A packed back room at Biddies, the usual Friday karaoke chaos unfolding — half the rugby team’s off-key, Claire Biggs is dancing with a glow stick, and someone’s spilt cider all over the table.

Johnny Kavanagh leaned against the wall near the stage, nursing his pint like it was a lifeline. His eyes flicked across the room again — and landed, like they always did, on her.

She was laughing, legs draped over a pub bench, fingers laced with someone else’s. Some lad from the senior rugby squad. Big shoulders. Confident grin. The type of guy parents probably approved of.

Johnny’s jaw tensed.

“Oi, you’re up next,” Gibsie said, nudging him with a crooked grin. “You gonna cry or croon?”

Johnny smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe both.”

They climbed up onto the little stage. The screen lit up with the opening bars of “Undressed” by Sombr, a song that wasn’t even on the original list — Gibsie had asked the DJ special, because he knew. He always knew.

As the verse started, Johnny took the mic, voice low and smooth, but tight with something heavier than nerves.

“I don’t want the children of another man to have the eyes of the girl I won’t forget…”

And he looked at her.

Right at her.

Across the half-lit room, the noise faded. Her smile faltered. Her boyfriend said something in her ear, but she didn’t hear it. Couldn’t.

Not when Johnny Kavanagh was singing that line, with that look — like the words were stitched into his ribs. Like every word was about her, and only her.

She didn’t look away.

Couldn’t.

The group started to catch on — Shannon blinked, Claire looked between the two of them, and Hughie muttered something to Patrick under his breath. But no one interrupted. No one dared.

Johnny and Gibsie finished the song to a round of wild applause from the drunker part of the bar. But Johnny didn’t bow, didn’t grin. He just stepped off the stage, handed the mic back, and walked right past her.

Not a word.

Just a glance. And all of it said what he never had.

And what he never thought he’d get to say.