Page 30 of Spark
RUBY
“ B ut are we sure this dress isn’t wearing me?
” I ask, referring to the bold, sexy designer gown the stylist and Laila convinced me to try on for the imminent press conference.
Laila and I are in one of Reed’s beautiful guestrooms after getting glammed up by professionals, and I’m feeling equal parts ecstatic and nervous about my sultry appearance.
Objectively, I look like a million bucks.
Like a model in a magazine. If I saw me, I’d surely lavish myself with compliments.
But I’m also unsure about wearing a gown that’s this revealing and sensual.
I never dress like this. But then again, I’ve always kind of fantasized about being brave enough to do it. So, maybe now is my perfect chance.
“Ruby, I swear on my love for my baby grand,” Laila says. “You’ve never looked hotter, sexier, or more stunning. You’re breathtaking. A smoke show. If I were a cartoon character, my eyes would be telescoping out of my head right now.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” the stylist says. “You’re going to break the internet in this dress, especially because nobody’s ever seen you like this before.”
I feel a jolt of excitement. “Okay, you’ve convinced me. ”
“You have to wear it with confidence, though,” Laila says, wagging her finger at me like a stern schoolteacher. “Wear it with swagger, babe. Own it.”
“I will. Knowing Cooper is seeing me in this dress will give me all the motivation I need to play the part of a femme fatale .”
The stylist laughs. “Seeing you in that dress will definitely make that boy regret all his life choices.”
As we all laugh, my phone pings. I grab it and discover I’ve got a bummer of a text from my building manager:
I’m sorry to inform you the construction crew just found evidence of possible mold. They’ll need to investigate and undertake all necessary remedial efforts, so we’ll need to delay your return to the unit by another week or so. Sorry about this. I’ll keep you posted.
“Damn,” I mutter.
Laila asks me what’s wrong, so I tell her about the text, and both women console me.
“Don’t worry,” Laila says. “I’m sure Kendrick will be happy to let you continue staying at his place.”
“I hate inconveniencing him, though. He’s been sweet about it, but I’m sure he’s dying to get his life back.” I put my phone down. “Laila, would it be possible for me to stay in one of your guest rooms, if Kendrick seems at all stressed when I tell him about this?”
“Shoot. We’ve got a full house right now, honey. We’re packed to the gills with my entire extended family.”
“You are? Who’s staying with you?”
She rattles off a list of names, and, yup, it definitely sounds like there’s no room for me. Not even on her couch.
“I’m surprised everyone came to town to visit while you and Savage have been shooting such long days for the show.”
“That’s why they all came. Because I told them they’ll have the house to themselves while we’re at work. It’s like a beach vacation for them.” Laila points at my phone. “Why don’t you text Kendrick and see what he says? I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to have you stay for as long as you need.”
“He’ll say that, for sure. But I really don’t want him to feel secretly stressed out.”
Laila shoots me a look that says, You’re dumb as a box of rocks . But what she says is, “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
I grab my phone and quickly type out the message:
Me: Bad news. My place is gonna take another week. Are you okay with me staying that whole time? If not, I’m perfectly happy to make other arrangements.
I don’t know where Kendrick is currently being held captive in Reed’s massive estate, but wherever it is, and whatever he’s doing, he replies instantly:
KC: Stay as long you want, cutie. If there’s another delay, no need to even ask me. My home is yours, babe.
After reading Kendrick’s sweet reply, I read it to Laila and the stylist, and we all agree he’s a total sweetheart. “The best friend, ever,” I murmur.
“Arms up, please,” Laila’s stylist mutters. “I need to sew something down next to your zipper.”
Laila dutifully raises her arms and turns around, and the stylist gets to work.
As she’s standing like a mannequin across the room, Laila says to me, “I’m sure Kendrick is genuinely over the moon to find out you’ll be staying with him longer.”
My heart lurches. “Why do you think that? Did he say something?”
She pauses. “No, nothing specific. Just that he’s been having lots of fun with you there.”
“When did he say that?”
The stylist taps on Laila’s shoulder, signaling she’s finished with her task, and Laila lowers her arms. “When you and Kendrick arrived here today, I asked him how things have been going this past week with ‘Ruby the Roommate,’ and he said it’s been fun.
A blast, actually. That was the word he used. ”
I try to mute my excitement and speak casually. “It’s been just like old times.”
“Kendrick didn’t need to tell me you’re having fun, though. You were both walking on air when you got here, so I figured things have been going well.”
“Well, yeah, we’re both excited to be on the show—especially together.”
“Mm hmm.” She sits in an armchair. “It sure seems like you and Kendrick have gotten even closer this week, if that’s possible.
” She smiles. “‘Cutie. Babe.’ Kendrick sure used a lot of endearments in one short text to you.” I look down at my phone—at the text message Kendrick sent me a moment ago.
I didn’t even realize he’d called me those things, because it’s so par for the course with us .
