Felicity rips the mic from my hands. “Get off of here, you lunatic! I’ve waited my whole life for this.”
Her tiara bobbles on her head, and I catch sight of a tiny red flicker. A light. “A bomb!” I scream. “It’s on her tiara!”
That does the trick. The floor turns into a stampede. People run in every direction, shooting out exits, diving under tables, and crawling under the plastic walls.
One person stands in the middle. He holds a small device.
“Luke, it’s Newt!” I point to our villain.
Infused with adrenaline, I grab Felicity’s crown, jump down, and run with it across the empty space. I glance back long enough to see Luke on the ground with Newt. They roll around in a scuffle of punches, kicks, and grunts.
Please God. Save us from the exploding cubic zirconias!
Police sirens wail in the distance. Time moves in slow motion.
“Get rid of that crown!” Luke yells. He punches Newt in the jaw then takes a blow himself.
I see my destination stretch out before me. I can’t get there fast enough. Budge steps into my line of vision. “Leave!” I shout.
“Go!”
He shakes his shaggy head. “I’m open. Pass it! I’ll get it there!”
We both turn at Luke’s victorious cry. “I have it!” He holds the detonator. “I’ve got it!”
Newt writhes on the ground, clutching his stomach. His shaking hand reaches into his pocket. I see the shine of metal.
“He has another one!” I cry.
Newt’s bony finger presses into the detonator.
“Bella!” Budge calls, arms out.
Grunting like a tennis star, I heave the thing toward him, praying as it sails into the air.
On a yell, Luke charges my way, his body airborne and arcing toward me. I don’t even have time to process the hurt as we go down. He turns to take the brunt of the fall, then rolls on top of me, his body shielding mine.
Budge plunges the tiara into the punch fountain. He ballet leaps away, his form a symphony of baggy pants and frizzed-out hair, and rolls under a table, pulling it on top of him.
Kablooom!
A spray of red liquid falls over us like rain. Shards of glass sprinkle everywhere, and I’m pulled tighter to Luke.
Luke rolls off of me and laughs. “We’re okay.” He pulls me up, picking a piece of glass from his tux. “Are you all right?”
I lick the punch on my hand and taste strawberry. “Yeah, but this totally needs some more sherbet.”
He hugs me to him, still laughing. “I thought I was going to wet my pants.”
I point to his red-stained trousers. “You sorta did.”
Luke pulls away enough to plant a soft kiss on my forehead. “That seriously scared the heck out of me.”
“You were amazing.” With swollen eyes, I try to bat my lashes. “You’re always like, saving me and stuff.”
He quirks a brow. “It is getting old.” He searches the faces around us. “We’ve got to get you to a doctor.”
A crowd has gathered around us as the tent slowly fills back up. The police filter through, and Budge and Ruthie lead them to Newt, still curled like a snail on the ground.
“Oh, my!” Felicity fans herself with a napkin. “I could’ve died.
You rescued me! I can’t wait to tell my daddy about your heroics.”
“I’d say you have a lot to tell daddy.” I gesture to a cop. “Like how you and Newt robbed the class and the bank. And how you let Newt keep the money—if he’d sabotage the other queen candidates.”
She gasps. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” With manicured nails, she gestures to my face. “Clearly you’ve hit your head a few times.”
“Oh, that is it!” With arms outstretched, I lunge for the girl.
Luke jumps between us, his mouth in a crooked grin. “I don’t think so, Bel.”
“No?”
“Nuh-uh,” he drolls.
Ignoring my screaming limbs, I rest my hand on Luke’s chest, but my glare is for Felicity. “But can’t I rough her up just a bit? It would be a humanitarian deed. She needs to know how to defend herself—when she gets to prison.”
Felicity blanches.
Luke laughs and wraps an arm around my waist and guides me toward the doors. “Let it go.”
A woman in uniform grabs Felicity by the elbow, and I hear her sorry wail all the way outside.
“Omigosh, Bella!” Lindy crushes me in a hug, and my eyes cross. “Are you okay?”
