Page 63 of Spark

But Kendrick’s absolutely right. If it wasn’t for Cooper’s song, and specifically, the lyrics about him forcing some long-overdue honesty between us, would I be standing here now with Kendrick Cook as my husband and Kyrie Cook happily making mud pies in the sand with that gaggle of little ones over there?

Would Kendrick’s daughter be growing inside me—her name as yet unknown—making me lose the contents of my stomach every single day for a very worthy cause?

It’s impossible to know for sure what might have happened if Cooper’s lyrics hadn’t come along to force the issue, but I’m guessing without his revelations forcefully pushing us together and making me do the unthinkable—kissing Kendrick at his birthday party five years ago—none of the other dominoes likely would have fallen thereafter.

When I emerge from my spiraling thoughts, I discover Reed leveling me with dark, amused eyes. “So?” he asks. “Got anything to say to me, now that Kendrick’s clearly on my side?”

“You’re relentless, Reed.”

“You have no idea, Ruby.”

We share a smile.

“You know what?” I say. “Yeah, I do have something to say to you.”

“Oh boy,” he says, gearing up for whatever tongue-lashing he thinks is coming.

“Thank you, Reed . You were right. You not pulling that song was the best thing that’s ever happened in my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that decision of yours, even though you did it to benefit you and your greed, and nothing else, and you really didn’t give two shits about me at the time.

Thank you, Reed. I’m eternally grateful. ”

He bursts out laughing. “That was you being grateful?”

“Take what I’m willing to give you. I assure you, this moment won’t come around again.”

Reed belly laughs, and I giggle with him. It feels like a huge achievement, making him laugh hard like this. It’s hard to make him smile, let alone guffaw. And I’m savoring the moment.

“Thank you for finally acknowledging my brilliance,” Reed says, wiping his eyes.

“It’s only right.” I take Kendrick’s hand and lean my cheek against his broad shoulder. “Credit where credit is due, right?”

Despite my snarkiness, Reed looks genuinely touched as he gazes at Kendrick and me.

“I’m really happy things have worked out so well for you two,” he says softly. “I don’t like a whole lot of people. But I’ve always liked you both.”

Kendrick and I chuckle.

“Thanks, Reed,” Kendrick says. “I must admit, you’ve grown on me.”

“Enough to stop calling me The Prick?”

Kendrick gasps.

“You thought I didn’t know you all call me that?” Reed says, his eyebrow arched. “Kids, I know everything. Never, ever forget that.”

We all laugh together this time, although I’m not entirely sure if Reed is kidding.

“For what it’s worth, we haven’t called you that in years,” Kendrick says.

“I have. Maybe about a month ago,” I say. “But before then, it’d been a really long time.”

Reed clutches his heart. “I’m so touched. I guess Georgina’s still working her magic on me, huh?”

“She’s definitely had a good influence on you,” I agree.

“Speaking of my wife,” Reed says, looking around. “Where’d she go?”

I point over his broad shoulder. “She’s over there.”

Reed turns and follows the trajectory of my gesture to where Georgina is chatting with a trio of women: Violet, Miranda, and Laila. “Ah. Thanks, Ruby Duby. ”

With a wink, Reed leaves. And when I’m alone with my husband, I pull him into a hug and peck his lips.

“I never thought about Cooper’s song, in terms of it leading to you and me. To our life together. But it kind of did.”

“Not kind of. It’s a direct line. I should probably send that dude a car or something to thank him.”

“Okay, Mr. Drunk with Happiness, let’s not get too crazy here. He got paid plenty well for his stupid song. He doesn’t need anything else from us.”

Kendrick cracks up and nuzzles my nose. “I’m really glad we decided to come here. I’m already having a blast.”

“Me, too.” I look over at Kyrie in the sand a few yards away, where he’s hard at work on a sandcastle with Valentina. “My gosh, look at him. He’s a happy, busy little bee.”

“He’s in the zone in record speed.” Kendrick returns to me and grins.

“I don’t only thank Cooper every day for giving me this life with you, by the way.

I thank my lucky stars, too. The universe.

God. My father in heaven. And, yes, Reed, for putting out that song, so I could hear it and start mustering the courage to go after what I’d wanted since age sixteen.

” He smiles. “Anyone and everyone with even the slightest role in making this dream-come-true life with you possible for me, I owe them everything.”

“Aw, baby.” My eyes prick with tears. My husband says swoonworthy stuff all the time.

He’s a true romantic by nature, unlike me.

But that little speech was particularly romantic and moving.

In fact, it hit me like an arrow from Cupid, shot straight into my heart.

“You only have yourself to thank, baby,” I reply, touching the scruff on his cheek.

“ You made this possible, Kendrick, because you’re the beautiful person you are.

” I smirk. “Also, because you bribed my building manager.”

Kendrick hoots with laughter at that, and I giggle along with him. But after a bit, my laughter subsides and emotion overtakes me.

“Seriously, though, love. You’re the reason we’re here today.

Not me. And definitely not Cooper or Reed.

We’re here because you always kept that spark lit inside you, no matter what.

Because you could envision this happily ever after for us, all along.

Thank you for always being able to see this as our future.

For never, ever giving up on me. On us.”

“How could I give up on you? You’re my all-time favorite person. My gem.”

We share a goofy smile. He’s referencing a line from “Spark.” But it’s as true today, for both of us, as it was when Kendrick wrote the words in that frenzied, urgent hand all those years ago in a hotel room, while his brother fucked a groupie against their shared wall.

I think that’s been the most important ingredient to our incredible marriage, actually: the fact that we’ve always been best friends first—each other’s all-time favorite person. Oh, and we also love to fuck each other’s brains out.

“I love you so much,” I whisper.

“I love you, too. So, so much.” Kendrick presses his forehead to mine, one palm placed on my cheek and the other resting on my baby bump. “And I always will.”

THE END