Page 70 of Spark

I giggle. “Is that your idea of a compliment—telling me I’m unrecognizable?”

Reed laughs. “I’m sorry.” He puts his palms together. “You look stunning, Ruby. That dress is what my mother always used to call ‘va-va-voom.’”

Laila laughs. “Ruby’s giving ‘Nerd in a Nineties Movie Who Takes Off Her Glasses and Lets Down Her Hair and Now Nobody Can Believe She’s the Same Person,’ don’t you think?”

Reed cracks up. “If that was wardrobe’s goal, then they’ve accomplished the mission.”

I frown. “I’m not entirely sure if you two are making me feel really good about my current appearance or really bad and self-conscious about the way I normally look.”

They both laugh and apologize.

“You’re always beautiful, Ruby,” Laila says. “It’s just fun to see you letting your inner vixen out today. You’re going to pop a whole lot of eyeballs, all over the world, and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.”

“Make that two of us.” Reed grins at Laila and me. “Ladies, I’ve come to escort you to a ‘holding tank’ downstairs—my game room—in anticipation of the press conference in five minutes.”

“Five?” I blurt. “Oh my gosh.”

Dutifully, we thank the stylist and follow Reed into the hallway.

“So, Ruby,” Reed says as we walk together. “The reason I offered to come get you two is because I wanted to chat with you about Cooper. I just saw him, and he seems pretty wound up about you and Kendrick. So, I wanted to warn you about that before the press conference.”

He doesn’t need to explain in further detail what he means. We all know Cooper is a tempestuous, emotional person by nature. That’s the reason he writes such awesome songs and performs them with such passion. But it’s also the reason he was the worst boyfriend ever, after originally being such a seemingly great friend.

“Thanks for looking out for me. But don’t worry. With Eli’s help, Kendrick and I have already formulated the perfect script for the press conference. And, luckily, Eli said he talked to Cooper’s agent, and Cooper’s on the same page.”

I explain what the three of us have agreed through our agents: not to expressly comment on our personal relationships, including but not limited to none of us confirming the meaning of lyrics or who might have inspired them. Instead, we’re going to let what’s already out there do the talking for us: Cooper’s lyrics, that viral kiss at Kendrick’s birthday party, and the various photos of Cooper and me, and then Kendrick and me, that are now being posted and analyzed everywhere, usually alongside Cooper’s blaring song, and/or an analysis of his lyrics.

“Strategy and execution are two very different things, though,” Reed says. “Be ready to fight back if Cooper comes at you. Don’t freeze like a deer in headlights and lose the opportunity to fight fire with fire. I don’t want you feeling like you missed your chance to defendyourself.”

The hair on my arms stands up. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“No, but I know Cooper. If he tries to make you look bad, don’t take his shit. I know you’re a newbie at all this, so I just want to put it into your head it’s okay not to be sweet and polite here. If Cooper pulls out a knife, make sure you pull out a gun.”

I crinkle my brow. “Why are you saying this to me? What’s going to happen to me in there?” I gasp. “Are you a shill for Nadine right now? Are you trying to get me to go off half-cocked in there for ratings?”

Reed laughs. “Of course not. If anything, Nadine’s a shill for me. I run the world, Ruby Duby. Haven’t you heard?”

“Yeah, I might have heard a little something about that.”

We’re all chuckling together as we reach our destination. The door to it, anyway. But rather than opening it, Reed turns to face me, his smile instantly fading.

“I’m saying this stuff because I’ve been around the block a few times, and I know you haven’t. Because I know Cooper, and Nadine, and who knows what side deal she might have struck with him to make him come after you. I want you to be prepared for any possibility. I would have looked after you, regardless, because you and KC are the only members of Fugitive Summer I actually like?—”

“I’m right here, Reed,” Laila murmurs with a laugh, since he’s just implied he doesn’t like her husband.

With a wink, Reed continues, “And I promised my sister and Miranda I’d look out for our beloved gem today, and I don’t want either of them coming after me if they see you getting steamrolled by Cooper.” He’s talking about my two close friends, Violet, who happens to be Reed’s little sister, and Violet’s best friend since forever, Miranda, who works in PR at River Records.

“I appreciate the heads up. But don’t worry about me. I’m that bitch, Ruby Tuesday, remember? And I’m dressed to kill.” I wink. “I assure you, Mr. Rivers, Ruby Tuesday’s not nearly as sweet as she looks.”

19

RUBY

“Holy fuck, baby,” Savage says, as Laila and I approach him and Kendrick with Reed in tow. “Someone’s getting fucked tonight.”

Laila laughs. “You look pretty fuckable yourself, my love.”

“You’re looking stunning, too, Ruby,” Savage says. “But I’ll let Kendrick?—”

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