Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“I get it. No, you’re totally right. Sorry.”
“Also,” Laila continues, “Ruby’s the one who negotiated the performance slot term in her contract.”
“So true,” I concede. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“And then,” Laila continues. “As if all that wasn’t enough, Ruby went on to shine like a thousand suns during the press conference and Guest Mentor episode. So, please, let’s not let Cooper’s stupid song about some mystery girl named ‘Ruby Tuesday’ eclipse everything she’s done to seize the day and make hay while the sun just so happened to be shining down on her, simply because Cooper lifted the shade on a nearby window. Okay?” She looks around sternly at the group for emphasis.
Every man in the room mumbles, “Okay,” since we’re now feeling like she’s talking to all of us, not just me. And after that one-word response, we all press our lips together, feeling appropriately shamed and stupid.
“Good. Thank you.”
Ruby laughs. “Thank you, Laila.” She’s laughing through tears. Clearly, Laila’s speech meant a whole lot to her. “Thank you not only for those amazing words,” Ruby clarifies. “But also, for going to bat for me as your mentor this season. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done for me.” She looks at me and blushes. “Personally and professionally.”
“No repayment necessary, babe. I asked for you because you’re incredibly talented, and a great friend, and I wanted the whole world to see what I’ve known about you for a long time.”
“Laila’s absolutely right,” I say, feeling like it’s safe for me to speak again. “You’ve earned everything coming to you. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise, baby.”
“Baby?” Titus says, his eyebrow cocked.
“Reed’s point wasn’t necessarily wrong, though,” Ruby says, not addressing her brother’s question. “Cooper’s song was the first domino to fall. Don’t you dare tell Reed I said that, though. On principle, it annoys me no end how that man always thinks he’s right about every fucking thing.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I mutter.
“Hello?” Titus says. “You called Ruby baby, KC.” He looks at me with narrowed eyes. “I’ve never heard you call her that before. Cutie, sweetheart, babe, Ruby Duby. But baby? That’s a new one.”
Grinning mischievously, I look at Ruby for permission to break our fantastic news, and she returns my smile and nods.
Ever since we spilled our guts and opened our hearts to each other last week, we’ve been dying to tell our bandmates everything, but we’ve both wanted to do it in person and while we’re all together. Well, this sure feels like the perfect moment.
“Great catch, T,” I say with a wink. “I called Ruby baby, because she’s finally my baby.” My grin widens. “We’re officially together, guys. As a couple.”
As everyone whoops, cheers, and claps, Ruby adds, “We’re officially living together at Kendrick’s place. I’ve already got a renter for my place.” She gazes at me adoringly. “We’re endgame, guys. We both know it.”
The group instinctively gets up and huddles in the middle of the living room for hugs and congratulations.
“I told Ruby the truth about everything,” I tell Savage during our hug. “Even the building manager. She laughed about all my lying and scheming. She wasn’t mad at me at all.”
“What lying and scheming?” Titus interjects.
Shit. Ruby’s protective brother is standing behind me, much closer than I realized.
Reluctantly, I fill him in on the gist of the story, since he wasn’t at C-Bomb’s poker party; and to my relief, Titus seems every bit as amused about everything as his sister.
“You two already knew about all this?” Titus asks, motioning between Savage and Laila. Apparently, he’s surmised as much from their not-at-all-shocked body language.
“KC came to me for advice,” Savage says proudly. “And I helped him tap into his inner Doberman to get what he wanted.”
“And surprise, surprise,” I add sarcastically, “he then babbled everything we’d talked about to his wife.”
“She’s my wife,” Savage mutters, like he had no choice in the matter.
“Adrian knows there’s no point in him keeping anything from me,” Laila says with a waggle of her eyebrows. “I’ve got a few foolproof ways of getting information out of him.”
Everyone laughs.
Everyone but Kai, I can’t help noticing.
“Hey, Ruby,” my brother says. “I’ve already apologized to Kendrick for fucking everything up for you two. But let me apologize to you, too. I really fucked up, and I’m so, so sorry.”
“It’s okay, Kai,” Ruby says. “I think Kendrick and I both feel like everything happened, exactly as it was supposed to.”
“I just want you to know I couldn’t be happier for you two or sorrier for what I did.”
Ruby and I wrap Kai in a warm, forgiving hug, and my big brother is visibly holding back tears by the time we release him.
When that side conversation is done, everyone sits again, this time with Ruby and me sitting together and holding hands, and the rest of the group chatting enthusiastically about our happy news.