Page 47 of Breathing Wisteria
Ten minutes later, I’m close to tears as Flynn plays the final notes of the first single from his upcoming album. It’s one of the first songs he wrote after we became an official couple. Slightly tweaked and re-worked, but still the song he wrote all those years ago. Written in his basement while I painted my nails, played around on social media or just sat and watched him. It is a song of idealism and hope; the intensity of first love and the breathtakingneedfor another person.
Hearing him play it after all of these years is eye-opening and I’m overwhelmed with sadness for the teenage us. The “us” that only ever wanted each other and yet, somehow, we lost it all. Those fifteen-year-olds had no idea of the tragedy that awaited them, but right now, I am filled with so much hope that we are going to make it.
That one day the pain of our past will pale in comparison to the light of the life we are going to create together.
I am still feeling emotional when the show returns from the ad break, and Flynn’s face fills the screen.
An easy grin breaks across his face as he laughs at something Thomas says and I swallow down the lump in my throat, excited to be a part of this piece of his life for the first time.
The interview is pretty standard, lots of questions about the new music and Flynn tells a story about a practical joke his drummer played during the recording of the album. There’s an easy camaraderie between the two men, and when Thomas begins to wrap up the interview, I consider that our earlier conversation was unnecessary. It seems Mr. Carlson rises above inane gossip after all.
I shift in my seat, the leather creaking under me, and wait for the interview to finish.
“So, it would be remiss of me not to mention the extraordinary turn of events in your love life recently.”
Well, would you look at that? Not so much rising above after all.
An“ah fuck”look flits across Flynn’s face and he grimaces.
“Now, c’mon. You know I have to ask. I’d be run out of the late-night talk show hosts union if I didn’t,” Thomas jokes. “So, spill, how do you suddenly remember you have a wife?”
The audience laughs, and Flynn shakes his head ruefully. I chew nervously on my bottom lip, although why I am nervous, I have no idea, and wait for him to offer up his answering “no comment.”
Instead, Flynn pauses, and the entire studio falls silent.
“Nothing sudden about it, Thomas,” he replies with an enigmatic smile.
The host seems slightly shocked he didn’t just get blown off and he takes a moment to regroup.
“Wait, wait, wait.” Thomas waves his hands around. “You realize this is a pretty strange situation, right? You’ve had a secret wife all of these years, one who no one ever had an inkling about, and then suddenly one day she’s all over the internet and you’re off the market. How does that work?”
Flynn shifts uncomfortably in his seat, wiping his palms along his jeans. Apart from that small tell, he’s looking cool, calm, and collected, but I know how much he hates feeding into this side of the fame machine and I can’t figure out why he doesn’t put a stop to the discussion.
Until it hits me. Because of me.
My stomach drops as I realize he is doing this for me and I’m somehow simultaneously grateful and horrified.
Flynn’s accented rasp grabs my attention and I turn back to the television.
“I understand it’s an unusual situation, but I make no apologies for the way I live my life.” He shrugs his broad shoulders. “I married the love of my life. I’ve made plenty of shit decisions since then, obviously, but that has never been one of them.”
“Well, that’s great to hear, I’m happy for you, I really am.” Thomas turns to face the camera, holding up the cover of Flynn’s album. “Flynn Maguire’s new album,Reckless Reverie, is out on Thursday, make sure and grab your copy.” He swings back to Flynn and as the studio band starts playing, he leans over and shakes Flynn’s hand.
My heart is jackhammering in my chest and despite the mess of emotions ricocheting through me, only one thought is really sticking.
That man is going to get laid tonight.
