“Watched the movie though.”
And he’s back in the room. “Ooh, which one?” he asks giddily.
I groan. “Ethan is a total snob when it comes to the adaptations.”
“Oh.” Juniper blushes. “I don’t actually know.” Then she brightens. “Did you know,10 Things I Hate About Youis actually based on—”
“The Taming of the Shrew!” I call out, as if I’m on a game show.
She grins. “That’s Shakespeare, right?”
I laugh as Ethan drops his head into his hand and groans.
“Oh, andCluelessis based on Emma,” I say.
“That’s not even—” Ethan gripes.
“Oh, oh!The Muppet Christmas Carol!” she squeals.
Ethan sighs. “Give me strength.”
Juniper and I both look at him, giggling, but I’m momentarily distracted by this strange tinkling sound.
“Is that your phone?” I ask as the tinkling gets louder.
Juniper blinks and reaches into her pocket.
“Who would be—” She wrinkles her nose, pulling out her phone, then frowns at the screen. “Urgh. It’s my sister.”
I shrug. “Go for it.”
She nods and answers the call.
They immediately dive into some sort of sisterly squabble, and me and Ethan entertain ourselves by pulling faces across the table.
Then— “Yes, I know the power’s out.” Juniper rolls her eyes then smiles right at me. “No, I’m not pestering them.”
I bite my lip, silently gesturing towards myself and Ethan.
She nods. “I just um … checked in because …” Her eyes widen, and I cover my mouth before I release a giggle. “I’m the host?” Juniper offers unconvincingly.
She pulls the phone from her ear with a grimace and holds it out to us, putting Willow on speakerphone.
“Dammit, Juniper!” Willow continues. “You are not the host. You are standing in for me.”
“Yes, boss,” Juniper says, still holding the phone out.
We smile playfully at each other, all in on this little game. It’s like we’re back at school, lying to our parents about whose house we’re staying at while we’re hanging out with those friends they never approved of.
“Listen, you are representing me and my brand!” Willow continues haughtily. “I just want my guests to have a good time!”
Juniper winks at me, mouthing, “Oh, yeah!” and I cover my mouth again to stop from laughing right down the phone.
“Juniper?” Willow shouts, but Juniper can’t answer as she’s too busy trying to hide her own laughter. We’re all in bits. “Juniper!” Willow yells some more. “Are you even listening to me? What are you doing?”
“Giving your guests a good time, of course!” Juniper replies, now completely off the sass-scale.
We scoff as she blows into the receiver then claims, “Oh, I think you’re breaking up!” She covers the phone as she lets out a laugh. “I can’t hear you!”
