"Hi, what's your name?" Kayla asked the nine year old girl standing in front of her. She was doing a meet and greet with the guys the next day and, luckily, she and Nick were sitting at opposite ends of the table. In other words, the fans met her first and him last.

"Lissy," the girl said shyly. "Will you sign this?" she asked, pushing forward a copy of Kayla's CD—it had just hit stores.

"Well, of course I will," Kayla said with a smile. "Do you like the album?"

Lissy smiled and nodded. "You know what?"

"What?" Kayla asked as she finished signing the liner notes and closed the CD cover.

"My sister tried out for the duet, but I'm glad that you got it."

Kayla laughed. "Well, thank you, sweetie," she said. She leaned over the table to give the girl a hug. Glancing over to her right, she saw that Brian, who was two seats down from her, was grinning and making faces at her.

"Hey, Lissy, when you say hi to Brian, tell him he smells!" Kayla said loudly.

"I do not!" Brian yelled even more loudly, smiling as he greeted a fan.

Kayla made more faces at him, not looking at the next person in line as an album was given to her. Mindlessly she began to sign it. "Hi," she said.

"Omigosh, Kayla Prescott is soooo hot!" a familiar voice said.

Kayla's head snapped up, and she let out a shriek and jumped to her feet. "Bradley!" she exclaimed, practically climbing across the table to give him a hug.

"Hey, Kayla!" he said, hugging her back. He let go of her and held out his arms. "Um, oh my God! Look at you!"

She laughed. "I can't believe this. When was the last time I saw you?"

"Sixth grade," he said with a grin.

"Hey, do you know who I just saw? Leah!"

Brad raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Really? Back in Detroit?"

"Yeah...but I've been in touch with her all along," Kayla said. "Brad, it's so great to see you! Can you come hang out with me this afternoon? Come with me to the venue? We've gotta catch up!"

"Sure, sure, anything for Kayla."

She grinned. "Okay...go talk to Rodney. We're out of here in twenty minutes."

"Sweet, who's Rodney?"

"My bodyguard. He's over there," Kayla said, pointing. She got Rodney's attention and pointed to Brad. Rodney understood and nodded.

"Okay, thanks Kayla!" Brad said, making his way over towards Rodney.

"See you in a minute!" she replied before going back to the fans.

Nick was pretending to concentrate on a conversation with the other guys later that afternoon, but instead he was watching Kayla and Brad. They were sitting close together—very close together—on the other side of the venue. And they hadn't stopped flirting since they had started to talk.

Nick knew he shouldn't let her flirting bother him. It was, after all, just flirting. But coupled with what had happened yesterday, it was a little too much. If only Johnny hadn't called him away! He'd had her completely won over again. Nick remembered with satisfaction (and frustration) the way she had begged him to stay with her by wrapping her legs around his waist and saying his name so pleadingly.

But then when he had gotten back, she had been gone. And it had felt like a punch in the gut. He had been so close. Because this time, after they had finished doing...whatever...they wouldn't have been able to just go to sleep; they would have been forced to talk about it. And Nick had a feeling he could have persuaded her this time.

He looked back over at Kayla. She had stopped putting her hands all over Brad and feeling his muscles and such, but now—Nick's eyes widened. They were actually holding hands! They were just sitting here holding hands, with Nick right there on the other side of the room! Nick couldn't believe his own eyes as Brad lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly while she watched, absolutely riveted.

Excusing himself from the conversation, Nick turned away in disgust and left he room. He had to get out of there before he screamed or something.


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