Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
JULIETTE
The funeral was beautiful. Beautiful, but brutal.
Watching my husband and his incredible family grieve would’ve been devastating on its own.
But the ever-present reality that Griffin and I were flying back to Phoenix the day after tomorrow hung over me like a two-ton weight.
And something upset Griffin at the potluck.
He wouldn’t say what, but he’d been quiet and somber for hours afterward.
Griffin was never quiet. He had a retort for everything, and I’d come to depend on it.
That evening, while the adults stayed to help Heidi and Scott clean up, the young adults—the Rookie Squad, as the older Duprees called us—headed back to the church for the flowers. Minus Liam, who’d left for Raleigh right after the service.
As we crossed the parking lot, Theo was so buried in his phone that he walked straight into Charlie.
She shrieked.
“Sorry,” Theo said.
“Put your phone away!” She slapped at him. “You’ve been on it all day.”
“I can’t help it.” He jumped out of her reach.
She crossed her arms and scowled. “What are you even looking at?”
He held up a finger, his attention already back on his phone .
“He’s mesmerized by the growing zeros on the GoFundMe for James and Willow,” Cash said.
“Of course.” Charlie threw up her hands. “I swear, he’s more obsessed with money than any other Dupree.”
“Which is ironic since he’s the brokest,” Bowen said.
“The brokest?” Griffin chuckled. “Pretty sure that’s not a word.”
I smiled, happy to see him happy, if even for a few minutes.
“How about broke as a joke?” Maggie offered.
“Broker than a bloker,” Bowen said in a thick southern accent.
“Gas station hot dog broke,” Cash said.
“My friends and I call that broke-chica-wow-wow.” I shimmied my shoulders.
Griffin grinned proudly.
“Broke-sniggity,” Cash rapped.
“Theo!” Charlie stomped her foot. “You’re proving my point. They’re roasting you for your extreme poverty, and you didn’t even notice.”
Theo grunted, still scrolling. “What did I miss?”
She swiped his phone and glared at him. “We’re putting you in rehab. Clearly, you have an addiction.” She dropped the phone into Cash’s pocket. “Do not give that back to him. Do you hear me?”
He brushed his lips over hers. “I love it when you’re bossy.”
“Get a room,” Bowen grumbled. “Can we get this done so I can go home and take off this terrible suit?”
Maggie went up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly. “But you’re so hot in that suit.”
He melted. A smirk pulled at his mouth. “I love this suit.” He kissed her back. “It’s my favorite.” And again. “I’ll wear it every single day from now on.”
“Who needs to get a room now?” Griffin said.
When we reached the entrance, Charlie pushed open the old, creaky double doors and sighed. “I love being here when everyone else is gone. It’s so peaceful.”
If you could weigh the love of a single person by the number of flowers sent at their death, Sage was overwhelmingly loved.
From lilies to chrysanthemums, the front of the chapel overflowed with blooms of every color.
The massive arrangement of David Austin roses, pale pink snapdragons, and white carnations had caught my eye throughout the service. David Austins were my favorite.
Charlie must’ve loved it too, because it’s the one she skipped right up to. “Whoever sent these is loa-ded,” she said, stretching out the word.
I crossed to a wreath of red and white roses.
“Juliette.” Charlie’s voice stopped me. She held up a message card. “Did you know DayGlow sent these?”
I froze.
If they sent those, they knew where I was, why I was here, and with whom.
Don’t act so surprised. You know how they are. For all you know, they got to Fallon, and she snitched. Or Nessa. Or Riley and Briar. They all know you almost took Griffin back to your place. And Fallon knows you went to Zion with him.
Yes, but that’s all they knew. I purposely hadn’t said goodbye. Hadn’t told any of them where I was. Not even Fallon. The guilt ate at me daily—Fallon must’ve been worried sick—but I couldn’t ask her to lie for me again. She was clearly no good at it.
What did you think would happen? That Cecil and the board would shrug and say, “Well, guess she’s gone,” and move on?
Stop pretending you didn’t see this coming.
Fallon told them about your weekend with Griffin.
From there, retracing your steps would’ve been child’s play.
Their little surveillance empire could give the CIA classes, and you know it.
