Mom quickly forgot about being stuck with Murphy, and she clasped her hands together. “You know your plants! Are you a gardener yourself? You should see the blooms in the spring!”
“My mother is. I developed a healthy appreciation for a well-kept flowerbed after spending hours weeding for her.”
My mother huffed. “I have to do all this backbreaking work myself since neither of my daughters seem to have taken an interest in botany.”
“I have,” I said defensively.
“Oh, really?” Mom raised her eyebrows, skeptical of my affirmation.
“I’ll have you know I have a plant at my apartment that I haven’t killed.” I folded my arms against my chest and shifted on my feet. “Yet.”
Collin’s confused expression morphed into understanding. The tiny cactus he’d given me was still kicking though it wasn’t quite as perky as the first night Collin had gifted it to me. Maybe I needed to water is more? “Right. That Lemon Ball has survived your brown thumb for almost two months.”
Mom looked over the rim of her glasses, rather unimpressed. “A cactus? That’s what you’ve managed not to kill?”
I shoved Collin as he wheezed with laughter. “That’s saying something, I think.”
“Well,” my mom said wistfully, “if you would have helped out around here when you were home, you might have learned a thing or two. I’ve been keeping up with this enormous garden in the hopes that someone will get married in the backyard, like we planned.”
A volcano of embarrassment erupted within. “Mom. We’re not getting into this right now.”
“It was bad enough that Hannah betrayed me and insisted on a winter wedding. Honestly, who gets married in January?”
I fussed with my dress, wishing my mom would drop it. Instead, Collin egged her on. “I imagine a spring wedding in your garden would be spectacular.” Collin grabbed my hand, and the mischievous glint in his eye—the same one he’d had when he dared me to play at the restaurant—sent ripples of heat scattering across my skin. I could have killed him if he wasn’t so adorable. Collin stared at me long and hard, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a suggestive hint to his speculation. “Don’t you think so, Ruby?”
Chapter Eleven
“C’mon in,” my mom gestured once she’d satisfactorily humiliated me. “We’ve been waiting for you. Hannah’s been dying to hear how your audition went,” she called over her shoulder. With each step toward the family room, the noise increased exponentially.
Sam and my two nephews, Charlie and Ben, grappled relentlessly across the carpet while my dad sat in his armchair, reading the newspaper with his glasses perched on the end of his nose like there wasn’t an amateur version of entertainment wrestling occurring at his feet.
“Enough!” Hannah snapped from the couch, eyes closed, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
Immediately, the boys froze, and I felt my spine straighten abruptly at Hannah’s mom tone. Charlie and Ben moaned their protest but obediently shuffled to the loveseat where they threw themselves down dramatically. Their moping didn’t last long. Charlie pulled the throw pillow out from behind his back and smacked Ben in the face before he could dodge it. Reciprocating pillow hits to the face, they giggled silently as they continued to jab each other while Hannah’s stern eye was turned elsewhere.
Sam sat down next to Hannah, draping his arm behind her and taking off his glasses to wipe his forehead with the collar of his undershirt. She took one whiff of him, all sweaty and red in the face, and wriggled out from the crook of his armpit with a pronounced frown. Still, I noticed she tucked her hand into his and rested her head lightly on his shoulder.
“How are you, Chloe?” I asked my one and only niece, who sat on Hannah’s lap. She’d been playing with a stuffed cat and clapping when her brothers made a particularly daring wrestling move. Though she was only two and a half, she had enough sass and willpower to keep even my sister on her toes. Chloe shyly withdrew, buttoning her lips and completely ignoring my inquiry.
“I like your new haircut.” Chloe’s hand delicately touched the short side of her hair, which was nearly sheared off in a buzz cut, contrasting the bob on the opposite side. “Your mom said you got gum stuck in your hair and you took care of it with a pair of scissors.”
She silently regarded me with her wide, blue eyes.