“Easy.” Luke pulls me back to him. “Bella’s been knocked around a bit.”
Matt Sparks stares in the direction of Newt in the patrol car. “I knew you shouldn’t have gone out with him.”
“It wasn’t a date, Matt,” Lindy protests. “But thanks for dragging me to safety. That was really . . . sweet.”
Matt blushes and gives her an awkward side hug. “I just wanted you out of there.”
I look at Luke and grin.
“Good catch, brother.” I ruffle Budge’s hair when he walks by. “You saved the night.”
He rolls his eyes. “If I’d taken you home in bits and pieces, my dad would’ve totally killed me. So don’t think it was about you.”
“Isn’t he the best?” Ruthie clutches his arm and sighs. “Oh! Your forehead is bleeding.” She digs a tissue out of her cleavage and begins to daub. “My brave champion. If I had known it was going to be like this tonight, I would’ve brought my favorite knife.”
The media covers the area and cameras flash like lightning. Even the familiar two goons from Pile Driver of Dreams are in the action.
My policeman friend Mark Rogers breaks into our group. He opens up a kit and commands me to sit on the ground. “Let me take a look at your face. The ambulance will be here shortly.”
I let him swab and bandage some bleeding cuts, then beg him to leave. “I’m fine. Really. Go away.”
“Only if you promise to have the medics take you in for observation.”
Luke rests his hand on my shoulder. “She promises.”
“Hey—where’s Hunter?” In all the craziness, I totally forgot about him.
Anna Deason saunters by. “If it’s the boy I saw you with on that TV show, I think he’s over there with that girl.”
Standing next to the pool, Hunter faces my direction. A girl has her hand going as she proceeds to gripe him out.
“Hunter!” I call.
The girl turns around, and for the umpteenth time, I’m dizzy.
Mia.
I stomp over to them. “What are you doing here?”
“The reality show paid me to come out here.” Mia snarls at Hunter.
Sure enough, the camera team has moved to a prime spot, their lenses focused right on us.
“What is she talking about, Hunter?”
He opens his mouth, only to snap it shut.
“Tell her,” Mia barks.
Hunter’s hands reach for me. I shrink away, warning sirens blaring in my ears. “Spill it.”
“Bella, I care about you. Please believe that.”
“But?”
He moves to touch me again but lets his hand fall. “The show has nothing to do with how I feel about you.”
Mia jerks her hand toward the cameras. “Hunter broke up with me when they called him.”
“What?” And I thought the hits were over. “You were just a prop for the show?”
“It’s not like that.” His voice is a plea. “Maybe at first, but not later. Not now.”
The dark sky tilts, and I struggle to focus. I need to sit down. All these punches, kicks, and body slams are catching up with me. Oh, yeah, and the skanky lies of an ex-boyfriend.
“You don’t understand, Bella.” He runs a hand through his hair.
“They went to my dad first, and everyone was pressuring me. My dad is on the verge of bankruptcy. He needed me.”
My laugh is bitter. “Well, I hope you and your big fat check have a lovely flight back to New York.”
&
nbsp; “I’m sorry I hurt you. Please believe me.”
“Believe you?” I laugh. “I can’t even look at you right now.”
Mia squints. “Your eye is pretty swollen.”
I turn on her. “And I guess you were here to rub it in?”
She shakes her head. “No. The producer told me to throw a big fit, but I just wanted to warn you. I don’t want him back either.”
“And what about your disease?” I spit.
Mia snorts. “I’m sure.”
“That was a lie too?”
Hunter reddens. “I do have a stomach condition. And it is debilitating.”
“Irritable bowel syndrome,” Mia snaps. “You know, like, when he gets stressed he has the runs.”
“For a while they thought it was serious.”
I close my eyes at the whine in Hunter’s voice. And to think I thought he could’ve been dying!
“Bella, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. But I have changed—that wasn’t fake. I really did go to church.” Hunter plants himself directly in front of me. “Tell me you weren’t considering getting back together, and I’ll go away without another word.”
