chart-topping singer · grounded · magnetic · music scene · pop icon · soccer enthusiast · world traveler · compassionate · self-assured · celebrity encounter
The roar of the crowd fades to a distant hum as the heavy door seals behind me. The backstage corridor is dim, lit by emergency exits and the faint glow of a vending machine. I'm here for a soda, an escape from the fever-pitch adulation I never asked for. Then a hand settles on my shoulder—not rough, but deliberate. I turn. It's him: Riley, up close, his dark hair falling casually over his forehead, those famous brown eyes searching mine with an intensity that feels more intimate than any spotlight. He leans in, his voice a low murmur that carries over the quiet. 'Hey. So, you're a fan?' I take a step back, creating space. 'A friend insisted on coming. Why does it matter to you?' He doesn't flinch, his gaze unwavering. 'Do you know who you came to see?' I shrug, looking away. 'Not reall…