Page 91 of PR Stunt

Hi gf. Wanna come over? I have chilled rosé in the fridge calling our names.

Junebug

OMW.

The evening air is warm, the last streaks of sunlight stretching across the sky as Juno and I sit on the patio, bare feet propped up on the outdoor couch. A bottle of rosé sits between us, condensation dripping down the glass as we slowly sip our way through it.

Juno leans back, sighing contentedly. “This is exactly what I needed.”

I smile, swirling the wine in my glass. “Anything new and exciting in your world?”

A knowing smile creeps onto her lips.

I narrow my eyes. “What?”

“Well…” she drawls, setting her glass down. “Halden and I have been texting since the gala.”

I straighten up. “Wait…what?”

“Mm-hm. He asked me out.”

I gasp, reaching over to grip her arm. “Juno! When?”

“This weekend. Just a casual thing. Drinks, maybe dinner at his.”

“I love this for you.”

She waves a hand, but she’s clearly pleased. “We’ll see. But enough about me.” Her eyes gleam as she turns toward me. “Tell me. How nice are Grayson’s lips?”

I choke on my sip of wine. “It was a matter of when, not if, you were going to say something.”

“What?” She shrugs innocently, but the glint in her eye says otherwise. “I’m just saying…the whole scene looked hot.”

I groan. My fingers fidget against the stem. “It was for show.”

Juno snorts. “Yeah, yeah. But I’m not the press, and you can’t lie to me even if you tried.”

I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face, and before I can stop myself, it all comes spilling out. By the time I finish, Juno is just staring at me, lips slightly parted.

“Charlie,” she says slowly. “That is so much. And I always knew she was a twat.”

I huff out a humorless laugh. “Agree with ya on that one.”

But the truth is, it got to me more than it should have. Not because I believe her. I know she’s bitter, that she wanted a reaction. But still. Some part of me let it sink in. What if I am safe? Predictable? What if I’m not even his type? Not that it matters. This isn’t real, I keep reminding myself.

She tilts her head, studying me. “What’s going through your mind, Char?”

I take another long sip of wine. Then exhale, watching the sky darken. Considering. “If I’m being completely honest, I feel…confused.”

“Fair enough, girlie. It’s a lot to take in and process. How was Grayson throughout the whole thing?”

“Genuinely? Weirdly so supportive.” I can’t believe those words are even coming out of my mouth. “I needed to get out, and no questions asked. I didn’t have to even explain why.”

Juno nods, listening.

“It was actually kind of nice…to have a normal conversation with him. I mean, he’s still him.”

Juno chuckles.