“We’ve always used endearments. That’s not new to this week.”
“Mm hm.”
Laila looks like a cat with a canary—like she knows something I don’t.
But before another word is exchanged, there’s a knock on the door, and a male voice asks if he can come in.
When we say yes, The Man with the Midas Touch himself, Reed Rivers, enters our makeshift dressing room looking every bit like the young billionaire he is.
“Wow, Laila. You look beautiful.” His gaze fixes on me. “Who the fuck are you and how’d you get into my house?”
I giggle. “Is that your idea of a compliment—telling me I’m unrecognizable?”
Reed laughs. “I’m sorry.” He puts his palms together. “You look stunning, Ruby. That dress is what my mother always used to call ‘va-va-voom.’”
Laila laughs. “Ruby’s giving ‘Nerd in a Nineties Movie Who Takes Off Her Glasses and Lets Down Her Hair and Now Nobody Can Believe She’s the Same Person,’ don’t you think?”
Reed cracks up. “If that was wardrobe’s goal, then they’ve accomplished the mission.”
I frown. “I’m not entirely sure if you two are making me feel really good about my current appearance or really bad and self-conscious about the way I normally look.”
They both laugh and apologize.
“You’re always beautiful, Ruby,” Laila says. “It’s just fun to see you letting your inner vixen out today. You’re going to pop a whole lot of eyeballs, all over the world, and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.”
“Make that two of us.” Reed grins at Laila and me. “Ladies, I’ve come to escort you to a ‘holding tank’ downstairs—my game room—in anticipation of the press conference in five minutes. ”
“Five?” I blurt. “Oh my gosh.”
Dutifully, we thank the stylist and follow Reed into the hallway.
“So, Ruby,” Reed says as we walk together. “The reason I offered to come get you two is because I wanted to chat with you about Cooper. I just saw him, and he seems pretty wound up about you and Kendrick. So, I wanted to warn you about that before the press conference.”
He doesn’t need to explain in further detail what he means.
We all know Cooper is a tempestuous, emotional person by nature.
That’s the reason he writes such awesome songs and performs them with such passion.
But it’s also the reason he was the worst boyfriend ever, after originally being such a seemingly great friend.
“Thanks for looking out for me. But don’t worry. With Eli’s help, Kendrick and I have already formulated the perfect script for the press conference. And, luckily, Eli said he talked to Cooper’s agent, and Cooper’s on the same page.”
I explain what the three of us have agreed through our agents: not to expressly comment on our personal relationships, including but not limited to none of us confirming the meaning of lyrics or who might have inspired them.
Instead, we’re going to let what’s already out there do the talking for us: Cooper’s lyrics, that viral kiss at Kendrick’s birthday party, and the various photos of Cooper and me, and then Kendrick and me, that are now being posted and analyzed everywhere, usually alongside Cooper’s blaring song, and/or an analysis of his lyrics.
“Strategy and execution are two very different things, though,” Reed says. “Be ready to fight back if Cooper comes at you. Don’t freeze like a deer in headlights and lose the opportunity to fight fire with fire. I don’t want you feeling like you missed your chance to defend yourself.”
The hair on my arms stands up. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“No, but I know Cooper. If he tries to make you look bad, don’t take his shit. I know you’re a newbie at all this, so I just want to put it into your head it’s okay not to be sweet and polite here. If Cooper pulls out a knife, make sure you pull out a gun.”
I crinkle my brow. “Why are you saying this to me? What’s going to happen to me in there?” I gasp. “Are you a shill for Nadine right now? Are you trying to get me to go off half-cocked in there for ratings?”
Reed laughs. “Of course not. If anything, Nadine’s a shill for me. I run the world, Ruby Duby. Haven’t you heard?”
“Yeah, I might have heard a little something about that.”
We’re all chuckling together as we reach our destination. The door to it, anyway. But rather than opening it, Reed turns to face me, his smile instantly fading.
“I’m saying this stuff because I’ve been around the block a few times, and I know you haven’t.
Because I know Cooper, and Nadine, and who knows what side deal she might have struck with him to make him come after you.
I want you to be prepared for any possibility.
I would have looked after you, regardless, because you and KC are the only members of Fugitive Summer I actually like?—”
“I’m right here, Reed,” Laila murmurs with a laugh, since he’s just implied he doesn’t like her husband.
With a wink, Reed continues, “And I promised my sister and Miranda I’d look out for our beloved gem today, and I don’t want either of them coming after me if they see you getting steamrolled by Cooper.
” He’s talking about my two close friends, Violet, who happens to be Reed’s little sister, and Violet’s best friend since forever, Miranda, who works in PR at River Records .
“I appreciate the heads up. But don’t worry about me. I’m that bitch, Ruby Tuesday, remember? And I’m dressed to kill.” I wink. “I assure you, Mr. Rivers, Ruby Tuesday’s not nearly as sweet as she looks.”