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)
Someone opens a door for us, and Savage and Laila float through it, their hands joined, followed by Kendrick and me.
While Savage and Laila hit their mark in front of the crowd for a mini photo shoot, Kendrick and I hang back as instructed—and through it all, Kendrick maintains that electrifying, yet calming, grip on my hand.
“Great to see you, Savage and Laila!” the host calls out brightly.
Banter ensues, after which the two celebrity judges take chairs facing the crowd, with Laila on the end and Savage three chairs down from her in the middle, so that Kendrick and I can fill in the two empty chairs between them. It’s a clever way to make sure Kendrick and I sit together as a couple, while still sitting next to our assigned judges.
“To help guide his team this season,” Sunshine says, “Savage has brought back his best friend, the talented and easy-on-the-eyes drummer of Fugitive Summer, Kendrick Cook!”
At rehearsal, Kendrick was told to leave me behind and hit the photo shoot spot first, while I hang back applauding him and awaiting my own introduction. But, perhaps due to my obvious nerves, Kendrick doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he moves to the directed spot up front, dragging me with him, much to the obvious delight of the crowd.
“Well, goodness, since these two seem to be joined at the hip, I’ll introduce them both,” Sunshine says playfully. “To help Laila this season, please welcome one of her best friends, the talented musician, songwriter, and vocalist who happens to be in Savage and Kendrick’s band, too: It’s Ruby Connolly, everyone!”
Whoops rise up from the assembled crowd. Either these people have kept up with recent music and/or pop culture news, or they’ve been given a heads-up about my identity to avoid an embarrassing “Who the fuck is she?” reaction.
Kendrick and I banter with Sunshine, together, before being directed to take our seats.
“Well, I can plainly see you’re all eager to ask questions,” Sunshine purrs to the crowd. “But before we do that, let’s see who’s going to be sitting in those last two, empty seats, shall we?”
The crowd applauds. They know one of those chairs will be filled by kind-hearted, longtime judge, Jon Stapleton, a legendary country music star. But who’s going to sit next to him and help mentor his team when the time comes? It’s anyone’s guess, as Sunshine gestures dramatically toward a large wooden door on the opposite side of the massive room.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sunshine bellows. “Please welcome our beloved teddy bear of a judge, Jon Stapleton!” The large door swings open and the down-home country crooner struts into the room in his signature cowboy boots and Stetson. Jon takes his mark for the mini photo shoot, waving and smiling. But it seems to me, every eyeball is still noticeably trained on that empty doorframe.
There’s a long pause, during which time stands still. And then, suddenly, Cooper leaps into view with a shit-eating grin on his face and his fist raised high in the air. Predictably, the place goes bananas, as everyone in the room not only recognizes this cocky, irreverent man of the hour, but they also no doubt connect the dots between him, Kendrick, and me.
“Everyone, give a warm, Sing Your Heart Out welcome to the lead singer of Alexa Play Music, the man who’s personally responsible for their mega-hit song, ‘Don’t Call Me’—It’s Mr. Cooper Constantino!”
Waving and mugging for the crowd and all the cameras, Cooper joins Jon at the photo shoot spot in the front, where flashbulbs pop and people jockey for the duo’s attention. And through it all, I grip Kendrick’s hand and exchange “maybe I shouldn’t have done this” looks with him.
With the final photo shoot completed, Jon and Cooper assume the remaining chairs, at which point Sunshine launches into some over-the-top comments about the excitement that lies ahead this season. Finally, she asks for questions from the crowd. “But only for our three returning judges, to start with, please.”
A Q&A with the judges ensues that feels very much like the appetizer to a much-anticipated main course. But finally, Sunshine opens the spigot on questions for the three guest mentors.
“Cooper! Ruby! Kendrick!” People are shouting all three of our names in a chaotic cacophony, until Sunshine selects someone with a question for Cooper.
“Cooper, does Ruby’s presence here confirm she’s Ruby Tuesday?”
“I never confirm the meaning of my lyrics,” Cooper replies.
That’s what I expected him to say, but I don’t feel relieved he’s stuck with the plan, because he’s made his comment with a wicked smirk—one that nonverbally confirms his answer to the question is a resounding yes.
“Is Kendrick the brother Ruby Tuesday wants to bleep?” someone else asks. “I mean, otherwise, it’d be quite a weird coincidence for the three of you to be cast together this season, don’t you think?”