Page 49 of Spark

The entire table exchanges amused looks about how desperately in love our former fuckboy rockstar has become.

Truly, Adrian Savage is one of the biggest rags-to-riches success stories in the whole world, but not for the reasons the whole world thinks.

Yes, his ascendance to worldwide fame and fortune has been one for the history books, for all the obvious reasons, but even more impressive than his acquisition of money and fame, at least for me, is the way he’s transformed as a person, thanks to the newfound safety, love, and connection he has with Laila.

“I swear on my life, Laila hasn’t said a word to Ruby,” Savage assures me. “She promised she’d keep your secret, and her word is gold, unlike mine. Actually, Laila thinks your diabolical plan is pure genius. She’s fully supportive.”

I feel emboldened by that. “Really?”

Savage nods. “She wants you and Ruby to get together even more than I do, and she thinks Ruby’s too clueless to get there otherwise.” He snickers. “But then again, Laila is diabolical herself, so take her support with a grain of salt. Her moral compass is a little wonky.”

We all laugh, along with Savage.

“Wow, if you’ve wanted Ruby from day one, then I really fucked you over badly, didn’t I?” Kai says, leaning back in his chair. “You know, when you came home from school, and I told you that lie about what happened at Ruby’s birthday party?”

I exhale. “That information definitely set me down a certain path.”

Kai looks genuinely apologetic. “I’m so sorry, man.”

“It’s okay. Ruby didn’t want me back then, anyway.”

“I swear, I had no idea.”

“I know. It’s okay. I’m choosing to believe everything happens for a reason.”

C-Bomb slides some chips into the pot. “How long do you and Ruby have to pretend to be a couple?”

I peel my gaze off my apologetic brother. “Uh, we’re mostly done with that. We shot the Mentor Day episode yesterday, which was the main event for our fake relationship, but we’ll need to pretend again when we shoot the finale in five weeks.”

“Okay, so that’s your new timeline,” C-Bomb says. “Keep the fling going till then.”

“For five more weeks ?” I bellow incredulously.

Colin nods his agreement with C-Bomb. “And after that, right after the finale, do some grand gesture for her, spill your guts, and pray to God you’ve done enough to get her to reply with, ‘I love you, too, Kendrick.’”

I scoff. “The most I could possibly pull off without having a mental breakdown is one more week. Two, tops.”

C-Bomb swigs from his bottle of Jack. “You’d be surprised what rabbits a man with no other options can pull out of his hat.”

I glare at C-Bomb. I love the guy, but he’s the last guy I’d turn to for romantic advice.

“He’s got another option, Caleb,” Fish replies to C-Bomb. “It’s called honesty .”

I lay down my cards, too wound up to concentrate on the card game any longer. “Look,” I say, “there’s no way Ruby would believe her place is still under repairs for that long, anyway. She’s already getting suspicious about the delays.”

Colin shoots me a snarky look. “I dunno, man. Flooding can cause mold. Lots and lots of mold.”

“And mold notoriously takes a really long time to fix,” C-Bomb offers.

“It happened at my grandpa’s cabin when I was kid.

That shit took forever to get rid of.” He winks at me.

“I’m guessing she’s already caught feelings for you, though.

So, don’t pay the building manager for five weeks up front, my brother. ”

Savage interjects, “Honestly, I don’t see how Ruby could last another week, let alone five, without professing her undying love for this guy.” He claps my shoulder. “Look at him. He’s in the top three hottest guys at this table.”

Everyone cracks up, including me.

“I appreciate you being my hype man, Savage,” I say. “But let’s get real here. I’m in the top five, at most.”

“Now, that’s plain mean,” Fish says with a mock scowl, and everyone laughs at the implication. There’s only six men sitting here, so he’s clearly volunteering himself as the sixth guy who didn’t make the cut.

“Fish, I didn’t put you at six,” I say.

“Who then?” he asks, motioning to the table.

“Savage, of course. Look at him. Yeesh .”

We all bust up. Adrian Savage, more than anyone in the world, looks like he was created by AI .

With a sigh, I lean my forearm onto the card table. “Guys, I’m seriously not ready to spill my guts to Ruby yet. Soon. But not yet.”

C-Bomb shrugs. “Sounds like you need to do something to keep the window of opportunity open for yourself, then.”

I ponder that for a moment. “Ruby’s place will be ready in two days. I mean, as far as she knows. It’s been ready for a while now. So, maybe I’ll try to get myself a couple more days after that?”

“Buy yourself another week,” C-Bomb replies confidently. “I’d bet anything that’s all it’ll take.”

“This is madness,” Fish grumbles. “No disrespect, Caleb, but Kendrick isn’t you.

And he isn’t Savage. He doesn’t play games, like you two.

Nor should he. Not with someone he loves and respects.

” Fish directs his earnest green gaze on me.

“Go home and tell Ruby the whole truth, KC. Speak from your heart. Tell her you love her deeply, madly, and forever. Also, that you bribed her?—”

“Are you insane?” Savage blurts, as Colin and C-Bomb shout something similar. “It’s the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, Fish Taco! KC can’t stop being a Doberman now. Not when he’s almost got victory in the bag.”

“I haven’t been much of a Doberman lately,” I admit.

I look at my big brother, nonverbally seeking his direction.

My whole life, I’ve come to Kai, more than anyone else, to get all the most important life advice.

Certainly not Mr. Mercurial-and-Emotionally-Stunted Adrian Savage, though I’ve always loved him dearly.

On the contrary, it’s Savage who’s always come to me for support and advice, not the other way around.

So, this current state of affairs is pretty fucking bizarre and backwards.

“You need more time,” Kai declares confidently. “Close the deal, KC. Get the girl.”

Savage nods enthusiastically. “The plan is working, man. Stay the course for one more week, and you’ll have a future wife at the end of it. I guarantee it.”

Wife. He’s said the magic word. The one that flips a switch inside me and cuts off all uncertainty and equivocation.

I want to make Ruby my wife .

That much I know.

And now, suddenly, like a switch getting flipped inside me, mostly thanks to Kai’s confidence about the matter, I’m now bound and determined to forge ahead and get what I want, through any means necessary.