P

"Fine then," Sam said. "I'm not leaving until you get up there and sing something."

Ivy's eyes widened. "Then you're not going to be leaving anytime soon because I don't sing."

"Come on, just one, then I'll leave you alone for as long as you want," Sam promised.

Ivy sighed. "I haven't sung in years, Sam."

Sam sat down next to her. "Then this will be my home till closing time."

"Fine!" She marched over to the sign-up sheet and froze when she saw the list of names and available songs. Sheridan and Luis were here, Rebecca was going to sing, Theresa was, GRACE WAS?!?!?! It seemed like everyone she knew was here. She sighed, settled on a song then returned to her seat.

"So?" Sam asked.

"It'll be a while," Ivy said. "Everyone's here tonight."

"I know," Sam replied. "Why are you?"

"Because I want to be," Ivy said, not wanting to tell him the real reason. "What about you?"

Sam shrugged. "TC thought it might be a good idea. I had no idea that Grace was here."

"Is everything all right between you two?" Ivy asked.

Sam shook his head. "Divorce became final this morning."

"Sam, I'm so sorry," Ivy said sympathetically. "Mine did, too. Not that my marriage never meant anything." She pushed another margarita glass aside and started to order another one before Sam stopped her.

"Water," Sam corrected. "You've had enough to drink."

"Yes, sir," Ivy teasingly said.

"Next up it's Rebecca Hotchkiss, soon to be Crane!" the host announced.

"Noooooo," Ivy groaned and banged her head against the bar.

Rebecca sashayed up to the stage and grabbed the mike. "I was going to sing "Lady Marmalade", but that wasn't a choice. Therefore, I will be singing "Material Girl" by Madonna. So everyone listen to me sing."

Some boys kiss me

Some boys hug me

I think they're okay

If they don't give me proper credit

I just walk away

"What an appropriate song for her," Ivy remarked.

They can beg

And they can plead

But they can't see the light (that's right, that's right)

'Cause the boy with the cold hard cash

Is always Mr. Right

"As long as Julian doesn't get up there and booty dance for her song," Sam said with a laugh.

"Oh, ew!" Ivy replied and laughed with him. "Thanks for putting that image in my head."

'Cause we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

"Make her stop," Ivy groaned. "Make her go away."

Some boys romance

And some boys slow dance

That's all right with me

If they can't raise my interest than

I'll have to let them be

Some boys try

And some boys lie

But I don't let them play (no way, no way)

Only boys that save they're pennies

Make my rainy day

'Cause we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

"Oh well, I'm not going to be much better," Ivy told Sam.

"Anything's better than this," he said.

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Boys may come

And boys may go

And that's all right you see

Experience has made me rich

And now they're after me

"Whoever would want to go after her needs to be smacked," Ivy said.

'Cause everybody's living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

Living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl

"How about this," Sam offered. "I'll go up there too."

Ivy cocked an eyebrow. "You would?"

He shrugged. "Why not? Come on, if Julian can do it then I can."

"Go ahead," Ivy said and watched him go sign up.

A material

A material

A material

A material

A material

A material

A material world

"All right." Sam came back and sat next to her again.

"So what are you going to sing?" Ivy asked.

"I won't tell you unless you tell me what you're singing," Sam said.

Ivy shook her head. "You'll find out."

"Then I'm not saying anything," Sam teased.

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

Living in a material world

"It's over!!" Ivy rejoiced.

"You have to admit that it was pretty entertaining," Sam said.

"In the sense of clown entertainment, it was the best I've ever seen," Ivy replied. "But in the sense of entertainment as an art form, it was downright horrible."

"I completely and whole-heartedly agree," Sam said with a laugh.

Ivy turned to face him. "Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?"

Sam shrugged. "I thought about what you said today, and I realized how unfair I was being. From what you told me, we didn't stand a chance against your father and Alistair. You deserve a second chance, and I'm willing to give you one."

"Thank you," Ivy said and smiled. "Thank you so much," she said more enthusiastically and threw her arms around him.

Pleasantly surprised, Sam returned the hug, wishing he could say more. They stayed like that until the host interrupted the moment. "Next up is Grace Bennett!"