Chapter Thirty-Nine. Riley
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Riley
Six Months Later
Luna squeezes my hand so hard that I think she might break one of my fingers, but I don’t tell her to stop.
She opened the Grammys by singing “I Kissed Her First,” which debuted as a number one single after the video of her singing it to me at You’re My Lobster went viral.
I had thought she was singing “You and Me” since it was what she was nominated for, and was totally shocked when she walked onstage and those familiar chords started playing.
We’ve sat through several other categories, and the entire time she’s clutched my hand under the table for every moment we’re not clapping.
She looks beautiful and is trying to keep her face serene since the entire night is televised, but she already lost Song of the Year and I can see the strain on her face as we get closer and closer to her final remaining category.
In the months since she surprised me at You’re My Lobster, the press hasn’t been easy on her.
After our beautiful moment together, her song did go viral, but at the same time she was vilified for “leading Hudson on.” She stayed with me in Provincetown for weeks in a rental house while she wrote the rest of her new album and I worked at the shack and ran the weekend dinner services, and everyone we knew in town worked really hard to protect us from any paparazzi that showed up.
Once the season ended, I went with her to film her new music video in Greece, and then went with her on tour in New Zealand and Asia as her chef.
We did our best to enjoy all the places the tour went despite the headlines, and eventually, with the success of her song, the press tide turned positive again.
Luna has kept a brave face through all of it, but I know how badly she wants to win tonight.
She’s delayed announcing the album in hopes that she can announce it live if she wins Best New Artist. If she doesn’t win, she’ll announce it after the final shows of the tour; she has three more shows in Canada next week.
Category after category goes by, and by the time we get to Best New Artist, I’m holding her hand almost as tightly as she’s been clutching mine.
When Hudson steps out to present the Grammy for Best New Artist, it feels like the entire room gasps.
I look at Luna, but her eyes are glued to the stage. This is it, isn’t it? It has to be her.
Hudson walks up to the mic and leans in, holding the envelope casually.
“When my agent called and told me the academy had asked me to present the Best New Artist award tonight, I thought she was joking.” The crowd chuckles, knowing exactly what he’s talking about.
“And now that I’m up here, I’m terrified, because someone I love very much is nominated, and contrary to popular belief, I really don’t know which name is in this envelope.
But this category is very special, because everyone in this category is on the cusp of the rest of their life.
They’ve had a breakout year, they’ve discovered what their music sounds like at its best, they know who they are, and they have made millions and millions of people’s lives better with their music. ”
I was worried when I realized Hudson was presenting.
But now I have chills, because I can hear how badly he wants this for Luna.
“It takes a special someone to write the kind of music that helps other people discover who they are. And I know personally that someone in this category does exactly that. So, let’s stop keeping everyone in suspense, shall we? ”
Hudson opens the envelope and a huge grin breaks over his face. Before he’s even said it, he’s made eye contact with Luna and I feel her sag against me in relief. “The Best New Artist Grammy goes to Luna Leya.”
Luna turns and kisses me, crying, then stands and makes her way up to the stage.
She hugs Hudson, then takes the mic. “Oh my god, I can’t believe this.
Thank you to the academy, for making this the best day of my entire life.
I’ve been working toward this since I was singing into a wooden spoon with my mom, and I know if she were still with us, she would be bawling her eyes out right now.
” Luna wipes away tears and takes a shaky breath.
“I’m so happy, I don’t even know what to say right now.
Thank you for listening. You all have changed my life.
My producer, Charles; my manager, Ashley.
… Hudson, ‘You and Me’ changed everything for me and I loved writing it with you.
And, Riley”—her voice breaks—“thank you for making me understand what love really is. I will never feel alone again, because I am never leaving your side. You are who I always want to play my songs for first. And to my fans, I will never repay my debt of gratitude to you for letting my songs be the background to your life. But I’ll try my best to give you something.
My next album, This Feels Like a Love Song, is out tomorrow. ”
The crowd goes wild, and I know at home millions of people watching on TV are screaming in excitement both for Luna and because they’re getting new music.
Luna walks back to me and she looks so happy.
I’m already standing, clapping for her, and as soon as she gets to me, I wrap her in my arms and hold her.
“You did it,” I whisper. “You are a Grammy Award–winning artist.”
“I can’t believe it,” she says with a laugh.
“I can.” I tilt my head up and kiss her. Luna kisses me back firmly, and for a moment the cameras and the crowds melt away and it’s like we’re the only people in the room. Both exactly where we’re meant to be, alongside each other.