Page 48 of The Wiener Across the Way

POOH’S

POOPS.

Nobody does that if they don’t love said dog’s owner a lot (or are a professional dog walker).

We know Kelsey would NEVER let anyone she didn’t a THOUSAND percent trust and love with Pooh.

THIS RELATIONSHIP IS LEGIT.

I REST MY CASE, your honors.

Your BFF,

Mz. Besties’ Bestie

[pic of Declan bent over pooper scooping, Wiener the Pooh trying to lick his face]

DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE

KELSEY

The stage lights blazed above me, transforming the music festival into a whirlwind of colors and sounds. I was backstage, my heart thumping in rhythm with the bass, a heady mix of excitement and nerves churning within me. The sea of faces I could see from the side of the stage mirrored my anticipation, awaiting my arrival on stage.

With the intro of my first song playing, adrenaline surged through me, and I bounced from foot to foot, raring to go. This was the feeling I lived for, the energy I sought out that I could only find on stage. It hadn’t failed me yet. The crowd’s cheers erupted into the crisp, fall afternoon air as I took the stage. The familiar rush of performing engulfed me, a tidal wave of pure euphoria. My voice soared over the adoring fans as I belted out the opening lines of my very first hit song, still a fan favorite after all these years.

Halfway through the first set, at the transition, my gaze swept across the audience, looking for Declan. I found him, andhe wasn’t alone. There were Kingmans everywhere. I thought I’d met them all, but there was no mistaking at least three fresh faces that were definitely all related. How many siblings did he have? Maybe they were cousins?

I was an only child, and my parents, shy of the limelight, rarely attended my shows, though they were incredibly supportive. My dad managed my money for me, but they loved their life minding their shop, going to fish-fry Fridays. The Kingmans represented a different kind of family, something I didn’t know I longed for – a lively, loving family.

During the instrumental intro to the next song, I leaned closer to the microphone. “This next song goes out to some amazing people in the audience this afternoon. To the Kingman family, who’ve shown me the warmth of being part of something bigger, something beautiful.”

The crowd’s roar of approval acknowledged either the personal nature of my dedication or the fact that most of my fans were female, and the Kingman men were fine AF.

I put my all into the show, and my final set ended on a power song. I’d put everything into this performance, and while the adrenaline had kept me going, it had barely been enough to get me through. I could already feel that ever-present, after-show exhaustion ready to hit me hard.

I really needed to prioritize getting better sleep. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so tired. I was really starting to struggle to get through the days. I just didn’t have the same energy I did when I was sixteen, eighteen, or even twenty-two. I felt like a freaking old lady at twenty-six.

But that was the life I’d chosen. Nobody said this go-go-go life was easy. A lot of musicians turned to drugs to keep them going. Jake had even suggested I get a ‘prescription’ or two and that he could hook me up. That was the beginning of the end for us.

There was no time for a real break, just some dinner, a shower, and a costume change before my second show tonight. Another performance awaited me at the Saddle Creek Bar, and I could feel the fatigue gnawing at me.

I gave lots of waves to the audience and even blew some kisses toward the Kingmans, but in my dressing room, I collapsed into a chair at the makeup vanity. The stage makeup did little to mask the tiredness in my eyes, and I couldn’t have that. There was absolutely no time to be tired.

Penelope would be here any minute and she didn’t need to see me like this.

My phone buzzed on the vanity and seeing a message from Declan pop up helped more than anything else.

Incredible performance. My brothers are freaking that you dedicated a song to us. Pooh and I can't wait for the next one.

Declan’s constant support basically since the day we’d met was a boon that I was getting addicted to. Part of me yearned to fall into his arms, to reveal all the vulnerabilities behind my superstar facade. I couldn’t. That would be exposing too much, too close to getting emotionally entangled.

I forced myself to smile even though no one could see it but me. Then I replied with more cheer than I felt.

Thanks. See you soon.

Okay, so that wasn’t exactly cheery. Close as I could get right now. Hopefully he didn’t notice.

I needed to pull myself together before anyone saw me like this. I stood up, ready to change out of my costume and wash my face. A wave of dizziness hit me. Shit. That wasn’t good. I wasprobably just dehydrated. I steadied myself, inhaling deeply, and promised myself a power nap. “Just one more show. You’ve got this.”

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