Page 59 of Spark

KENDRICK

M usic is thumping.

We’ve got a lot to celebrate tonight already. But, hopefully, before the night is through, Ruby and I will add another reason to the long list. The best one. Our engagement.

“Hey, you two,” Reed says to Ruby and me, and he approaches with his gorgeous wife, Georgina, by his side. I’m in the midst of mixing cocktails for Ruby and me at a stocked bar, so I offer to play bartender for them, too, and they accept.

As I make the drinks, Reed says, “I heard the big news. Congrats. It’s about time. ”

I freeze. Fuck. Is Reed referring to the fact that Ruby and I are living together now? Or did Mr. Loose Lips Whenever He’s Drunk Adrian Savage blab to Reed about my plans, and Reed, who’s just arrived at the party, mistakenly thinks the big question has already been popped?

“What big news?” Georgina asks.

“These two kids finally figured out they’re made for each other,” Reed replies. “They’re shacking up. True?”

“True!” Ruby confirms happily.

“Glad to hear it. I like it when good people find each other.”

Ruby and I look at each other, like, “What’s happening?” Reed isn’t normally one to say nice things like that. Seems like he’s on his best behavior in front of his wife.

“Oh, Ruby, speaking of big news,” Reed says. “I’ve got another co-writing session for you, if you’re interested.” He tells Ruby the name of the artist who’s interested in writing with her, and Ruby loses her shit. I’m not surprised. The solo artist requesting her is as big as they come.

“ Are you serious ?” Ruby screams, her palms on her cheeks. “Of course, I’m interested. I’m elated.”

“They saw you on the show,” Reed says. “Which you got hired for, by the way, because I didn’t pull Cooper’s song.”

And the Reed we know is back .

Reed’s tone dripping with snark, he adds, “Who knew things would work out so damned well for you? Hmm. Was it a defamation lawsuit you threatened to slap me with, or am I misremembering that detail, Ruby Tuesday?”

Ruby fakes a yawn. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Rivers. That stupid song has never bothered me in the slightest.”

We all crack up at her comedic delivery—nobody more so than Reed himself.

“Aw, come on, Ruby Tuesday,” Reed says. “Give credit where it’s due. Things have worked out exactly like I said. Even better. At least admit Cooper’s song was a blessing in disguise.”

Ruby stares at Reed, unyielding, her face a perfect portrait of snark, and soon, he gets the message: she’s not willing to backtrack on a single thing she’s ever said to him.

“Stubborn Ruby,” Reed murmurs with a chuckle.

“Okay, I’ll check back with you again in a year or so, after you’ve had a massive hit song for a huge artist—a writing gig you wouldn’t have gotten if not for Sing Your Heart Out , which you wouldn’t have gotten if not for Cooper’s song—and we’ll try this again. ”

“That sounds like a plan, Reed,” Ruby says, her tone sardonic. “Yes, let’s reconvene on this matter when that happens, so I can give you the exact same response as this time.”

Shaking his head at Ruby’s adorableness, Reed says to me, “Is she stubborn like this with you, too?”

“Even more so. It’s awesome.”

Reed winks. “Thanks for the cocktails, bartender. I seriously couldn’t be happier for you two kids.”

“Thanks, Reed.”

The Man with the Midas Touch, as he’s known in the industry, slides his arm around his wife’s shoulders.

“We’re going to mix and mingle now. Have fun, you two.

I told Owen to start a group chat, letting us know all the numbers coming in on ‘Spark’ throughout the night.

” With that, he heads off with his wife, while Ruby and I head off in the other direction into another corner of the packed party, at which point the birthday boy converges on me, looking like he’s having the time of his life.

“Hey, KC!” Savage shouts. “Are you two ready to be victimized by some Birthday Truth or Dare ?”

The question sounds routine, but Savage is actually speaking in code to me: asking if I’m ready to proceed with my plan to pop the question to Ruby now.

I inhale deeply to calm my suddenly jangly nerves. “Yeah, sure. I think so.”

“You think so, or you’re sure?”

I take another deep inhale. “I’m sure. Let’s do it.” I lean into Ruby’s ear, since the party is loud, and Savage is standing next to me. “Savage wants to play Birthday Truth or Dare . Will you help me gather the band?”

“I’m on it!” she chirps.

We divvy up the names and head off in opposite directions.

And a few minutes later, all the members of Fugitive Summer, plus Laila, are standing at the ready in front of Savage the Birthday Boy, per tradition, waiting to perform whatever stupid and/or infantile and/or humiliating birthday dare he’s going to dole out.

At least, that’s what Ruby thinks we’re doing.

