Prologue:

“So that’s it, then?” Kevin asked, just to double check for the twentieth time.

It was weird to hear Kevin leading the conversation in the boardroom again. It seemed appropriate though. The Backstreet Boys somehow started with him as the anchor, it should end that way too. We all felt it was only right to invite him back for this one last decision.

“I guess that’s it,” Brian said, heaving an awkward shrug.

“Yeah,” Howie agreed.

AJ didn’t say anything, but he nodded.

When they all looked at me I just shrugged. I mean, what was there to say? The Backstreet Boys had seen their prime a decade ago and we all knew it. We were lucky to get any radio play at all with our last CD. The only reason we sold any albums this time around was because our fans were loyal. But even their interest was fading. Honestly? We probably should have done this a couple records ago.

That doesn’t mean that I had to like it.

Getting out of the meeting after that was just painful. Kevin didn’t seem to care much either way, and Howie looked almost excited. Brian just looked relieved. AJ seemed a little bummed, which made me feel a little better, but even he was clearly okay with it.

The sad thing was, they never even said goodbye. They all got up and walked out of that room, none of them noticing that I didn’t get up, and then they were gone. One of the suits from our label asked me to shut the lights off on my way out, and that was it. That was the end of the Backstreet Boys.