Living In The Shallows (UK Crush #1)

Chapter Eight

Today was show day. I was eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant when Teddy strolled in, grabbing himself some tea and breakfast from the buffet before sitting next to me.

"And how is Miss Foster this morning?" he inquired as he took a sip of what smelled like Earl Grey tea.

"Just fine. And how is Teddy?" I countered.

"Teddy is doing very well, thanks," he returned with a smile. "You know, that's really growing on me, Teddy is. I like it. You should just call me that all the time."

"Really?" I smiled. "I could do that. I love Teddy. That's why I chose it."

"Okay," he nodded. "Teddy it is." We toasted with our mugs, his with tea, mine with coffee.

Matty walked over as we clinked and asked, "What are we toasting?" as he sat down with his own food.

"She's officially going to call me Teddy for the rest of the tour and shoot," answered Teddy, taking another sip of tea. "Long story about a pot-bellied pig," he said in response to Matty's questioning look.

Ronan and Geth finally came wandering in ten minutes later, and the boys, true to form, put away the equivalent of three breakfasts each, after which we all bolted for the door.

"Just a minute," Gethin said as we were heading toward the elevator. "What have we here?" They all turned and looked at me, as I turned around to see what they were looking at. "Tink! I know you don't like compliments and all that, but Jesus, girl, you look hot!" Oh, dear god, not this again, not now, in front of all these strangers. "You should wear skirts more often, young lady, truly." He smiled at me. Then he must have noticed the expression on my face. "Oh, come on, you can't wear something like that and not expect us to notice."

In honor of the show, I'd decided to wear one of my last minute shopping splurges, a multi-colored leather mini skirt (thrift store on Melrose) with a yellow cotton sleeveless top in the exact shade of one of the colors of the skirt, with yellow high tops and white socks. I wanted to look a little bit festive, especially after Teddy had said I looked like a "spinster school mistress" for my first official day of interpreting for them on a Japanese TV show the day before.

Gethin looked to the others for support. Ronan and Teddy nodded, almost apologetically, while Matty looked everywhere but at me. "Sorry, Tink, but Geth's right, you take the sight right out of me eyes," said Ronan with an amiable smile. "You're going to have to get used to a few friendly compliments along the way, that's all they are, okay?" He put a comforting arm around my shoulder, and I surprised myself by burying my face in his chest and nodding. I could do this. They were only being nice, I told myself. Millions of girls would literally give a limb to be in my position. They were just used to complimenting any female around them, it was simply good business.

After we got in the car, I asked what today was going to be like.

"Well, we'll get to the venue, and there will be some people to see, you know, fans who won contests, Make A Wish, that stuff, photo and press, stuff to sign, and hair and make-up. Somewhere in there, they'll finish with the stage, and we'll have to do a sound check and mic check, run through the show, then maybe table tennis while we wait, then the actual show, and go out after if we feel like it, then sleep if there's time, and tomorrow up bright and early and on the bus and off to wherever we're off to next." Gethin  explained all in one breath.

"Oh, before I forget, here's your backstage pass," Ronan said, handing over a purple pass with "Tinker Bell" written on it in sparkly glitter. "Guess I sorta went bonkers with the sparkles," he said, grinning. "It goes by rainbow colors," he explained. "Purple's the coveted 'all access' pass, gets you everywhere, including our dressing rooms," he said, leaning in and wagging his eyebrows in the most adorable way.