Page 84 of #Moonstruck

“I’m going to win for Best Male Artist—Rock/Pop.” Then he leaned toward me. “See how rock and pop go together?”

“That’s some confidence,” I shot back. “That veered into arrogance territory.”

“It’s not arrogance. It’s knowledge. So many of these awards shows are rigged. The winners know beforehand so they’ll be sure to show up. You can even read the fine print on their websites. They say they can give awards to whomever they want. Especially ones like these that the fans vote for. Have you ever noticed how they never show you the voting totals?”

Angie’s mouth hung open. “My inner fourteen-year-old is now furious that she spent so many hours repeatedly voting for Justin Timberlake to win best video.”

Ryan grinned. “It’s more about the fashion and performances. Nobody really talks about who won but about what they wore and what they did when they were onstage. The networks are looking for viewership and social media engagement. Sometimes they’ll make the fans happy; sometimes they’ll push them to be unhappy because of the uproar they’ll cause online when they feel like their favorite artist has been slighted somehow.”

“I’ll be sure to tune in for the performances and fashion, then. Speaking of, what are you wearing to the awards show, Maisy?”

Something else I’d totally overlooked. Ryan really did distract me. “I have nothing to wear.”

“I bet showing up wearing nothing will get the show a lot of attention,” she teased.

“I know I wouldn’t mind it.” Ryan winked at me. He took out his phone briefly and then slid it back into his pocket. “Done.”

“Done?”

“I just tweeted that my gorgeous girlfriend needs a dress for the USMAs. At least twenty designers will call my agent by ten o’clock tonight, and you’ll get to pick and choose which one has the privilege of providing you a dress.”

It was hard to imagine a life like his. Ryan seemed so normal and down-to-earth when we were together that I often forgot about how wealthy and famous he was. Moments like this really drove it home, reminding me how different we were.

Just like the Luna-tics had pointed out.

Angie stood, and then so did Ryan and Fox. “I’m going to visit the ladies’ room. Maisy, come with me?” She had to tug on my arm to get me to join her.

“You got that panicky look on your face,” Angie said once we were out of earshot of the guys. “The one where you’re about to say or do something stupid.”

“Thanks for saving me from myself.”

“Any time. That’s what friends are for.”

The pristine bathroom had this elegant old-world feel to it. We used the facilities, washed our hands, and touched up our makeup.

“You probably should have told me this was a setup,” Angie said, looking at me in the mirror.

“I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“I would have come. Did Fox know?”

“Nope.”

“That’s probably a good thing. He gets really nervous on dates. Hector told me this story once about Fox’s first date after they finished basic training.”

As I listened to her recounting Fox’s disastrous date that involved inadvertently breaking an expensive statue and setting the tablecloth on fire, I realized that for the first time in a long time, Angie seemed really happy. Even if nothing happened with Fox, at least she was willing to take a step in that direction. She would have come even if I’d told her it was a setup. That Angie might be willing to love again.

I knew she’d never forget Hector but was glad she was open to the possibility of finding someone new to share her life with.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You just seem happy,” I told her. “I’ve been noticing you’ve been able to talk about Hector and say his name without getting emotional.”

“I have?” She seemed to ponder this. “I guess you’re right. I have. I still miss him all the time, but every day does get a bit easier. Turns out that time-healing-all-wounds thing might have some merit, after all.”

Angie put her powder compact in her purse. “Okay, now I want to know what’s going on with you and Ryan. Nothing about you two seems like a fake relationship. What changed your mind about being together?”

“I saw another side of him, I guess. He’s a really good—”

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