Page 6 of Declan

I extend the notes leading into the next verse, intentionally dragging out the moment before I have to sing my part, wanting her full attention on me before I bare my very soul to her and millions of nameless, faceless souls.

You in the moonlight

With your sleepy eyes

Would you ever love a woman like me?

She attempts to avoid looking into my eyes as I nod in silent answer, and I make it impossible for her to do so inconspicuously as I stare right into her eyes, leaning forward slightly as the words fall from my lips, a lyrical caress against her skin.

And you were right

When I walked into your house

I knew I’d never want to leave

Her lips press together, and she inhales sharply through her nose. She wants to look away, her body language screaming flight, but she can’t. She’s frozen in this moment with me, unable to fight it.

Sometimes I’m a strong woman

Sometimes cold and scared and sometimes I cry

But that time I saw you

I knew with you to light my nights

Somehow I would get by

She visibly swallows, and I watch the ripple of her throat as she attempts to push down the moment, to make it less, to pretend it isn’t happening. But I won’t let her. I stare into her eyes, unblinking, daring her to look away. When we ease seamlessly into the remaining chorus, the last of her hesitation slips free, and she lets go, soaring with me through to the last lines.

Take from me my lace

Take from me my lace

As the last notes fade, you could hear a pin drop in the studio, and as far as I’m concerned, no one else exists in the world but us. She doesn’t look away, but she’s also not staring at me lovingly or with any kind of warmth. She appears moved but also resigned, and perhaps even a touch sad, and it’s this last bit that confuses me, that forces me to release her from the moment and back into the wild.

Without me.

Kylie does a fantastic job deflecting any kind of awkward energy that may be emanating between us, and Issa even manages to crack a joke and the occasional smile as the show winds down and we exit the stage.

She walks down the hallway ahead of me, her head down and her shoulders tense, and I go to speak, to question why she seems so upset over one song, but then she stops, and I almost crash into her. I place my hand on her back, steadying her as she wobbles on her heels, and she flinches away from me without turning to look at me.

I follow the direction of her gaze, and that’s when I see him. It seems the aging boy band blowhard stopped by to see the show, and from the look on his face, he doesn’t appear overly impressed with the performance.

I move to walk around her, to have a few words with him that will wipe that holier-than-thou scowl off his face, but Issa’s hand on my arm stops me. I look down at her, and her eyes are pleading. She shakes her head subtly, but her point is made, so I stand down.

For now.

2

Taking Stock of Stalking

Declan

It’sbeenafewweeks since my talk show interlude with Issa. Kylie was spot on when she said our duet would be hitting the newsreels for weeks. It’s still running strong and trending all over social media, so if nothing else, she won’t be able to hide from me entirely.

Not that she technically can hide from me at all, but she doesn’t need to know that—yet.

Since witnessing the odd demeanor of the aging boy band blowhard, I doubled down on my efforts to keep track of her. I know, I know—keeping a close eye on someone to ensure their own safety is still a variation of stalking. I admit it.

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