As a girl, the dark terrified me. Every little noise became something lurking in the shadows. My solution was to cover myself up to my chin and shove my head under the pillow. If I couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see me. But some of the worst moments of my life had happened in the dead of night.
Turns out trying to outrun DayGlow was just the adult version of that strategy. And it was proving about as effective.
“Jules?” Griffin said. “Did you hear what Charlie asked?”
I cleared my throat. “That’s…” I couldn’t say anything else.
“Really nice,” Griffin finished for me. “But not surprising. DayGlow takes very good care of their employees.” I wanted to vomit at those words, but he didn’t know any better. I’d let him believe I was happy at my job. Very, very happy.
“Mind if I read it?” I walked over to Charlie.
“Of course.” She handed me the card and sidled close to read over my shoulder.
With heartfelt sympathy to the Dupree family during this difficult time.
You remain in our thoughts.
All our love,
The DayGlow Cosmetics family
P.S. Our warmest congratulations to Juliette and Griffin on their recent wedding. We look forward to meeting Griffin soon.
“Oh my word.” Charlie pressed a hand over her heart. “That is so sweet.”
Bile rose in my throat. I swallowed it down.
“Juliette?” Charlie said, a hand on my lower back. “Are you okay?”
No, I was hyperventilating. “Fine,” I puffed, wishing I could drop my head between my knees. I fanned my face. “It’s really… sweet.”
“Dang.” Theo bomb-whistled, holding a phone with a pink and white checkered case.
“Now you’re on Maggie’s phone?” Charlie said, spinning on poor Maggie.
Maggie held her hands up, backing away. “Sorry, he begged, and you know how his eyes get when he begs.”
Bowen grinned. “It’s trippy. Like Puss n’ Boot’s take-me-with-you eyes from Shrek. Nobody can say no. Not even you, Chuck.”
Charlie swung her glare on Bowen. “Watch me.” She stomped over to her brother and ripped the phone away. “Seriously. Rehab. Monday morning. Pack your bags.” She whirled, storming toward Maggie.
“But look.” Theo shuffled after her, pointing at the screen. “Look how much DayGlow gave James.”
I pressed my hands to my cheeks, wishing I could hide. Because I already knew exactly how much money they’d given James. Down to the last cent.
Charlie came to a dead halt and let out her own bomb-whistle. She swung around. “This can’t be right.”
Oh, it was right. But that money didn’t belong to DayGlow.
It belonged to me.
Or it had.
Until DayGlow froze my accounts and cleaned them out last night. They wouldn’t actually let James keep it. I wished they would. Though James probably wouldn’t want it if he knew how it had been earned.
This wasn’t a gift. It was a message.
Tomorrow morning, we’d wake up to find there had been a clerical error. A more modest, but still impressive amount would take its place.
Griffin reached for the phone. “Dang. What an odd amount.” He looked at me. “Two million seven hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars and seventy-three cents.”
As I suspected, down to the last cent.
The others erupted—hooting and laughing.
“That can’t be right,” Griffin said.
I made myself smile. “Definitely not. I’m sure they’ll correct it as soon as they realize.
Probably best if you don’t tell James until it’s fixed.
” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder. “I’m going to step outside and send them a quick message just to make sure.
Be right back.” I turned back. “Charlie, let me haul that one to the van since I’m heading outside anyway. ” I took the arrangement.
I made myself walk down the aisle before breaking into a jog outside. Then I ran. Once I was around the back of the church, I set the arrangement on the ground. I turned on my phone’s flashlight, dropped to a squat, and tore through the flowers.
I ripped a bug and a camera out of the arrangement.
I crushed each with the heel of the cowgirl boots Charlie had let me borrow, sending DayGlow a message of my own.
Then, because I couldn’t stand the idea of a single Dupree admiring DayGlow’s monstrous spy bouquet, I carried it around the side of the church and hurled it into the dumpster.
I slipped into the shadows of the building and braced myself against the cool brick, frantically swiping to the private messaging app Fallon and I used to communicate anything of importance.
The only texts we sent over regular messaging were boring things like, What should I wear today?
Or do you want me to get you a soda from Swig on my way home?
As I typed, I prayed my best friend wasn’t napping.
Juliette
Fallon, are you there?
