Ben swallowed loudly next to her. “Um, maybe I should come back?”
Miranda’s eyes moved between Claire and Ben. “Oh. I’m sorry, Ben. I wasn’t expecting you. Did you need something?”
He cleared his throat and shifted his weight between his feet. “Um, I just wanted to talk to you about my blue shirt from the second set. It had a hole in it. I forgot to tell you yesterday.”
Miranda spoke as if they hadn’t overheard everything that had just unfolded, while Claire and Ben squirmed where they stood. Claire admired Miranda’s ability to keep it together after a breakup and wished she had that same sort of mentality: It didn’t work out. No big deal.
“I’ll get it taken care of. Thanks for letting me know,” Miranda said.
Ben nodded, but didn’t immediately flee, as Claire had expected. Instead, he took a step closer to Miranda.
“Are you okay?”
Miranda nodded, and her voice came out cheerily as she said, “Great!”
Ben gave her one last long look before turning around. His expression was one of concern as he left the room, but not before reminding Claire to lock the door behind him.
Once he left and the door was locked, Claire moved over to Ben’s wardrobe and found the shirt he mentioned and brought it to Miranda before sitting down in a chair beside her.
“Are you actually okay?” Claire asked cautiously. “I didn’t know I said anything that would make you dump him.”
Miranda closed her eyes and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. When she looked back at Claire, there were tears in her eyes.
“I’m okay. It was for the best and you helped me see that. I’ve always known it deep down, but having someone to chat with about it made it even more clear. It’s best he and I don’t waste our time.”
Claire stood and moved over to Miranda and opened her arms. Miranda stood and the two women hugged.
“Thank you for listening. I needed that,” Miranda said.
“It’s what friends are for. I’m only sorry it took this long for me to ask.”
Miranda pulled back and took Claire’s hands in hers. “Don’t be sorry. There’s been a lot going on since you joined us.”
The two women went back to working on the wardrobe, but Claire couldn’t get the thought out of her head—how she hadn’t taken the time to ask anyone how they were doing. She had been so wrapped up in the chaos surrounding her own life that she had neglected those around her. And that was going to change.
14
After the show ended, Claire met Lonnie to be escorted out of the arena to the bus where they would sleep while they drove through the night to their next destination. Once there, the guys had a few interviews, but they had the evening off from having to perform, so they could all rest for a night at a hotel before the next show.
“How are you, Lonnie?” Claire asked.
Lonnie glanced at her before turning his attention to their surroundings, always keeping a watchful eye despite them being in the hallways where fans weren’t allowed.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m good. Are you actually good?”
Lonnie raised his eyebrow. “Yes? Should I not be?”
She laughed. “I realized I’ve never really asked anyone else how they’re doing because I’m so focused on my situation. So, now I’m asking.”
He smiled. “I’m doing well. Don’t you worry.”
“Good,” she said.
They hurried out to the bus with an extra security member flanking them once they exited the building. The bus driver wasalready waiting and ready. Lonnie stepped back off the bus and waited outside of it while the other bodyguard went back inside to help get the guys out safely.
Claire moved to the back of the bus and waited. It didn’t take long before everyone was inside and they were rolling out of the parking lot to screams of girls holding signs, hoping to get one glimpse of the guys. Claire stayed away from the windows, not wanting to be photographed, and knowing she wasn’t who they wanted to see.