“Not going to talk, huh?” I gently patted her knee. She delicately picked up my hand and removed it, looking at it like I’d slopped rancid garbage on her favorite pair of pants. “You’ll warm up to me once you remember I’m your favorite aunt.”
“You’re her only aunt, Ruby,” Hannah sighed.
“And?”
My mother shushed the boys who were no longer on mute, practically howling with laughter the harder they whacked each other. With a break in the noise, I took the opportunity to make introductions. “Everyone, this is Collin. He came with me to my meeting in New York and had time to come visit this weekend.” I pointed out everyone by name, and they responded their greetings.
“Boys, get off the loveseat so your aunt and her boyfriend can sit down,” Hannah snapped. “You are officially calling him your boyfriend, right?”
I could feel a blush creeping all the way up to the roots of my hair. Why did my sister and mom have to be so outspoken? “We haven’t signed any papers but yes, Collin is my official boyfriend, if you must know.” Collin squeezed my shoulders and grinned at my snooty response.
“So?” Hannah questioned. “How did your audition go?”
I felt a giddy excitement clash with a jittery nervousness. “It went a bit differently than expected.”
“What does that mean?” asked my father, looking at me over the rim of his reading glasses. “Did they not like you, Ruby? Because if they didn’t, you don’t need them. You’re better off waiting for the right recording studio to come along.”
“I didn’t—”
“What? They didn’t like you?” Mom said dejectedly. “I was sure this was something that you really wanted. I’m sorry, honey.”
“Wait, I didn’t say—” I tried to interject.
“Screw them,” Hannah said grumpily. “You’ve got a gift, and they just don’t know it.”
“Screw who?” asked Ben.
“Don’t say ‘screw,’” chided Hannah, glaring at Ben. He shrunk behind a throw pillow, looking confused.
“You got in trouble for saying ‘screw,’” Charlie giggled.
“Don’t you say it either, Charles Peter!” Hannah snarled.
As the room descended into chaos again, Collin’s gaze settled on mine, and I shrugged, confirming that this was quite normal behavior for a family gathering.
Collin’s phone trilled, and he pulled it out. “It’s StarTech. Is there a quiet place I can take this?”
I motioned for him to follow to the dining room, away from the noise. He answered it with great professionalism, and on the other end, a woman with a syrupy voice answered. They spoke for several moments, Collin laughing a few too many times for my liking. I’d been around long enough to know when another woman was flirting with a guy, and that lady was laying it on thick.
“Perfect! I look forward to working with you,” Collin said cheerfully. He hung up and turned to me to explain. “That was the personal assistant who’s been assigned to me. Antonio said she’s one of the best in the company.”
“She, huh?” Why did my stomach feel like it was tied in knots?
Collin laughed and pulled me in for a hug. “Yes. She. Are you the jealous type?”
I looked down, pretending to clean out my nails so he couldn’t see my eye twitch. “Not one bit,” I lied. “I’m glad you’ll have someone help keep you organized.”
I led Collin back to the living room where my family was still bickering about what they assumed was my failed attempt to impress at Harper Music. We sat back down on the loveseat, close enough that our thighs were touching. When I didn’t say anything, Collin proudly spoke up on my behalf. “They si
gned her.” As fast as the chatter had started, it came to a screeching halt.
“They what?” Mom asked, confused.
Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I said, “They signed me, Mom. I’m going to be the next talent coming out of Harper Music.”
My father beamed, the same blue eyes I’d inherited from him twinkling with excitement as he looked back at me. “That’s fantastic, Ruby. I always knew you were going to make it big.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Hannah had been speechless and I knew it was only a matter of time before she exploded. Three, two, one…
“Ruby! Was I not explicitly clear? I told you not to sign anything without letting Sam look at it!”
I had to tame my eyeball muscles, barely containing them from rolling like the sassy little sister I was. Holding my breath while she ranted, I exhaled when my lungs began to burn and said as evenly as I could muster, “I remember, Hannah. But it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
“That’s your problem, Ruby. You are so shortsighted. You think that nothing better is ever going to come along, and you settle.”