I look deep into his eyes and will the dizziness to abate. “Hunter, tonight I was going to tell you that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted nothing more from you than friendship.” His face falls. “But you’ve ruined even that. I need reality—not some hyped-up TV version. Not someone playing my friend. Someone who’s genuine when all the charm slips away. But I truly do hope you find Jesus one day. So I’ll pray for you.” I rub my temples and take my last look. “But this friendship is deader than a tiara in a punch bowl.”
chapter thirty-eight
Mom, quit staring at me. I’m not going to shoot lasers out my nose or anything else fabulous.”
My mother takes a seat next to my hospital bed. “You have a concussion. The doctor did say to watch you.”
“We’re never leaving you guys alone again.” Jake bounces Robbie to his other knee. “Last night was a close one.”
I feel bad the big guy had to cut his Vegas trip short. They took the red-eye and got here this morning. Jake’s missing out on lots of promos and interviews. Necessary things for the country’s next big wrestling star.
“Yeah, well, you have to leave me alone,” Budge says, patting the Band-Aid on his forehead. “ ’Cause I’m meeting some friends at the movies tonight.”
I lift a sore cheek and smile. “One of those people wouldn’t happen to be Ruthie, would it?”
Budge suddenly finds his hands very interesting. “Yeah, her and some people from her church.”
“Can we come in?” Dolly sticks her Aqua Net head in the room. Mickey follows her in.
Mom’s face is a flashing question mark as she hugs her friend.
“We met in the hall,” Dolly whispers. “No big deal.” She rests a hip on my bed. “How are you, hon?”
“I’m alive, and none of my friends were blown up. What more could a girl ask for?”
All heads turn at the knock on the door.
I see the flowers first. Then Luke.
“Hey.” He smiles and speaks to everyone in the room.
“Let’s go get some lunch.” Mom stands up and grabs her purse.
“I could use something to eat.”
“Bring me something back. They tried to feed me mashed peas a while ago. I need a burger.” I deserve a burger.
Everyone files out, with Robbie trailing behind. He runs to my bed, crawls up, and plants a big one on my cheek. “You’re my hero,” he says and scampers out.
My eyes grow blurry, and I blink it away. Just fatigue, I’m sure.
Luke wears a dashing smile as he walks to my bedside and brushes the hair away from a bandage. He stares deeply into my eyes, and I wait for his sweet words.
“Kirkwood, you look awful.”
Okay. That ain’t it.
“Wow, Chief. Words like that just make my insides tingle.”
He pulls a chair beside me. “So how are those broken ribs?”
“Bound tighter than a Victorian corset.”
“I should’ve never let you out of my sight,” he says.
Now these words I like. “Because you’re crazy about me?”
“Because every time I do, you wind up in the hospital.” He laughs. “Because the ER doctors know you by name.”
“That’s not true.”
“They probably send you birthday cards.”
“No, they don’t.” Just Christmas greetings.
“We’re a pretty good team.” Luke holds out his hand. I place mine in his palm.
“We saved the world.” I smile into his eyes.
He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out an ice cream bar. “For my fellow crime-fighter. It’s not from the Truman Dairy Barn, but it was the best I could do.”
I unwrap it in one tear. “You’re pretty good for me, I guess.” I take a bite and sigh. “And face it, my coming on the newspaper staff was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
He grabs my hand, drags the ice cream to his mouth, and takes a bite. “Since knowing you, I’ve been shot at, attacked, and nearly blown apart.”
“Is this your way of asking me out?”
“Is it working?”
“I’ll go out with you, Luke.” I grab my ice cream back. “But just because you obviously need protecting.”
He laughs. “You are pretty scrappy.” His hand disappears into his coat again and pulls out two envelopes. “Recognize these?”
I take another bite. “No.”
“Lindy apparently saved our Match-and-Catch results. She thought we might want to look at them.” He hands mine over. “Time to see if you’re my fated true love.”
