Benny Everhart was never supposed to go solo.
At 35, she's a seasoned musician with a voice that once defined a generation-alongside the four childhood friends she grew up with in Maine. United by their passion for music, they were discovered in 201...
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Benny's POV
Ariana looked... ridiculous.
In that way she always does when she acts like she's low-effort but walks in looking like a campaign ad. Blonde hair pulled halfway back, soft waves framing her face. Oversized brown sunglasses perched on her head like she'd just wandered off the cover of Harper's instead of out of a press schedule. Black wide-leg pants, cropped sweater, tiny bag. She was styled like someone who didn't need to try, and knew it.
The band? Shockingly well-behaved. Fallon didn't say anything reckless, Amelia didn't flirt too hard, and Bowie and Damon played it chill—almost polite. She laughed with us, picked at a croissant, poured herself some tea. Told a few stories about promo chaos and recording nights that bled into sunrise. She fit. Weirdly well. Like she'd been there all morning.
She stayed for about thirty minutes.
And then she had to go.
We were just finishing up when the suite door opened and in walked Jenny and Sky—both halfway through a conversation about press call times—until they stopped short.
Sky blinked.
Jenny took one look at Ariana and tilted her sunglasses down her nose like she was clocking a ghost. "Well, shit."
Ariana smiled like she was used to the reaction. "Hi."
"Hi," Jenny said, regaining her footing fast. "Didn't expect a pop legend at our breakfast table. Can I get you anything? More tea? Escape route?"
Ariana laughed, standing. "Just saying bye, but thank you."
Sky gave her a quick once-over and smiled, warm but knowing. "Hope you're taking care of our rockstar."
"She's taking care of herself," Ariana said, looking over at me.
I walked her toward the door.
She stopped just short of it, hand on my arm. Looked up at me, that same soft stare from the pub, something unspoken still hanging behind her lashes.
"Thanks for brunch, Benny."
I smiled. "No problem. Just make sure you're eating okay, alright? I know how busy you must be."
She tilted her head. "Yes ma'am."
I rolled my eyes.
She laughed, stepped in, and hugged me again. Not long. Just enough.
"Good luck tonight," she said quietly, pulling back. "I'm sure you don't need it. But still."
