Page 83 of Rebel Moon

“Did you know right away?” Blake asked, still filming.

“Absolutely,” Ivy said. “We met up at Sparrow Sound to record our duet. The producer asked us to actually sing together, which is unusual. Typically, we would have recorded our tracks separately and they’d put it all together during production. Anyway, there we were, in a booth like a small closet—so close I could smell his cologne and see the small tattoo on his wrist.” She smiled, her eyes far away for a second, as if it were playing inside her mind. “We sang the song one time and the producer said it was just right and sent us all home. Jack asked if he could make me dinner at his house. I couldn’t say yes fast enough. He then tried to make my mama’s chicken and dumplings but I distracted him by showing up in a bikini that was R-rated and he forgot it on the stove. But all was well because he made me the bologna quesadillas instead. They’re remarkably good, for anyone who wants to try the recipe. We fell in love. Real hard. I knew he was it. He knew I was it. We haven’t spent hardly a day apart since then.”

“Tell us about the proposal,” Blake said.

Ivy laughed again. “Oh, it was awful and wonderful at the same time. We were at Mama and Daddy’s and he took me down to my favorite place by the creek. When we were kids, my brothers and I hung a rope up in a tree so we could jump into the water. It’s still there, of course. Jack and I got on that swing together but, instead of jumping into the water with me, he proposed. Right there on the swing and then we dropped the ring in the creek.”

Blake gasped. “No.”

“Yes. We had to dive down to find it. Took us a bit. But my Jack wouldn’t have left until he found it. That’s the way he is. You don’t leave a diamond in the creek. Kind of like he didn’t want to leave without getting Daddy’s permission. He’s old-fashioned. Sweet as can be. And it was my fault the darn ring slipped into the creek. That’s the kind of man you want. One who’ll dive into deep water when you need him to.”

“The question is—how did you know for sure it was him?” Luci asked.

“I just knew. You’ll see. When it happens to you.”

“What if you’re the only one who thinks he’s the right one?” Luci asked. “Like what if your family and friends disagree?”

I watched Luci in the mirror, wondering why her tone had gone sad.

One of the hairstylists turned on a curling wand. A makeup girl swapped one brush for a smaller one and returned to me.

“You have someone in mind?” I asked Luci.

Then, I knew. It was Grant. Building blocks suddenly stacked up into a nice, neat row, like it happens sometimes. There were a few times I’d seen them exchange a loaded glance. They’d left places together quite often too. And he’d drawn her on stage in front of everyone. She’d brought him up for the magic trick. It was all happening right before our eyes, but I for one was too occupied with my own situation to give it much thought. Until now.

Luci sent a furtive glance in Ivy’s direction. Ivy, God bless her, gave her a gentle smile.

“We all know,” Ivy said.

“Know what?” Luci asked, clearly wary.

“You and Grant,” Ivy said.

“Blake, can you please turn off the camera?” Luci asked.

“Yes, of course.” Blake shut it off and sat in one of the empty chairs.

“Does Jack know?” Luci’s voice sounded like a dry, rusty nail getting pulled out of a wall.

“Jack definitely does not,” Ivy said.

“And you haven’t said anything?” Luci asked.

“I have a big mouth, but I know when to keep it shut,” Ivy said. “But you should talk to him. Tell him how you feel.”

Holly got up to pour champagne into flutes.

“I don’t know. He made a rule a long time ago—no dating boys from the band. He doesn’t want me anywhere near musicians, which is kind of funny.” Luci glanced down at her lap. The hairstylist continued putting waves in her long hair. “He’s always been so protective of me. I think because we didn’t really have a dad.”

“You’re a doctor, for heaven’s sake,” I said. “Not a fragile little girl.”

“I’m not sure Jack would agree,” Luci said.

“What happened with the guy you were dating last year?” I asked.

Luci accepted a glass of champagne from Holly’s outstretched hand and took a good swig. “He turned out not to be what I thought he would be.”

“In what way?” Holly asked.