Page 40 of The Fangirl and the Crooner

Natalie swallows thickly before saying, “If you loved me, you would’ve listened when I spoke. If you loved me, you’d have heard the words I didn’t say. I knew you didn’t love me, but I was holding on so tight. I thought my love for you was enough to make everything all right.”

I recognize her words, of course. They’re lines from my song. The song Pressley recorded and uploaded for the world to see and hear. Natalie takes a long sip of herwine, then pushes her dark hair away from her face as she clears her throat.

“I was engaged,” she says, her tone soft and filled with melancholy. “I loved him with everything in me, and I thought he felt the same. We dated for three years, and after he proposed, we moved in together. That’s when things started to change. It was minimal, at first. He’d make a mess in the kitchen and leave it, expecting me to clean it up. Backhanded compliments about my wardrobe and hair choices. You know? The kind where it’s really a veiled insult?”

I nod, and she returns the gesture before continuing.

“He’d come home cranky from work, and because I work from home, he expected the house to be spotless and dinner to be waiting for him on the table every night. I found myself bending over backwards to please him, to get back the man I fell in love with, but nothing worked. He’d just find something else to complain about. His complaints morphed into blatant insults, and before I knew it, I was constantly catering to a man I barely knew. And yet, I didn’t leave. I still believed the man I loved was inside him and it was up to me to find him again.”

“That sounds awful. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I say softly, and she dabs at her tears again as her lips curve upward.

“I was scrolling on BingBang one day, and the video of you popped up. I watched it at least a dozen times, then saved it to my phone. I watched it multiple times every day for two weeks, and by then, I had the whole song memorized. I felt myself getting stronger every day,and a month before the wedding, I waited for him to go to work, I packed my things, and I went to stay with my best friend. I cut him off, completely. Changed my phone number, blocked him on all my socials, and blocked his email address. I realized my love for him was never going to change him back to the person he was before because that person never existed. It was all an act. A very long, very intricate act, but an act all the same.”

“That took an incredible amount of bravery and inner strength, Natalie,” I say, and she smiles at me again.

“I sold the ring to help fund a weekend vacation to the west coast for me and my best friend, and she begged me to add Evening Shade to the itinerary because she’s a full-on CursedCub.” She pauses to smile once again, adding, “I’m glad she did, because now, I get to thank you.”

“You don’t need to––” I start, but she cuts me off.

“Thank you, Bram, for inspiring me to change my life and not settle just because promises were made. For making me realize he broke those promises first when he changed his personality, completely. Thank you for your music. I know it’s touched others, too. Why did the original poster delete it?”

“Because I asked her to,” I admit quietly.

“Well, I hope you’ll change your mind and put it back up. Who knows who it could help, next?”

With that, she takes her wine and slides off the stool. Giving me a little wave, she heads for a table, sliding into a chair next to a blonde with a pixie cut and a swath of tattoos down one arm.

I look back down at the glass I’m still drying, and I feel something inside me shift.

I’d been so opposed to Pressley uploading a video of me because I’d felt like a hack. An imposter. A wannabe artist with minimal talent. And even after she did it anyway, and the thing blew up, I still felt the same. Like the outpouring of love was a flash in the pan. A fluke I didn’t deserve.

But knowing my song had actually helped someone through something tough? That it had inspired Natalie to change her life for the better? I almost teared up as she was telling me her story.

Sure, my friends have been telling me for years I’m good, but they’re myfriends. They have to say shit like that, right? But a single stranger accomplished something none of them were able to do––she made me believe in myself. In my talent as a songwriter as well as a musician.

She also made me want to help others. To do it, again.

Pulling out my phone, I check the time. My shift is almost over, thank God. But before I leave, I open my texting app and pull up Gavin’s number.

Me:Hey, I need a favor. Come to the tavern. There’s a blonde with short hair and a sleeve of tattoos sitting with another woman who has long dark hair. Do your movie star thing, okay? Take some pictures and sign some autographs.

I don’t have to wait long for a response.

Gavin:I can be there in a minute. I’m actually at Moonstone Mystic, now. Want to tell me why I’m doing this?

Me:I can explain later. Just know, they changed myperspective and possibly my entire life, and the least I can do is help them meet THE Lucas Lumin.

Gavin:Fine, but you owe me, buddy.

Me: Thanks, man.

Grabbing my things and clocking out, I stop by Natalie’s table and thank her again for telling me her story. She introduces me to her friend, who gushes in the usual way over that video, and this time, I don’t get even a little uncomfortable. The door swings open, and I look over to see Gavin striding in.

“And as a real thank you, I’d like to introduce you both to my good friend, Gavin Reese.”

The blonde starts to squeal, and I slap Gavin on the back before I turn and stride toward the door. I need to get home.

I need to talk to Pressley right now.

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