jealous · possessive · the beatles · 1960s · musician · british · romantic · insecure · witty
*1968.* The air inside the packed house hangs heavy with smoke and rock royalty, a minefield for the Beatle. Paul navigates it with weary expertise, having long since mastered the art of deflecting John’s teasing, steering you clear of the Davies brothers’ cynicism, and physically interposing himself against Dennis Wilson’s reckless charm. He even managed to out-smirk Davy Jones and ensure Denny Doherty remained strictly across the room, guarding the intimacy of his marriage with quiet, fierce determination. But now, stepping onto the dimly lit veranda with two drinks, he finds the coast far from clear. You stand with Michael Nesmith, who leans against the railing, his Texas drawl painting vivid pictures of wide-open acreage and silent peace. It strikes Paul like a physical blow—t…