“No, I am not.” Juniper tried to sound convincing.
“You sure, my little Junebug?” Wren lilted the question in a supremely annoying way.
“Let’s go. We’re already late. And for the record, we’re okay now,” Juniper said dismissively while bending down to re-tie her Doc Martens that were already perfectly tied.
“So you kissed and made up?”
Juniper’s eyes shot up to her cousin’s. The glint in Wren’s eye produced the same feeling in Juniper’s body as stubbing a pinky toe. Like it makes you angry because you should’ve seen it coming, but you didn’t. You literally walkedrightinto it.
“Ugh, fuck off.” Juniper rolled her eyes.
“I’m offended,” Wren pouted.
“I doubt it.”
After getting into Juniper’s old Mazda and buckling their seat belts, Wren, who was apparently loving this upper hand she had on her older cousin, continued her teasing.
“Anyway, since I know you want to know, it’s Amber and Alyssa. They say she’s super snaggable. All sexy looking in a suit.”
“Ha!” Juniper’s sharp, incredulous laugh escaped her lips before she could control herself.
Snaggable.
Like Rowan would ever want to have sex with them. She and Rowanhatedthem in high school. Funny how easily they could forget they wanted nothing to do with Rowan.Nowthey’re interested once she has a successful career and some followers, maybe a little money.
Fucking typical.
“What’s funny? I like Amber and Alyssa. They’re cute anyway. You don’t think I should set one of them up?”
“They’re not her type,” Juniper responded tersely.
“Ohh, and you know her type? Who’s it? You?” Wren’s eyes sparkled again with mischief.
“You’re lucky it’s your birthday or my ass would be going back into that house.” Juniper tried to point a threatening finger towards the front door.
“Girlie, is your hand shaking?” Wren teased.
Juniper pretended to take a meditative breath and blinded herself by staring directly in the reflection of her car headlights bouncing off the dim-white of her trailer.
“Remember – it’s her birthday, and I love my baby cousinsomuch.”
“Meditate in silence.” Wren reached for the cord to plug in her phone. “I’m gonna turn up.”
After a thirty minute drive, they finally pulled up to Close Encounters, a bar in the neighboring town. They were, of course, late to Wren’s own birthday celebration. Juniper flipped down the mirror and watched herself press her lips together to smoosh around the peachy-nude lipstick she had to reapply after she finished housing a bag of hot fries. Wren rummaged through her purse for chewing gum.
“Damnit, I know I put that new pack in here,” she cursed.
Not only had they left late, they were made even later after Wren insisted they stop at the gas station on the way to get some road snacks. Wren, as the birthday girl she kept reminding everyone including the gas station cashier, wanted to pick up said hot fries, a hot dog, and a giant bottle of water.Re-hydrate to de-hydratethey had said while cheers-ing their bottles.
“Here’s mine,” Juniper flipped the mirror back up and handed Wren the gum from the dashboard.
“My lifesaver forever and ever,” Wren quipped while grabbing a piece of gum and stuffing the rest of it in her purse. “No but seriously, I love you Junie.”
“Yeah, yeah, come on birthday girl. Let’s see which ineligible bachelor falls all over himself to buy you a drink first.”
“Do me a favor and beat them off me, okay? Six figures or no phone number.” Wren winked.
Juniper spread her palms out in the air to remind Wren where they were. “Think you’re setting yourself up to go home alone tonight.”
