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led us through the restaurant to a big table where the rest of the boys were sitting.
    Before we had even reached the table, the boys had noticed us and began to stand and wave. We hurried over. Callum approached me for a full-blown hug. The rest of the boys’ hellos were much less over the top, all with one-armed hugs and genuine smiles. Shaq stood a little back until I approached him. He pulled me in for a long hug and I breathed in his warm and spicy aftershave. ‘We missed you,’ he said gently.
    I smiled back, realizing that the feeling was mutual. I sat down next to Shaq, and Riley took the seat on my other side. Tegan sat in between Logan and Callum opposite me, and Tyler sat at the head of the table, ever content in the role of father figure.
    ‘You look absolutely beautiful tonight, girls,’ Callum grinned.
    ‘I like your dress,’ Shaq said, gently casting his hand across the silky material over my hips. ‘It looks amazing on you.’
    ‘Th-thanks,’ I stammered. My heart was fluttering too hard to say anything more sensible. I couldn’t believe the effect his surprising and gentle touch had on me.
    In an effort to gather myself, I turned to Callum.
    ‘So tell me, Callum, do you have any girls in your life atthe moment?’
    Callum grimaced and I caught Tegan out the corner of my eye looking panicked.
    ‘Nah, there’s not a single one,’ he told me. ‘Haven’t found anybody yet.’
    I could see Tegan’s shoulders physically drop with relief.
    ‘I think our problem is,’ Shaq began, ‘that we spend so much time working and in each other’s company that we’re practically brothers. Every girl has to pass the best-friend test five times over.’
    I looked up into Shaq’s green eyes. ‘That’s how Tegan and I feel about each other.’
    ‘Yup,’ said Riley, staring at me, ‘it takes a very special girl to get past that.’
    Halfway through the meal, a petite girl with short brown hair approached the table shyly and asked if they were indeed The Only Truth. All of them flashed genuine smiles her way, which lit up her face with a deep shade of pink. They agreed to break away from their meals to take a picture with the excited girl, although Callum looked a little distraught at leaving his plate. As they all got into position for the photo, her father took a few quick snaps on his iPhone. I could feel the girl’s eyes boring into the back of my head as I shared a glance with Tegan across the table. No doubt the girl was wondering who we were and why we were out to dinner with her favourite boy band. She also seemed curious as to why I was sitting very close to Shaq who, by the way she gazed at him, was clearly herfavourite. I shrugged it off.
    The rest of the meal passed without interruption from any sort other than the waitress, and I found that all my earlier nerves had disappeared. Shaq and I had so much to say to each other about everything and anything, and Riley was so easy to talk to. He showered me and Tegan with compliments, and the wicked glint in his eye accompanied by killer lines made you feel like the most beautiful girl in the whole restaurant.
    Shaq got up to pay for the meal and Riley turned round, taking my hands in his. ‘I’ll drive you both home now,’ he declared.
    Suddenly Tyler, who hadn’t said much during the meal but had been quietly observing everyone else, interrupted Riley. ‘I need to talk to you about tour stuff, mate. Let Shaq take the girls back.’
    ‘Oh, OK.’ Riley sounded a bit disappointed.
    I tried not to look up at Shaq with the memory of our last car journey together running through my mind. His leg next to mine under the table was as much as I could handle in front of everyone else.
    And, as I caught Tyler’s eye, I could have sworn he winked at me.
    Shaq led Tegan and me swiftly to the car, trying to avoid bumping into any unwanted attention from fans or press. As we reached the sleek black vehicle, Shaq unlocked it and Tegan automatically hopped