Titus and Kai, too. The rest of us are in on the plan.

“Okay, everyone,” Savage says to the group, his dark eyes gleaming. “There’s no Truth option tonight. Only Dare. I don’t give a shit about whatever secrets you might be keeping from me or each other.”

While everyone chuckles around me, I reflexively lay my palm over the ring box in my pocket.

As Savage and I have discussed, he’s going to dole out my dare last, because that’s what I said I wanted.

But now, suddenly, I’m wondering if I might pass out from anticipation while waiting through everyone else’s turns.

“Kai,” Savage says with confidence. “Your dare is to perform your choice of the following.” Savage counts off the options on his fingers. “An original poem, song, or interpretative dance for the entire party’s entertainment and/or amusement.”

Kai doesn’t hesitate. “Interpretative dance.” His pick wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows him. My big brother can’t sing for shit, and he’s way too drunk to compose a coherent sentence, let alone an actual poem.

“Excellent.” After rubbing his palms together like Dr. Evil, Savage hops up onto Laila’s piano bench and waves his arms at the noisy, distracted crowd.

“Attention, please!” he booms, and after a moment, everyone turns to face him.

“Can someone turn off the music for me?” He pauses till the loud music vanishes.

“Thanks. As some of you know, my bandmates and I have a long, rich tradition of playing Birthday Truth or Dare on all of our birthdays. As tonight’s birthday king/czar/god, I’ve selected Kai to kick things off, because he’s so drunk, he probably won’t be standing by the end of the game. ”

Everyone laughs.

“With that said, please, enjoy Kai Cook performing an interpretative dance for your amusement.” As everyone cheers, Savage addresses his wife standing on the other side of her fancy piano. “Fitzy, would you do the honor of accompanying Kai’s dance?”

Laila snorts. “With pleasure, my love.”

Savage steps to the end of the piano bench so Laila can sit next to his feet and play her instrument, and everyone clears a large circle of space for the dance we’re about to witness from Kai.

“Now, what should Kai interpret in his dance?” Savage asks the crowd, beckoning to them to throw out ideas. “Come on now, don’t be shy. Shout out your ideas.”

Several people call out their suggestions, but it’s Reed’s idea—“woodland creatures”—that makes Savage light up and point exuberantly at him. “Yes! Woodland creatures, it is! Laila?”

After stretching out her fingers dramatically, Laila shakes out her hair like she’s starring in a shampoo commercial, and with those two bits of preparation out of the way, the maestro lays her talented fingers on her keys and launches into a joyful, uplifting sonata that inspires Kai to flit around the makeshift dance floor like a woodland creature, much to everyone’s belly-laughing delight.

When Kai’s dancing is done and Savage has ruled his dare officially satisfied, the birthday boy turns to his next victim, Titus, and offers him the same three choices. And like Kai before him, Ruby’s brother chooses to entertain the party with another interpretative dance.

“What should Titus interpret for us?” Savage bellows to the crowd from his perch on Laila’s piano bench.

Suggestions pour in. But this time, it’s C-Bomb who offers the winning idea that gets Savage’s juices flowing: “A man with explosive diarrhea who’s desperately looking for a bathroom in a long hallway, but all the doors are locked.”

As everyone guffaws at the suggestion, Laila launches into a classical piece on her gorgeous piano—a frantic, foreboding tune that perfectly fits Titus’s over-the-top, frenzied dance movements. To put it mildly, Titus’s performance is a huge hit. Even bigger than Kai’s.

“Fitzy?” Savage asks his wife sitting at his feet. “Do you want to do a dare, baby?”

“Yes, but not here, my love. Dare me tonight, when we’re all alone, and I promise I’ll do anything you want, Birthday Boy.”

The party whoops at that, and Savage plays up the moment for a long beat, making everyone laugh and cheer even louder.

Finally, however, the birthday boy returns to the task at hand by selecting his next victim down the line: Ruby .

The woman who’s got no idea she’s about to become my fiancée. My future wife. God willing, anyway.

“Ruby Duby,” Savage says solemnly, leveling her with every ounce of his world-famous charisma. “Would you like to perform an original poem, song, or interpretative dance for the party?”

“A song.”

The crowd cheers.

“That is, if Laila is okay with me borrowing her beautiful piano for a few minutes?”

“Please, do.”

As the rowdy crowd titters and claps, Savage and Laila both vacate the piano bench, and Ruby gets herself situated.

Like Laila before her, Ruby stretches out her fingers like a virtuoso preparing to play at Carnegie Hall, and a moment later, Ruby begins playing a dramatic, foreboding introduction that could easily be something from Phantom of the Opera .