Chapter 32 #2
The fans go absolutely feral for the clip and the isolated vocals that go along with it.
It’s just two lines—“And you never saw it coming. There’s nothing like a bad bitch scorned”—but it packs a hell of a punch.
The cryptic teaser overshadows the media frenzy surrounding the scandal, and the pressure ratchets up to a thousand with each day that passes.
I start to dodge paparazzi again soon after, often driving past crowds of fans gathering near my apartment building.
By week two, I have half an album ready to go, and the other half is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month.
It’s the fastest we’ve ever worked, and Heaven is a godsend through all of it.
Our working styles mesh perfectly together.
She calms my chaos. She’s encouraging when needed and steadfast when the moment calls for it.
Honestly, she’s a badass. I don’t know where Abby found her, but I might just have to tie her up in my basement and keep her there—if I had a basement, that is.
It’s been three weeks since I left Oak Ridge, and I’m sitting with Abby on the oversized sofa in my penthouse, glasses of wine in hand, waiting for the clock to strike midnight on the day the new single drops.
“Are you ready?” Liam asks. He’s on a video call with my phone propped against the box of wine. It looks like he’s walking somewhere, but it’s dark, so I can’t quite make anything out.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Take a deep breath. It’s already been pre-ordered like a bajillion times. It’s gonna be amazing.”
I laugh into my wine and take another sip. “I don’t think bajillion is a number, babe.”
“What was that? You’re breaking up. I’ll call you back.”
“That was weird,” Abby says. “But at least I can get some more wine now.” She turns the box and refills her glass.
A knock sounds at the door. Abby and I look at each other in confusion. “Did you order something?” I wouldn't put it past her to get the midnight munchies.
“Nope. Maybe it’s Nico.”
“He’s usually back in his apartment by now.”
I place my glass of wine on the coffee table and head into the foyer. The only people who have access to the penthouse level have keycards, so I’m not overly concerned that it’s a stalker.
When I pull the door open, I’m greeted by a massive bouquet of flowers, but it’s the man holding them that steals my breath.
My tears come unbidden as Liam lifts me into his arms. I wrap myself around him, holding on for dear life as he walks us into the apartment. I sob into the crook of his neck, letting weeks of pent-up emotion flow through me.
“What are you doing here?” I gasp out the words between broken sobs.
“Couldn’t stand to be away from you any longer. I missed you so goddamn much, Goldie.”
I press my lips to his, my tears mingling with the taste of wine still on my tongue.
He sets me on my feet, and when I look up, Connor is standing in the foyer with a sleepy Aiden in his arms. “The reunion is cute and all, but this kid is getting heavy. Where can I put him down?”
“Down the hall,” I say. “Third door on the left is the guest room.”
“I’ll show you,” Abby says, standing. “I need to use the bathroom anyway.”
“You have ten minutes,” I say. “You have to be here when the single drops.”
Abby downs the rest of her wine and deposits the empty glass on the kitchen island. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, babe.”
Once they’re out of sight, Liam pulls me against him and swipes the tears from my face. “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he murmurs. “I was starting to wonder if I had imagined all of it.”
“So you came all the way here to make sure?”
“I came all the way here to support my girlfriend when she makes her comeback.” He kisses my forehead, letting his lips linger on my skin.
“Will you still love me if it flops?”
“I might have to go into hiding,” he says with a smirk. “But you can come with me, and we can live happily ever after.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He sweeps a lock of hair away from my face and trails his knuckles over my jaw. “It’s not going to flop. You’re gonna blow them all away.”
I press my lips to his in a soft kiss as footsteps echo through the hallway, getting closer and closer. “Wine?” Abby asks, her question directed at Connor.
“Got anything stronger?”
I show Connor to the bar cart and we settle on the sofa with our drinks. There’s barely a minute left until the clock strikes midnight, and I either become Cinderella or the pumpkin.
I rest my head on Liam’s shoulder and release a contented sigh. “Thank you for coming.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Abby counts down the seconds like it’s New Year’s Eve. When she gets to five, we each hold up our shot glasses. “Four. Three. Two. One.”
We all knock back a shot of whiskey, and Liam seals his mouth over mine before I can even register the flavor, like the best fucking chaser in the world. When he pulls back, I’m completely breathless.
At least two phones chime, but neither of them is mine. I had the foresight to turn it off before the release.
I glance down at Liam’s. It’s full of alerts from social media and online forums.
