Page 97 of Protecting Mr. Fine

As Jude came off the stage, I stepped closer to the tape marking the edge of the wings and the beginning of the visible wing area.

I loved watching Zane like this. Even though I was still nervous as hell about him being exposed, at risk, I was secretly glad to be able to watch him in his element.

“Here’s a little-known fact about me, but don’t tell anyone, okay? It’s our little secret.”

The crowd went wild, screaming and cheering. Being the first to learn something new about Zee Barlo was an unexpected treat.

“When I come offstage after a show, it takes a while for me to calm down. So a little while back, I started listening to this podcast calledBear Facts for Insomniacs, and it’s a miracle at putting people to sleep. I’d apologize to the podcasters, but it’s actually the point of the podcast. Anyway, if you’re at all like me, you might wanna give it a try. See if a bear changes your life like it did mine. In fact, I have a new song about a bear. It’s called ‘Sanctuary.’”

He turned toward me and locked eyes. My heart hammered.

I love you.

I wanted to mouth the words, make sure he knew he was loved in that exact moment, but I couldn’t risk getting caught.

Instead, I sent out the love I had for him and hoped he felt even a fraction of it.

When he turned back to the audience, he began to sing. I immediately recognized the light, playful tune he’d been humming for weeks, ever since Barlo.

I have a secret that no one knows.

When the world feels heavy, there’s a place I go,

Where the salmon runs free and the honey flows,

When the weight’s hard to carry, and the road is long,

When old voices scream loudly, and I yearn to belong.

It’s a crack in a mountain you can’t see from the road,

Deep in the trees and fully covered with snow,

But if you look really close, you can just make out

Twin arrows pointing north, leading straight to the den.

When the night is long and lonely and the stars don’t shine,

When new faces get too close, your honeyed words are like wine.

It’s a crack in a mountain you can’t see from the road,

A den filled with warmth, a cozy seat by the fire.

Hidden away from the world, no one knows where I go.

Quiet time with the bear, time away from the show.

When the world becomes too much and I need an escape,

When my heart gets cracked in two, or I get into a scrape.

I run to the mountain, and I step off the road,

Look for signs of the grizzly, and I listen for growls.

He always knows I’m coming, knows I can’t stay away.

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