We both open the white envelopes.
I read the results and smile so big my bruised face hurts. “I’m afraid I must devote the rest of my life to Brian McPhearson. Maybe with my love, he will learn to blow his nose and wear his shoes on the right feet.”
Luke nods. “And it looks like I’ll be getting to know Tracey
Sniveley and her thirty cats.”
“I’m sorry. I guess there’s just no chance for us.” I reach for his hand and give it a friendly squeeze. “But we should totally double-date.”
“Let’s talk when you don’t have a concussion.” Luke leans close and presses a kiss on my forehead. “Oh, wait. That’s never.” And with a wink, he walks out of my room.
Sure. He talks big now.
But one day Luke Sullivan will need saving again.
And I think I’m just the girl for the job.
acknowledgments
As usual, I have a million people to thank. It is with a grateful heart that I acknowledge:
My Facebook friends. I owe you a lot for helping me name and rename (and name and rename) Luke Sullivan. I still don’t see why Otis Sprinkledink is such a bad pick. To me it just reeks of hotness.
Editor Jamie Chavez. Book four together and you haven’t kicked me to the curb yet! Thank you for your friendship, humor, intimidating intelligence, as well as your juicing tips. Please know I will never drink beets. Never.
Editor Natalie Hanemann. It’s been a joy to get to know you and work with you. I can’t wait to hang out and talk books even more.
Everyone at Thomas Nelson. To quote Queen Tina, “You’re simply the best.” It’s an honor to be a Nelson author and see what loving care you give your books.
My blog family. Thank you for stopping by three times a week and reading, as if my insanity is entertainment . . . instead of proof I need heavy medication.
Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary. For traveling this road with me and for all the funny, encouraging e-mails along the way.
Erin Valentine. I couldn’t do any of this without you, and so appreciate your friendship, support, edits, and “you can do it” advice. Are you sure you weren’t a cheerleader?
Leslie and Kim. For putting up with me during “deadline lock-downs,�
�� when I turn into something a little less friendly and a lot more Nightmare on Elm Street-ish.
Mom, Kent, Michael, Laura, Hardy, and Katie Beth. I appreciate the love, support, and occasional meals-to-go. (You can’t have too much of any of those.)
My readers, whose e-mails make my day. Thank you for giving up hours of your life to read my books, my blog, and the occasional witty line on airport bathroom walls. ( Just kidding. I would never do that . . . and admit it.)
My students, who have to put up with a lot as I juggle teaching and writing. Forgive me for the times I stare right through you as a plot enters my head or scribble down your words verbatim because I want to steal them for a book. And I’m sorry for that one review game we did that drew blood. Okay, no. I’m not. That was funny.
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I don’t know that anything has stretched me more spiritually than being chained to a keyboard. Thank you for giving me a dream and blessing me indeed. Now as to those extra five pounds I’ve gained writing . . . we totally need to talk about that . . .
reading group guide
1. If I’m So Sure was made into a movie, who would you cast as the characters?
2. A reoccurring theme in the book is that things aren’t always what they seem. Where was this theme evident?
3. In your own life, have you been in a situation where something or someone didn’t match the first impression?
4. Bella Kirkwood really struggles in her relationship with her dad. Is she justified in her bitterness? What advice would you give her?
5. What would the perks be of living your life on a reality show? The drawbacks? Why is America so in love with reality TV?
6. What are some issues Bella has as a result of her parents’ divorce? Describe some difficulties of being a child of divorce— either from a personal experience or from what you’ve seen a friend go through.
7. In what ways do Bella and other characters have a hard time with honesty—either in blatant lying or just not being able to share his/her heart? Why do you think it’s so difficult to tell people how we really feel?
8. Bella’s made a few mistakes in the boyfriend department. What advice would you give her? Can you think of a Bible verse that would apply?
9. Bella is learning to rely on family and friends in I’m So Sure. Describe the moments she needed them the most.
A Charmed Life Page 50