“I’d hardly call Harper Music settling,” I said with a bite to my tone.
“Bath time!” Mom announced, herding the kids up the stairs. Never one for conflict, Mom’s tactic for peace was avoidance. “Who likes bubbles in the tub?”
“It’s not just that,” Hannah backpedaled. “How do you know what you signed? You could have to give up your firstborn child for all we know.”
I folded my arms and sat back on the couch. “There was a lawyer present, and he explained everything. No mention of firstborns.”
Hannah scoffed, “Right. A lawyer employed by the agency you’re signing with would be forthcoming with all the implications of signing a contract. You’re there to make them money, and they’re going to milk you for all you’re worth.”
I tightened my lips but said nothing. Of course I knew she was right, but I’d be the last person in the world to admit it.
“That might be stretching it a bit, Hannah,” Dad came to my defense. “We all know anyone would have a hard time taking advantage of Ruby. She’s a big girl,” he said with a wink in my direction.
Perking in my seat, I smirked and chirped, “Thanks, Dad.”
“I would’ve been happy to take a look at it,” Sam said quietly.
Hannah covered her face with her hand, massaging her temples in slow circles. “I feel nauseous,” she announced.
I bristled and snipped, “I really don’t think my making a grown-up decision without your blessing is something to get sick about.”
Hannah let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. “Not everything’s about you, Ruby.”
“I seem to be a hot topic at the moment.”
“So,” Dad interjected, “What do you do for a living, Collin?”
“My background is in aerospace engineering, and I just finished with my doctoral degree. I’m actually starting a new position this week at StarTech as a spokesman.”
“I read about them last week. They’re getting ready to go public?”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Hannah repeated herself.
“Hannah!” I exclaimed. “Rude much?”
“I’m sorry,” Hannah offered a rare apology. “I’m pregnant again, and this one’s a real doozy.”
“What?!” I exclaimed, nearly shooting off the couch. “You never said anything!”
“I just did,” Hannah sighed. “This one was kind of a surprise. The boys got into my medicine cabinet and apparently popped a few of my pills down the drain, but I was too tired to notice the days were off and thought I’d taken them when I really hadn’t. Lo and behold, I’m due sometime early summer.”
I stood to congratulate her but nearly tripped over Chloe, who streaked through the family room in nothing more than a hooded purple hippo towel, screaming frantically.
“What’s going on?” Hannah cried. Sam jumped from the couch and went to his daughter’s rescue, who whimpered in the corner. Twin boogers wormed their way out of her nose, and she wailed and darted back out of the room with Sam hot on her heels.
“I put bubbles in the bathtub. The boys jumped right in but she freaked out and ran!”
“Mom! I told you she hates bubbles. They make her cry every time I do the dishes with her in the room!”
“I’m sorry!” Mom shouted back, her cheeks growing pink. Chloe ran back in, followed by her dripping wet brothers who had joined the pursuit. The house descended into chaos once again while Collin and I sat back and watched.
“Hope you don’t mind the commotion,” I shouted over the din.
Unconcerned, Collin shrugged. “Nothing with you is ever dull.”
Chapter Twelve
The moment I stepped off the plane late Monday morning, Harper Music had tossed me from one appointment to the next. First, I’d been sent to Wanda who had an entire team of estheticians at her disposal. I’d always imagined a spa day would be enjoyable, having never done more than a facial and getting my hair fixed for Hannah’s wedding, but Wanda’s mantra for her line of work was “beauty is pain” and was about as sympathetic as a drill sergeant. The whole thing would have been comical, except everything hurt like the dickens and was anything but relaxing. Every time someone new walked into the room, my blood pressure spiked, wondering what they were going to do.
“Leave the freckles,” Wanda told one of the girls.
I touched my nose and smiled. “Thanks. I kind of like them.”
Wanda frowned at me and dropped a bag in my lap. “Don’t get too used to them. There’s some sunscreen in there you have to apply twice a day to keep that freckle population under control. A few, I can work with but anymore and your face will look like you stood behind a four-wheeler spinning its wheels in the mud.”
