Page 60 of 16 Forever

“Uh, yeah,” I say. I’m annoyed that Ron is here and Dad isn’t, but still, this warmth spreads through my chest. “Thanks.”

“Really, though,” Mom says. “I knew Vivvy could sing, but it turns out you can too!”

I’ve been waiting so long for her to say something like that. I shrug and smile.

“Wish she could’ve seen this,” Mom says. “I know she’ll be so proud.”

“Yeah,” Ron says. “I leaned over to your mother in the middle of the set and said, ‘When can we get the album?’ And I really meant it!”

“Well, guess we’ll have to make one,” I say. It’s hard to be annoyed by Ron’s presence when he says something like that.

“I have to ask,” Mom says, leaning in closer and speaking in a hushed voice. “I saw who was sitting in the back of the room. Did you invite him? Are you getting back together?”

“Mom, no,” I say, my mouth going completely dry. “I didn’t invite him. I don’t... I don’t know why he’s here, but don’t worry, it’s not—It’s just not.”

“Okay, fine, fine. And look, you can date whoever you want to, of course, I just think it’s a tricky road to—”

“Mom!” I shout-whisper. “Not here, okay? Everything is fine. We’re not dating. Or even talking. Be chill!”

“I’m chill,” Mom says, shrugging and looking to Ron for confirmation. He nods, as if to remind her of something else entirely. “Oh, right! On another note, sweetie, Ron and I had an idea that we want to talk to you about later.”

“Oh?”

“Abigidea,” Ron says, raising his eyebrows and dork-smiling.

“Ah, what the heck, we’ll just ask you now,” Mom says. “We want Angry Baby to be the entertainment at our wedding this summer. We’ll pay you and everything.”

“Wait, what?” Ember leans toward us from where they were talking to their older brother, Lee, pulling in Shana by the arm from a separate conversation with her mom.

“We want you three to play our wedding,” Mom repeats.

“What do ya say?” Ron asks with a wink (which unfortunatelynudges him back into annoying territory).

“Oh hell yes!” Shana says, looking at me and Ember like we just won the lottery.

“We are so in!” Ember says.

I wish they would’ve consulted with me first, as I’m not sure exactly how I feel about this. But it is another gig, one that actually pays money. And Mom and Ron loving our set so deeply that they want us to perform at their wedding is incredibly meaningful.

“Sure, yeah!” I agree.

“Woo!” Mom gives Ron a cute but overwhelmingly corny high five. “This is the best!”

“We really lucked out, my dear,” Ron says.

“This is such an honor,” Shana says, taking Mom’s hand. “We won’t let you down, Laurel, we promise.”

“Oh, I know that,” Mom says.

“Hey.” A hand taps me lightly on the back, and there’s Chord behind me, grinning so big his shiny white teeth temporarily imprint dots onto my retina.

“Oh, hey,” I say.

“That was so damn good.”

We hug, and he smells fantastic, like pine tree and coffee, and he asks me why I never told him I was a total rock star, and I say I guess I forgot, and this feels like a dream. How is all of it actually happening? Mom is looking over at us, and I can tell the shallow part of her is impressed that this super attractive guy is hugging her daughter. It leaves me simultaneously proud and furious. Like it’s such a surprise someone like him would be attracted tome.

Chord introduces me to his friends, whose names I don’t have a chance in hell of remembering, and they’re all very sweet. I trymy best to be sweet back to them. As cool as this is, it’s a lot to take in.