Page 63 of Spark

Six days later

“Oh, yeah, this is definitely the fit, baby,” I murmur to the stylist assigned to me as I gaze at myself in a full-length mirror.

“You have the perfect physique to wear it,” she replies, gazing at my reflection alongside me. She launches into a detailed explanation of how and why she thinks this sick outfit suits me and is the perfect choice for today’s festivities—the press conference announcing this season’s cast ofSing Your Heart Out, followed by a raging after-party. All of it happening here at Reed River’s sprawling, hilltop mansion in the Hollywood Hills

“When I was Savage’s guest mentor two seasons ago, they didn’t give me a stylist,” I say. “I wore a T-shirt and jeans out of my own closet.”

The stylisttsks. “Well, this time, Nadine said she wants us pulling out all the stops to make you look like a headliner.”She’s referring to the executive producer, a woman who’s well known for being a Machiavellian force of nature.

The handler assigned to me for the day—another new thing, since my last appearance on the show—pops her head into the bedroom I’ve been assigned to use as my dressing room/hiding place, and the moment she sees my flashy duds, she gushes about my appearance.

“Isn’t he stunning?” the stylist agrees.

“Stunning. A work of art. Is he ready for hair and makeup?”

“He’s all yours.”

“Are you doing it in Reed’s guest house?” I ask. That’s where they did it during my prior season. “If so, I know my way there, so you don’t have to take me.”

The woman smiles at me in a way that feels like she’s calling me a dumbshit. “Yeah, it’s over there again. But I have to escort you. Nadine said she doesn’t want to risk you bumping into Cooper before the press conference. She wants all on-camera reactions to be ‘spontaneous’ and ‘real.”

“Okay. Whatever you say.” I say my goodbyes and thanks to the stylist, and off I go behind my handler until, eventually, we’re heading down a winding path through Reed’s spacious backyard that leads to his guest house at the back of his massive estate.

“Well, look at you,” a snarky male voice says. When I turn to look, it’s Cooper coming up the path from the guest house. Like me, he’s dressed to kill. Unlike me, his hair and face are already camera-ready.

“Hey, Cooper,” I say flatly. By now, we both know they’re going to try to pit us against each other this season. I’m sure Cooper’s on board, but fuck him. I’m planning to adopt Ruby’s approach and make it clear he’s not worth the time or energy to engage with.

“Don’t say another word, boys,” my handler barks. “Savewhatever you’re dying to say to each other for the press conference.”

“I’m not dying to say a damned thing,” I say nonchalantly.

“Sure, KC,” Cooper snaps.

“Stop. Talking,” Cooper’s handler hisses. “Both of you. Or Nadine’s going to kill me.”

My handler snaps at her colleague, “Why’d you bring Cooper through here now? Didn’t you hear me on the radio? I just said I was escorting KC down the path!”

As the women are squabbling, Cooper sneers and says to me, “You didn’t waste any time, getting with her, did you? The second she broke up with me?—”

“No!” our handlers shout simultaneously. “No talking. Keep it moving.”

Cooper and his handler step aside to allow my handler and me down the path. But as I pass him, Cooper shoots me a look that’s so cocky and self-satisfied, I want to punch it off his face.

“I wouldn’t smile like that, if I were you,” I say. “If I was a guy who couldn’t get my ex to the finish line during sex.”

“Fuck you,” Cooper spits out.

“No, fuckher. And when I do, unlike you, I actually get her off.”

“No, no, no!” both handlers start screaming at once. Both women physically push and pull at Cooper and me, and in short order, we’re both herded off toward our respective destinations once again.

“Didn’t APM open for Fugitive Summer a few years ago?” my handler asks. “I thought both bands were close friends.”

“We were. But then, we all saw what a clingy little prick Cooper was as a boyfriend to Ruby, and we all started hating his guts.”

My handler snickers. “For what it’s worth, I’m Team Kendrick, all the way. That’s why they assigned me to you.”

“Does that mean that other woman is Team Cooper?”

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