Page 80 of The Wiener Across the Way

Declan squeezed my hand. “It would help me if we could draft up some talking points. I’m not natural in front of the camera unless I’m allowed to just glare at it.”

I smiled at his honest request. “That sounds like a plan.”

The rest of the morning was a whirlwind of activity. Declan and I, with the help of his family, crafted a statement that addressed everything from my health to the contract breach and the true nature of our relationship. It was honest, heartfelt, and transparent. Everything I stood for as an artist and a human.

We moved over to Hayes’s house, and geez, these guys could be on my roadie crew, or even on the stage. Their set up was pro. It took them a few minutes to get everything ready to stream. I had so much experience being in front of a camera, but as the time approached to go live, my nerves kicked in. Declan wrapped his arms around me. “You’ve got this, Kels. Just speak from the heart.”

I nodded, taking strength from his embrace. As the lights went on and streams went live, I took a deep breath and began to speak. My voice was steady, my message clear. I spoke of my gratitude for my fans, my commitment to my music, and the truth about my relationship with Declan.

The response was immediate and overwhelming. Messages of support flooded in, fans rallying behind me, expressing their relief and admiration. It was a reminder of the power of honesty and the bond I shared with those who believed in me.

There were some people who were unhappy, a fair number of trolls, and that was expected. But overwhelmingly, the people who I wanted this message to reach, namely my fans, were understanding and supportive. I expected there would be some backlash afterwards, but I said what I needed to and showed the world my truth.

And so did Declan. Near the end of what I’d prepared, he pulled me into his arms and gave me a soft kiss in front of themillions of people watching. His presence sitting beside me had been a silent show of solidarity. But this spontaneous public display of affection got me right in the feels.

After, he looked straight into the camera and said, “We’re in this together, but don’t doubt the power Kelsey wields all on her own. Mess with Kelsey, and the Besties will have her back, and I’m King of the Besties, baby.”

He was better on camera than he thought he was. Hearts were breaking all over the world tonight because he was mine and everyone knew it.

WHEN SANTA MET FROSTY

DECLAN

The stadium was a cacophony of noise, the competition intense, and both the players and our fans emotions riding high with each play. The Denver Mustangs and the San Diego Thunder were longtime rivals, and today we were locked in a fierce battle.

The score was tied fourteen all with less than two minutes left in the game. Tensions were skyrocketing, and I was fucking living for it. The anticipation, the collective breath of the crowd held in suspense, the hot tempers of exhausted players on both sides puffing into the air just waiting to explode. This was it, this moment that could make or break the game.

I was on the field, muscles tense, every sense heightened and ready for this one play. The safety snapped the ball and the Thunder’s quarterback, a known sharpshooter, dropped back into the pocket, scanned the field, and hesitated just a millisecond too long. I almost always went in for a sack, but Iread the play, watching him lock onto his receiver, and I was in exactly the right position.

The ball soared through the air, a perfect spiral, aimed at the Thunder’s wide receiver. It was now or never. I lunged forward, intercepting the pass with a leap that felt like flying, and still somehow landed on my feet. The stadium erupted in a roar as I landed, the ball securely in my hands.

Holy shit. I had the ball, and the play was still live.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins, and I charged forward. Offensive linemen from the Thunder tried to tackle me, but I was a force unstoppable. One by one, I knocked them down, a juggernaut on the field, driven by a singular goal. The endzone.

The crowd’s cheers fueled me, and I almost felt like I could hear Kelsey yelling, “Run, Declan, run!”

Each step pounded over the turf, bringing me closer to victory. The endzone was just a few more yards away and there wasn’t anyone standing between me and those six points.

With a final push, I crossed the line, securing the touchdown. The Mustangs had taken the lead, and the visitors in the stadium went into a frenzy of euphoria. I could hardly believe it. I hadn’t scored a touchdown since fucking pee wee. This was my first score in the pros.

I looked up at the big screen, and, of course, the stadium cameras were on her. She was jumping up and down screaming and pounding the window of the box. That was my girl.

With the football in my hand, I pointed up at the box for a full ten seconds until the rest of my team caught up with me, their faces alight with excitement and disbelief. They joined me in pointing up to Kelsey, acknowledging that she was our brand new good-luck charm. The cameras panned back to us on the field, and in a moment of uncharacteristic flair, I launched into a dance, mimicking one of Kelsey’s iconic concert numbers.

The crowd went wild, cheering and laughing as I embraced the ridiculousness of the moment. It was a celebration of not just the score, but of something more, a tribute to the woman who had captured my heart, a playful acknowledgment of our journey together. Any troll who still thought this was fake could suck on this.

As I jogged back to the sidelines, my teammates clapped me on the back, their laughter mingling with the still thunderous applause from the stands. Chris, Everett, and Hayes just about tackled me when I got to the sidelines. Hayes literally jumped up on me and like a little kid climbing a tree, holding his hand in the air, with a number one finger pointed to the sky, stirring the crowd up even more.

After the game, the atmosphere was electric with excitement. Kelsey and I, still buzzing from the win and my unexpected touchdown dance, were making our way through the throng of fans and press towards our car. We had plans for that dinner with her parents, a meeting I was both nervous and excited about.

Pooh was trotting happily beside us, soaking in the excitement and getting just as many people taking her picture as me and Kelsey. Suddenly, her ears perked up, and she let out a series of excited barks. Before we could react, she wriggled free from her leash and darted into the crowd.

“Pooh!” Kelsey called out, worry etching her face. She moved to chase after but there were too many people surrounding us, and I waved the security detail over. They were on it right away and dove into the crowd on the other side of the barrier to try and find the dog. Enough of the people there were either pet owners themselves and recognized a freaked out owner, or they were Kelsey’s fans, because the sea of people parted as we watched Pooh weaving through their legs. She knew exactlywhere she was going and made a beeline towards a familiar figure.

“Is that... Penelope?” The woman was squatting, and Pooh jumped right into her arms.

Kelsey grabbed my arm. “Oh my god, it is.” She waved and yelled out her assistant’s name.

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