Page 19 of The B Side

“Obviously from Thomas,” Val cut in.

Juliet grimaced, the anger slicing through her. She hadn’t spoken to Thomas since the day after the coming out, when she’d fired him. Which had already been her plan, but it had been made incredibly simple because he’d been losing his fucking mind at her. She could only imagine what he was hearing from Harrison and the label, but Juliet didn’t care to deal with it now that she didn’t have to.

And – huh. Wasn’t that a relief? She didn’t have to deal with it. She didn’t have to care what Thomas thought or what he was saying or what deals he would try to make on her behalf. It really did make her breathe a little deeper.

She wasn’t shocked that Chloe was having some sort of relationship, either romantic or sexual or some combination, with him. Always a social climber, especially now that her last couple of albums had barely made a splash. Not even just a good splash, but any.

“I mean… if Juliet was going to go all out, she could have picked someone else, you know?” Chloe let out one of those hyena-sounding giggles.

Juliet’s hackles lifted even higher. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

“What do you mean? Darcy’s hot.” Val’s confusion, for once, mirrored Juliet’s.

“She is,” Chloe agreed. “But… like, she hasn’t released an album in a couple of years. And her group, like, disbanded. It’s not like her star is on the rise right now. What, Juliet decided to pull a stunt like this with someone whose career has been at a standstill for over a year?”

Maybe Juliet was the fighting kind. Or maybe she’d picked it up from Darcy. But she felt red hot with rage right now.

Krissy released a laugh that made Juliet shudder in disgust. Even her laughter sounded… nasty. “That’s actually a good point. You know, I heard–”

Juliet, personally, had heard enough of what any of them had heard lately. With that, she swung her stall door open and glided out toward the counter.

Conversation between all three women swiftly cut off, and a vicious satisfaction zipped right through her at the wide-eyed stares on their faces, before they managed to school their expressions. Right into those fake, polite smiles.

But Juliet didn’t need to put on her own fake smile for once. The realization hit her; she was actually experiencing a benefit of having come out. If everyone was already dragging her reputation, she didn’t need to play nice anymore.

She didn’t have to be country’s sweetheart, anymore. Didn’t have to maintain some sort of reputation that didn’t align with who she really was.

Juliet met and held their stares, individually, in the mirror, as she washed her hands. Reading their uncomfortable expressions and relishing in them.

“Juliet! We didn’t realize you were in here,” Chloe eventually said.

“No kidding.” She dried her hands and turned around to face them directly. “I know that none of you would have the spine to say to my face what you’d say behind my back; it’s why I’ve never respected any of you. That, and the fact that none of you had the good sense to simply check to see if the stalls were empty before you really let loose. Just plain… stupid.”

Oh. Yes. That felt very, very good.

Especially when the three of them quickly exchanged a look, varying expressions from uncertainty to agitation on their faces.

“But, since I’m here, I’ll clear up any confusion. It’s not a stunt. I’m in a relationship with Darcy. A real, gay relationship,” she drawled.

The flush on Chloe’s cheeks was the highest, which made sense given the secrets in her own closet. Juliet singled her out as her target and advanced. With every step she took forward, Chloe inched backward.

And yes, she loved that, too.

“You’re also correct in saying that Darcy is hot. Like – so fucking hot. Clearly, since you’ve all commented on it, you see it, too.” Locking eyes with Chloe, unwavering, Juliet slowly lifted her eyebrows. “I bet you’ve noticed just how hot, Chloe.”

Juliet leaned up on her tiptoes, putting her lips close enough to Chloe’s ear so she could whisper without Val or Krissy hearing, “And I bet you’d give anything to have a night with her. I’m sure you’ve dreamed about it.”

After they’d hooked up that one night, Chloe had gotten incredibly, messily drunk and told Juliet all about her usual type – a busty blonde? She’d probably go feral for Darcy.

And now… now Juliet didn’t have to pretend not to have a reaction to Darcy. She didn’t have to smile and wave off the idea that they were more than friends. She was allowed to own it. To own everything that Darcy meant to her.

That – that really was a rush. One she hadn’t yet experienced while licking her wounds, burying herself in Darcy.

Chloe was so tense, she looked like she might break in half as Juliet leaned back.

“I’d be careful if I were any of you, talking about talent. I noticed neither of you had the lead spot or the finale on any runway at fashion week for the first time in years. And Chloe, you’re right. Darcy is taking a little break, but in the two albums she put out compared to the six albums you’ve done… how many more awards does she have?” Juliet lifted her finger, tapping at her chin.

It was rhetorical, given that everyone here knew Chloe had never won any major award.