When Jordan became Jordan Young, Fletcher would be happy for her. At least as far as she would know.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Jason went on. “It just seems right, at this point in my journey, that I ask this question.”
Loud whistles and a smattering of applause came from the audience, but for the most part everyone watching stayed quiet.
“I love you, Viv. Will you marry me?”
Fletcher frowned at the television. What the fuck?
Surely he’d heard that wrong.
Had Jason just said Viv?
“Wait. Who the hell is Viv?” Zeke asked.
Okay, so no, he hadn’t heard it wrong. Jason had just fucking said the wrong woman’s name. And yeah, who the hell was Viv?
Ellie swung to look at him. “Does he call Jordan Viv?”
“What? Is that like her middle name?” Zeke asked.
No, it wasn’t her middle name. No, Jason didn’t call her Viv. Jason called her Jordan. Fletcher couldn’t even remember hearing Jason call her sweetheart or honey, for that matter.
But he didn’t bother answering his family. His eyes were glued to the television and, more specifically, Jordan’s face.
The camera had zoomed in on both Jason and Jordan.
They both looked like they were about to puke.
Jason quickly got to his feet, grabbing both of Jordan’s hands as she started to pull away. “Oh fuck,” he said, directly into the microphone.
Well, they bleeped the word for television but it was clear what he’d said.
Zeke snorted.
Fletcher realized his hand was curled into a fist again.
That “oh fuck” was all he needed to hear. Jason had said the wrong name. Accidentally, obviously. But there was a Viv.
He wanted to smash Jason Young’s face in.
It wasn’t the first time he’d had that urge, but this was the strongest it had ever been and if the guy had been in front of Fletcher in the flesh at that moment, he wouldn’t have been breathing normally out of his nose ever again.
“No, I’m sorry, Jordan. Jordan. Of course. I want you.”
Suddenly there was a crash and the camera panned to the drum set that was now lying on its side, as the drummer bolted off her seat and ran for the side of stage.
“Oh, that’s Viv,” Zander said.
“What?” Ellie demanded.
Zander nodded. “Vivian Holbrook. Jason’s drummer.”
Ellie turned to face Zander, her hands on her hips. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that Jason Young basically just proposed to Vivian.”
“Why would he do that?” Ellie asked.
“Maybe because he’s actually in love with her but his management team told him that breaking up with a sweetheart like Jordan would look bad for him right now,” Zander said.
“How do you know this?” Ellie demanded.
“I might have…read it…somewhere,” Zander said.
Ellie narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you follow country music celebrity gossip?”
“Maybe,” Zander said slowly.
Ellie nearly gasped. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me! We could have been talking about Kelly and Brandon and Brett?”
Zander rolled his eyes. “Well, apparently, you wouldn’t have been that great to gossip with. People have been talking about Jason and Viv for a while and you seem shocked.”
“Don’t you tell me Jason Young has been cheating on Jordan,” Ellie said.
“Okay, I won’t tell you. But he”—Zander pointed at the television—“basically just told you.”
“Maybe he was just nervous in front of all those people,” Ellie said, obviously not wanting to believe it. “This is kind of a big deal. Maybe he just said the wrong name. Obviously he knows Vivian really well too.”
Zander snorted. “Asking a woman to marry you is kind of a big deal. But not exactly something where you get the wrong name. Especially when you’ve been with the woman you’re asking for ten years.”
“But—” Ellie started.
Suddenly Fletcher shifted back from the table and stood. He threw his wadded napkin onto his plate and headed for the back door.
“Where are you going?” Ellie called after him.
He yanked the door open and turned back. His eyes flickered to the television screen again.
Tears were streaming down Jordan’s face and she’d turned to run off stage. Jason had started after her, but a bodyguard stopped him. His manager was now in his face and they were having a heated discussion.
Fletcher looked at his grandmother. “Vegas.”
2
“Are those scissors?”
“Jordan, no. Put the scissors down.”
Jordan sighed. “A haircut would help.”
“It really wouldn’t,” Charlie Landry, one of the women on the Zoom call with Jordan, and one of her best friends, said.
“Not a haircut you give yourself anyway,” Naomi LeClaire, Jordan’s best friend from high school, agreed.
Jordan let the scissors she’d borrowed from the gift shop employee clatter to the marble countertop. She sighed and leaned in, bracing her hands on either side of the computer. “I went out to get coffee and a bunch of people recognized me,” she told the girls. “They were all in line to order. They saw me right away and started asking questions about me and Jason. I didn’t even get coffee!”
“Oh my God, honey. I’m sorry,” Naomi said sympathetically. “That’s so hard.”
Naomi herself had been a celebrity, dealing with way larger crowds who wanted photos, autographs, and gossip. As a child TV star it had definitely shaped who she was today. Namely a woman who barely left her tiny Louisiana hometown.
Jordan’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Naomi. This is nothing compared to what you’ve been through. It just surprised me. It’s stupid. I just panicked.”
“You’re fine,” Naomi assured her. “Panic is normal when something like that happens. But now just enjoy your coffee from room service and wait it out.”
“Wait it out?” Charlie asked. “For how long? She can’t just stay in Vegas in that hotel room indefinitely.”
“These people are all in town for Jason’s concert last night,” Naomi said rationally. Naomi was almost always rational. It was one of the things Jordan liked best about her. Because rational was something that had been somewhat lacking in her friends growing up. And that included Charlie. Jordan had a very irrational tattoo of Oscar the Grouch on her left hip thanks to Charlie Landry, as a matter of fact.
“It’s Sunday,” Naomi went on. “Most of them will probably be going home today so they can get back to work tomorrow.”
Charlie nodded. “Okay, good point. Just hold tight,” she told Jordan. “Don’t do anything crazy.”
“Well, um…”
Both Naomi and Charlie looked at their computer screens with eyebrows up.
“What did you do?” Naomi asked.
Jordan turned her head to the right. Both women gasped.
“Jordan!” Naomi scolded. “You know you’re supposed to call us before you do anything like that.”