms at the small of my back, and I lean into him. “You know, I’ve thought more than once that my mom would love you. It was nice to learn that she actually did.”
I sniff and smile. “I loved her too.”
“So what do you say? Want to come to New York? I hate to pressure you, but…” He glances at his watch one more time. “If you’re coming, we kind of need to hurry.”
“I don’t have to worry about work?”
He shakes his head. “Your dad said he’s happy to cover for you. And we’ll be back before Monday.”
“What about Ringo?”
“Your dad’s going to watch him.”
“Did you think of everything?” I ask.
“I definitely tried.”
The next twelvehours go by in a blur.
We race home long enough for me to pack, then head to the airport in Asheville to catch our direct flight to New York. As we drive, Adam fills me in on the many,manyconversations he had over the past week.
With Sarah. Who loves him and had a lot to tell him about what life wasreallylike while he was on tour with the band.
With Freddie. Who fired his agent, apologized profusely, and admitted that he always knew, and this part is a direct quote, Adam “couldn’t actually live without him.”
