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I saw the seriousness in his eyes The intensity as he zeroed in onyou’ve heard is true It’s not an act I live rets You should know that”

“Interesting philosophy”

“And what’s yours? Love and peace?” he taunted “Good always triumphs?”

“That’s e, yes” I didn’t knohy it seemed so important to strip all of that away I wanted him to see me bare “But I believe it too I believe in kindness in people Love All of that”

“I can tell that about you” His brow furrowed

I tiptoed away froers had been I walked around the roo Luke’s collection of pictures and football memorabilia

“You can? How?” I wanted to knoanted him to tell ood girl everyone else saw

He sat on the edge of the sofa “The way you sing”

I forgot the picture of hiuy in a uniform and looked at him “Really? One concert and you know that?”

He shrugged “Maybe not But I felt it I doubt people say that when they see me perform”

He had ame is a performance? It’s all a show?”

“The gao to see a show They want the sa They want to feel the thrill of winning They want to feel like they’re a part of soer than they are Why else do people love football so much? Everyone’s a damn expert Men who have never picked up a ball suddenly knohat call I should have made last week” He paused “Everyone thinks they know the sport better And it brings people together They unite against us They unite to support us It ”

My eyebrows rose “And you think that’s the sae?”

“I saw it tonight I sa people responded to you They want a piece of you Even that er—your life—your music—your victories”

I turned again to the bookcase Everything on these shelves was related to football Luke had summed it up