Benny Everhart was never meant to stand alone.
At thirty-five, she's a veteran of the industry with a voice that once helped define a generation. Raised on the coast of Maine alongside four childhood friends, Benny came up fast with NorthSide Bound...
The Band's Private Jet Van Nuys Airport (VNY) Los Angeles, California Travel Day
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Benny's POV
The tarmac was still dark when our SUVs pulled through the gate.
The jet sat beneath the pre-dawn sky with its cabin lights glowing through the windows and the stairs already lowered. Our drivers backed in near the plane, opened the rear doors, and started unloading bags onto the concrete.
Nobody wanted to stand outside longer than necessary. It was cold, we were tired, and half the group was running on airport coffee.
Today was London.
The five of us, Jenny, Sky, the glam teams, the stylists, and enough luggage to make this trip look three months long instead of a few days.
I stepped out of the SUV and rolled my neck before adjusting the black cap sitting backward on my head.
I wore loose black cargos, a cropped black T-shirt, and an old NorthSide Bound hoodie. The logo had faded, and both cuffs were frayed, but it was still the first hoodie I grabbed for a flight.
Fallon climbed out behind me with her guitar case in one hand and her hood pulled over her head. The look on her face made it clear that conversation could wait until sunrise.
Amelia leaned against the second SUV while talking to one of the makeup artists. Her duffel was open at her feet, and she was digging through it for something she'd already managed to lose.
Bowie stood near the luggage with Sky, helping her match garment bags to the names on her phone.
I looked toward the other SUV as Damon stepped out.
He was smiling.
That alone was suspicious.
Then Debby Ryan climbed out behind him wearing his hoodie, her hair clipped up and no makeup on.
She looked comfortable beside him. No cameras, no big goodbye planned. She'd driven her boyfriend to Van Nuys before sunrise because Damon couldn't be trusted to reach an airport alone.
He leaned down and kissed her before grabbing his duffel.
I walked over. "Hey, Debs."
Debby smiled. "Hey, Benny."
"You really drove all the way out here to drop him off?" I looked at Damon. "He forget somethin'?"
"I don't trust him with morning flights," she said.
