Page 107 of Spark

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 moreweeks?” 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 surprisedwhat 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 calledhonesty.”

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 topfive,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.”

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