I peeked into the bag and asked, “You mean there’s more I have to do at home?”
Pursing her lips the same way Hannah did when I asked a stupid question, she answered simply, “There’s only so much I can do with one day in this chair.”
Between one of Wanda’s sessions, I was handed off to Casey. He brought me back to a modest studio that was quieter than the high energy area where Wanda carried out her magic. Working solo, he didn’t talk much, but he was noticeably much gentler, in part, because I assumed he was trying to leave my hair where it was, instead of ripping it all off, like Wanda and her minions had done with the rest.
“We’re just going to brighten up your color a bit. It’ll look very natural, nothing too extreme. Yet.”
“Yet?” I gulped back my fears of being saddled with a half-shaved rainbow unicorn mane.
“Depending on how the studio wants to brand you. Right now, you’re the girl next door meets subtle rebel.”
Looking at myself in the mirror, my hair in enough foil to build a radio tower, I nodded and agreed, “I can do girl next door.”
“Meets rebel,” Casey reiterated.
I corrected, “Subtle rebel.” Casey chuckled lightly at my correction.
An hour and a half later, Casey had pulled out the last of the foil strips, washed and rinsed my hair, and sat me up, holding a pair of scissors a little too close for comfort. As he came at me, I instinctively grabbed his wrist and stopped him.
“Nothing too extreme, right?” I giggled nervously. “I haven’t had my hair shorter than my shoulders for ages. I like my hair long.”
Casey quirked his head and slowly twisted his wrist out of my grip. “Just trimming the ends, giving you some texture.” Cautiously, he began clipping away, and I did my best not to look at the sheaves of hair piling up on the floor.
Casey was right—my hair did look fantastic when he was done. It was voluminous and flowy and had highlights that even Jennifer Aniston would approve of. Almost apologetically, Casey sent me back to Wanda after he whipped his hair cutting cape off my lap. My skin had finally stopped throbbing, though it was still slightly puffy and pink as a sunburned p
ig. Laying back in Wanda’s chair, my toes curled as she and her assistants attacked me again, for another round. I pinched my eyes shut and kept my protests about the pinching and pulling and plucking to myself as long as I could bear. When I was pretty certain I felt someone waxing the hair off my toes, I couldn’t stand another minute of the torture.
“When do I get to go to the studio?” I groaned around a mouth full of teeth whitening contraptions that prevented me from properly using my lips. “I’m fairly certain my time would be better spent cutting albums instead of waxing me to death. At this point, I’m pretty sure I’ve got less hair on me than a naked mole rat.”
Wanda leaned over me, some very heavily lensed spectacles on—seriously, were people going to be evaluating my pores?—and said frankly, “If we don’t get you looking like a superstar, nobody’s gonna care one lick if you can sing.”
Almost if on cue, Troy came strolling in, hands tucked in his jeans pockets and his button up shirt rolled at the sleeves, the same way Collin did when he was deep in thought. Acutely aware I was only in a robe, I clenched it shut over my chest, wishing to myself that my lips weren’t forcibly parted in the most ridiculous way. Wasn’t humiliating myself in front of the conference room full of beautiful people at my audition enough for one lifetime?
“You look awful,” Troy said bluntly.
I rolled my eyes and as dignified as I could, I scoffed, “You don’t say. You’ll have to talk to Wanda here if you would like to file any complaints.”
“I liked you better without all the goop on your face,” he declared, poking a finger at the cream someone had slathered on to calm my angry skin. Wanda slapped Troy’s hand away and went back to filing my nails without missing a beat.
Troy wiped his finger off on the back of his jeans and leaned in a little closer, making me sweat under my beauty mask. “I like it better when you’re smiling, too,” he whispered. “Are you smiling? I can’t tell with that orthodontics appliance in your mouth.”
When a Star Falls (Stars Book 1) Page 9
