Page 100 of Spark

“Hey, Sunshine,” he says. “Real quick. I just want to say that video package of Ruby was misleading. She never dated me during her brief, so-called relationship with Cooper. The video made it look like that, but that’s not the way it happened at all. Not even close. Just thought I’d mention that, in case anyone got the wrong impression.”

Laila looks down to hide her smile, but I can’t hide mine. True, his comment confirmed I had a relationship with Cooper, which means I’ve got to be Ruby Tuesday. But at this point, that cat’s completely out of the bag. No turning back. And since that’s the situation now, then I’m elated Kendrick came to my defense.

“Good to know,” Sunshine says brightly. But that’s all she’s willing to say before turning to me with a wide, sparkling smile. “Hello, Ruby!Ruby Tuesday?” She giggles. “We’re thrilled to have you here, either way. Sorry if it’s uncomfortable to be here with your ex and your boyfriend. Imean, if rumors about a certain song are to believe, it seems there’s some bad blood between the three of you.”

“There’s no bad blood on my end,” I say evenly. “And not on Kendrick’s, either, I don’t think.”

“None here,” Kendrick confirms, and the audience applauds and nods and makes it clear they think he’s the better man.

I flash Kendrick a huge smile. “I think things turned out for the best. I’m nothing but happy.”

“Good for you. How wonderful.”

I let my eyes drift to Cooper. “You know what they say is the opposite of love? It’s not hate. It’s indifference. And that’s what I feel about a certain very brief relationship I had once. Honestly, it’s like it never even happened.”

The place explodes with a cacophony of human sounds, including discernible laughter, hissing, boos, and cheers. Based on the ruckus, at least some of the audience is rooting for Cooper. Or at least, they feel sorry for his poor, jilted heart. Would they pick Kendrick, too? Hell yes. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want Cooper to find love, too. Also, based on that smattering of boos, at least some of them are enthusiastically villainizing me for breaking poor Cooper’s heart.

Sunshine engages Laila and me in a discussion about our strategy with our team. And when that short conversation ends, we launch into some planned smack-talk with the other teams.

“Get ready to go down,Adrian,” Laila calls out, much to everyone’s delight.

“Fitzy,” Savage deadpans in reply. “We’re at work. We’ve got a job to do. Now’s not the time to bark sexual orders at me, babe.”

The audience roars at that, like they always do when their two favorite judges, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Savage, grace them with one of their patented viral moments. Honestly, I’mlaughing as hard as the audience. Savage and Laila make more money in one season of this show than I’ll ever see in my lifetime. But they earn every penny, thanks to moments like that.

After a bit, just as the smack-talking segment feels like it’s ending, Sunshine presses her finger into her ear, like she’s being told something in her earpiece. “Ruby, before I let everyone go to start working with their teams, can you tell us something about the brand-new song your band, Fugitive Summer, will debut for us during the finale?”

Shit. We haven’t written the song yet, so I don’t know the answer to the question. Even if I did, however, I wouldn’t answer it. Also, why is she askingmethis question, when she’s got the lead singer of Fugitive Summer sitting right in front of her?

“Sorry, Sunshine,” I say brightly. “That’s top secret. You’ll have to wait and watch the performance in the finale, along with everyone else. The only thing I can tell you now is it’s a brand-new song we wrote very recently, and we’re performing right after Cooper and his band, so you won’t want to miss it.”

“Ooooh,” Sunshine coos. “How exciting! And what interesting timing. I can’t wait to see that.” She returns to the camera in front of her. “And now, let’s watch each judge–mentor duo meeting with their teams!”

“Cut!” the director yells after Sunshine has been frozen in place for several beats. “Nice work, everyone,” he calls out. “Let’s shoot Savage and Kendrick meeting their team first. After that, we’ll take Jon and Cooper, and then Laila and Ruby.” He waves to the audience. “Thank you, everyone. You’re the best.” He makes prayer hands and bows. “We couldn’t do this without you. We love you. Now, please, listen to security’s instructions as you’re escorted out of the building.”

29

RUBY

“I’m sorry they did that to you,” Laila says. “They’re such assholes.”

We’re in her huge dressing room, munching on box lunches while awaiting our turn to shoot the “meeting with our team” segment.

“It’s fine. I knew I made a deal with the devil to get onto the show.”

“Kendrick sticking up for you was swoony.”

I blush. “Yeah, that was really sweet.”

“Better for him to do it than you. It played better that way.”

“If I’d tried to do it, they would have made me out to be a whining, complaining little bitch, and nobody would have believed me, anyway.”

“Probably true.” She munches on a carrot stick. “You’re really okay?”

I pause to consider. “I’m better than okay, actually. I’m great. This is a dream come true, and I’m not going to let anything or anyone ruin that.”

“Hear, hear.” She clinks her sparkling water to mine. Andthen, with a smirk, she says, “Seems like the audience is swooning hard for Kendrick. If the show is trying to pit Kendrick against Cooper, it’s pretty clear who’s winning that battle.”

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