The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award

Author:Amy Award [Award, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Coffee Break Publishing
Published: 2024-01-24T00:00:00+00:00

FIRST AND DOWN

DECLAN

I’d spent plenty of time in bars, but Saddle Creek was something else. This wasn’t a bar, it was the facade of one but for rich, entitled pricks. If it meant I got to watch Kelsey sing the song she’d been humming against my chest and see it bloom into something so fucking deep and meaningful that I wanted to goddamned cry, well then, I was going to be a rich, entitled prick. Who got to sit in the front row.

She was a vision, her voice captivating the audience with every note. But while she had us all dazzled, something wasn’t right. It was that same something I’d seen in her after her performance earlier today.

Kelsey was on the verge of burnout, and it pissed me off that she had to do these two shows back to back. I understood hustle. But her manager should be fired for letting her work herself to the bone like this. Who the fuck took care of Kelsey when she wouldn’t take care of herself?

Her sweet, young assistant, Penelope, tried. I could see how much she cared, but she was also obligated to do what Kelsey, and probably her record label and manager, told her to do. After this show, I was going to conspire with Penelope to get Kelsey some time off, or at least some fucking sleep.

As her song continued, I noticed her gripping the microphone stand more for support than performance. Then she closed her eyes. To anyone else, I imagined they thought she was just really getting into the music. But my spidey senses were screaming that something was wrong.

“Son.” My dad grabbed my shoulder. “I know that look. She’s going down. Get up there. I’ll call nine-one-one.”

My muscles reacted faster than my brain. Her voice faltered, a note cut short. She swayed, her hand reaching out to grasp something for balance. I lunged forward, shouldering past club staff and security with the best of my defensive line skills. Time went into slo-mo, but my focus was pinpoint on my way to her.

I reached Kelsey just as she collapsed, catching her before she hit the ground. The world around us faded into a blur. All that mattered was her in my arms. I gently laid her down on the stage, my hands shaking but efficient as I checked her pulse and breathing.

Her pulse was there, steady but faint. Her breathing was shallow. I should be relieved she was alive, but I wanted to murder someone for letting this happen to her in the first place. Her record label, agent, manager, assistant, me, and even her were my current hit list. But that needed to wait. Once I knew she was going to be okay, I was protecting her the way I should have already. To get her out of here, to somewhere quiet and safe where she could rest, recover.

With careful urgency, I scooped Kelsey into my arms, her head resting against my chest. I could feel the heat of her skin through her stage clothes, a stark reminder of her vulnerability.

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