Page 4 of Verses Of Us

The waiter returned with their coffees. Alexis ordered some pancakes, but the knot in her stomach grew and she doubted she could eat much, if at all. Ciarán’s steady gaze remained on her as he ordered, and though it shook her insides, she didn’t hate it.

“Let’s start easy. What’s your favourite colour?”

She let out a short laugh, which she quickly hid behind her hand. “My favourite colour?”

His face softened with his smile. “Sure, why not? Mine’s—”

“Red. I know.” She worried about revealing how well she knew him and when his eyes flickered over her right shoulder, she fought the need to follow his gaze. “I like purple,” she said, trying to lure his attention back.

His mouth twitched as he scratched his chin. Normally clean-shaven, today he sported a fine stubble, which added to his dishevelled appearance, but in no way meant he wasn’t gorgeous.

“Purple. That’s a good choice.”

Their plates arrived, most likely hastened by the nearly empty restaurant and their VIP guest. Ciarán dug into his eggs benedict with a hurriedbon appétit, but Alexis couldn’t eat and moved her pancakes around the plate, uninterested in what she would have wolfed down any other day.

“You going to the show tonight?” he asked, his eyes focused on his food.

“I wouldn’t miss it. I’ve seen them all.”

As if genuinely surprised, his eyebrows lifted. “You’ve been to the others?”

“I saw my first In Ovation concert back in ‘95.”

“Ah, yes. The infamousRise Up!tour,” he scoffed. He kept eating, his bites robotic, his cool regard hiding a simmering anger. “You must have been a kid back then.”

“I wasn’t,” she bit back. Stalling, she took a sip of her coffee. Too hot, it stung the tip of her tongue. She stared into her mug with a cringe. “I’m eighteen, actually.”

He canvassed her face. A quick frown followed as his stare landed on her lips, setting her skin ablaze. “Sorry, you just look… younger.”

“I know. I get that a lot.” Alexis didn’t look her age and was used to people assuming she was younger. She wished it didn’t bother her, but she was starting college in a few months and wanted to look older.

“Why did you leave the band?” she blurted, wanting to change the subject, but soon regretted opening her mouth and letting her curiosity to get the best of her.

The reasons behind Ciarán’s departure from one of the biggest acts of the last decade were still a mystery. Tabloids blamed arguments within the band. Some even said Ciarán and Callum Wright, his bandmate, had fallen out because of a girlfriend. Others said he had no reason at all; he was just an asshole. But judging by the sudden rigidity in his shoulders and the turn of his expression, Alexis could tell it didn’t matter why he’d left—it was a touchy subject.

“They didn’t deserve me. Next question.” Stuffing another forkful into his mouth, Ciarán focused intently on his food, while the air grew cold and still.

Alexis clawed at things to say to break the tension, hoping she hadn’t messed up the entire meeting. “I shouldn’t have asked you that.”

His fork dropped onto the plate, making a sharp noise, and he wiped his mouth with the linen napkin. “No, it’s alright. I just hate when people bring it up.”

Lost in thought, he stared into his cup, blinking a few times, before taking a sip. Once he put it down, his eyes drifted everywhere except in her direction and a chill floated from him, reaching across the table into her chest.

Tired of acting like a scared little teenager and refusing to let this become any worse, she wrangled her usual confidence and stared at him, urging him to meet her eyes.

“Look, I know there are a million other places you’d rather be, but could you maybe pretend to not hate this and be here now?” She took a breath, adding, “My hour’s almost over, anyhow. You won’t need to suffer much longer.”

His brows met; a flicker of something passed through his eyes, lighting them up.

“I am here,” he replied with amusement in his voice. “Now.”

Doubtful, she tilted her head to the side. “No, you’re not. I’m sure this is super lame for you, and I get it. For you, this might be pointless, but not for me. You’re going to leave here and forget about all this.” The words gushed from her lips. A week’s worth of pent-up nerves tumbled from her mouth, but she couldn’t stop. “But in the grand scheme of what will probably be my unremarkable life, this will be a highlight. And I’d like it to be a good one.” She glanced down at her lap, noticing how she was strangling her napkin. She released it, and her clenched fists. “So, could you please try to remember that I amyourfan and… You kind of owe me?”

Alexis took a shaky breath, but felt lighter, as if she’d shed a weight she hadn’t known she was carrying. She could picture Julie staring at her, stunned, and wondered if she stepped too far.

Ciarán rolled his shoulders back and crossed his arms over his puffed-out chest. He glowered, his gaze flitting over her shoulder again. The lump in her throat shimmied lower, and she prepared for the end of her special day.

Then, his facade broke, with a slow, wide grin, his eyes lighting up with glee. “Ms. Stanek, I don’t believe anyone has ever put me in my place like that before.” He cocked his head. “Well done.”

---