Page 50 of Sky Full of Stars

“Well. No.”

“I’m sure you can let them know for the first time in six years, we’re gonna be working out of New York for one album. Tell them it’s to be closer to our families, it isn’t a lie.”

“Aidan, do you know how that will look?”

“Like we’re the ones making choices about our band.” He glances at me and mouths, sorry. “Can we talk about this later, I’m with a friend and don’t want to discuss work now.”

“What friend?” she waits but when he doesn’t answer her she carries on. “When are you coming back to LA?” she asks.

“I’ve got a couple more days, and I’d really appreciate it if I’m left alone to enjoy my time off,” his jaw is tensing up.

Two more days. I haven’t really thought about him returning to LA.

“Fine, but we’re going to discuss this New York thing when you’re back. Why do you have to go running off there anyway?”

“I don’t need to explain myself.”

“Of course you do, Aidan. Decisions like this can’t be made without discussion.”

“Bianca, I’m hanging up. Have a nice day.”

“Wait-”

He cuts off the call. “Sorry, she’s our manager and doesn’t like taking no for an answer.”

“So I hear,” I tell him. “So why do you want to work out of New York?”

“Why do you think?”

“I can’t imagine,” I say, turning my eyes from him. He chuckles quietly. “Two more days till you have to go home?”

He sighs. “Yeah, I have some commitments and promised if she let me have this time I’d be back to do whatever she wants. She drove a hard bargain.”

“Like what?”

“Lots of promotion work, interviews, feel good shit that she thinks makes people like us more. Some appearances. Most of it is really superficial but comes with the territory.”

“What are you going to do with your two days, stay with Keira again?”

“Well, I was hoping I would be doing you,” he gives me a cheeky smile that makes my pulse quicken. “But given that is off the table for now, it would be cool to just hang out with you.”

“I have to work, Adam.”

“Not all the time. I can keep myself entertained while you’re in work, there is stuff I can do, people I can catch up with. Then when you are off work we can do something. Or maybe I could come to work with you, sit in the corner and write songs,” he looks at me and laughs at my expression. “I’m kidding, Slugger. If I was sitting in the corner in your office all I’d be looking at is you. You wouldn’t be able to focus.”

I shift in the seat. His voice has a way of doing things to me.

“So what should we do tonight?” he asks.

“I have no idea,” I tell him honestly. “What is there to do with someone who has to hide from the world?”

“Pizza and a movie at your place?”

“Something that mundane?”

“That isn’t mundane to me,” he winks. “In fact, it sounds perfect.”

I look away and think to myself. There is something we could do, it just involves meeting my friends and I haven’t told anyone about him yet. Do I really want to do that this soon? When he goes back to LA, things might change. I might never see him again. Then again, hanging out at McAllister’s isn’t like I’m introducing him to my family. It’s what I enjoy doing. And I think he would like it there, it’ll show him I’m not a complete shut in nerd.

---