He meets my gaze and shrugs. “Told you I was obsessed with you. You didn’t believe me?”
Connor snorts and snatches the phone from his hand. “This is almost stalker level.”
“I think it’s sweet.” Abby smiles down at her own phone and scrolls through her own notifications. “You’re popping off, babe. Hashtag Rebel Ruby is trending everywhere.”
“Listen to this,” Connor says. “Bad Bitch era loading. This song just became my entire personality.”
“What? Look at this one.” Abby turns her phone to show me the post that says, ‘Ruby Lynn Slays’ with a fingernail emoji beside it.
Liam laughs into his whiskey neat. There’s post after post from fans who stayed up later for the release, even some in other time zones who waited into the wee hours of the morning.
A yawn escapes me as I finish the last of my wine.
“We should call it a night,” Abby says. “I’ll take the couch since I’m too tipsy to drive.”
Liam takes his phone back from his brother. “Would you mind staying with Aiden? I don’t want him to wake up alone in a strange place.”
“Or you could stay with your kid. I’ll stay with Ruby for old time’s sake,” he says with a teasing lilt to his voice. “We can have a slumber party.”
“If you weren’t my brother, I’d clock you.”
“How many times have you thought that over the years?” he asks.
“More than a few.” Liam stands and swipes his hands down his jeans. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get my bad bitch to bed.”
I let out a squeal as he hoists me over his shoulder and lays a stinging slap on my ass.
“Night, bestie,” Abby calls after me.
The last thing I hear before the bedroom door snicks closed is, “Ok, Connor. Let’s play truth or truth.”
Liam
Ruby’s single hits number one on the streaming charts almost instantly, and the only person who’s even the least bit surprised is Ruby herself. When we finally peel ourselves out of bed around noon, it’s already been streamed and downloaded millions of times.
We find Aiden seated at the kitchen island with a stack of pancakes, and a very hungover Uncle Connor holding onto his takeout matcha like it’s going to single-handedly cure whatever ails him.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite guy,” Ruby says, holding out her arms for a hug.
“Aww. That’s sweet. Still holding a candle after all these years?” Connor says teasingly.
She flips him off and pulls Aiden in for a hug. “Missed you so much,” she says.
“Me too.” He clings to her tightly, and my heart somersaults. Their bond runs deeper than I ever could’ve anticipated. It was instant and effortless.
I trail over to the fridge and scan its contents for something edible. I’m not surprised when I find stacks of leftover Chinese food, bottled cold brew, and three different varieties of coffee creamer. I throw my head back and groan.
“Why do you think I got takeout?” Connor says with a smirk.
Ruby slides onto the stool beside Aiden and props her head in her hand. “In my defense, I haven’t been home much.”
“You live like a college student.”
“I live like a woman with disposable income who spends most of her time in the studio and doesn’t want to cook when she gets home. Sue me.”
I cage her against the island and lean in next to her ear. “I’m not gonna sue you, but I will spank that ass if you don’t start taking better care of my future wife.”
Her eyes widen at my sudden declaration. I didn’t plan to say it, but the moment the words leave my mouth, I know them to be true, beyond all reason. I’m going to marry this woman someday. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
Abby returns later that afternoon with Adam in tow and a stack of folders in her arms. “If we’re doing this, we need to hire a team. I’m good, but I need help.”
“If we’re going to do what, exactly?” Ruby asks as she ties off the end of her braid.
“Go indie. Re-record the old albums. Plan a tour. Heaven is on board to produce. Your band is, and always has been, ride or die. We just need a management team and we’re golden.”
“You know you’re insane, right? The tour, I can handle. Re-recording? Are you sure that’s a good idea? What about the legalities?”
“That’s why I’m here,” Adam says. “Legally speaking, you’re within your rights to re-record your old albums. Do them your way this time around. You’re hardly the first person to do it.”
I glance at Ruby, taking in the hesitancy in her expression. “What if you re-record the stuff you love and put it all on a deluxe record with the unreleased tracks that didn’t meet the label’s approval?”
Abby points the blunt end of a fountain pen at me. “He’s onto something. It gives you the creative control you want without the added pressure of releasing three whole albums. We can add them onto the new album in a deluxe edition.”
“Ok. So, what’s in the folders?”
“Your new team, hopefully.”
Ruby straightens her spine and holds out her hand. “Let’s do this.”