I white-knuckled the phone as I waited.
Four excruciatingly painful minutes passed.
She responded.
Fallon
Juliette?!
Juliette
It’s me. Sorry, I went dark for a while.
Fallon
Where are you?! Are you okay?! I thought you’d been kidnapped.
Juliette
I’m fine. In Virginia. Happily married to Griffin Dupree.
What good did it do to keep it from her now?
Fallon
Oh my gosh, really? I thought there was no chemistry.
Juliette
I had to say that. I didn’t want DG to find out.
I watched the first messages disappear. It only gave me a tiny bit of relief knowing DayGlow couldn’t touch this. It seemed their slimy, black tentacles could touch every other part of my life.
Fallon
Understand. But I can’t believe you’re married, and you didn’t invite me to the wedding. I was supposed to be your maid of honor!
Juliette
We eloped. Just the two of us.
Fallon
That’s so romantic. You did it! You married the boy on your list. You got your dream!
I had. But until DayGlow was squarely in my rearview mirror, my reality was less like a dream and more like a terrifying nightmare.
Juliette
Are you and the girls okay?
Fallon
Yeah. I mean, Cecil’s still spitting mad that you disappeared. The whole board is. I’ve never seen so many broody men. But we’re okay. Just miss YOU.
Juliette
I miss you all too. Have they named a new Sunburst?
I crossed my fingers, praying it wasn’t her, Briar, or Riley. Honestly, I even hoped it wasn’t Nessa. It wasn’t a job I’d wish on my worst enemy.
On the other side of the church, I could hear Griffin and the group chatting, walking up and down the sidewalk. The van door opening and closing.
Fallon
No. They talked about it at first, but then they figured out that was an empty threat. No one can replace you. So they’re sucking it up, determined to wait it out and give you the space you need so you’ll be ready to pick up the reins when you return.
The relief that my friends were safe was quickly swallowed by the sickening truth settling in. DayGlow had no intention of letting me go. Ever.
Juliette
I’m not coming back, Fal.
It took her too long to reply.
Fallon
Ever?
Fallon
Julesy, you have to come back. You signed a contract.
Juliette
I can’t. I’m so sorry. I don’t care if they take all my money or sue me to high heaven. I’m done at DayGlow.
Fallon
But why? Who wouldn’t want to be the Sunburst?
I could feel her heartbreak and confusion all the way across the country. I’d lived her dream—the dream she couldn’t seem to land no matter what she did—and I didn’t want it.
Juliette
I’m burnt out, okay? That’s all. I’m going to do something different with my life.
Fallon
With *your* face and body? You’ll never make what you make now!
Juliette
I don’t care. No amount of money would make modeling for DG worth it.
I typed the next words out harder and faster than anything previously.
Juliette
You have to promise me you won’t become the Sunburst.
Fallon
What? Why? You know that’s my dream!
Fallon
What kind of friend doesn’t want her bestie to live her dreams?
Juliette
Trust me, you don’t want it. Please promise me.
“Jules?” Griffin called. “Juliette?”
I held my breath as he jogged by.
Fallon
I don’t understand any of this.
Juliette
Promise me.
“Jules?” Charlie yelled from the other side of the church.
Then Theo, Cash, and Maggie.
“Juliette?” Bowen jogged past, not seeing me. “Juliette!”
They probably thought I’d been kidnapped, but I couldn’t go until I got Fallon’s next message. She had to promise.
When the text appeared, I wasn’t ready for it.
Fallon
I can’t promise you that.
My fingers flew across the screen.
Juliette
You don’t want it! DG isn’t what you think they are.
Fallon
I’m sorry you’re jaded or whatever, okay? Being a model is hard. But they’ve been really good to us. I’m not turning back on my dreams, J. I didn’t come this far only to come this far.
The quote—Cecil’s quote—hit me like a door to the face.
I could tell her the truth, but I didn’t have time, and she wouldn’t believe it anyway. Even without the brainwashing, her dreams had her by the throat. If the board ever gave her what she wanted… I couldn’t finish that thought.
But what else could I do?
Juliette
I love you, Fal. I always will. Please give Riley and Briar my love. And if you become the Sunburst and want out, I will get you out. I promise. I love you with everything in me. I gotta go. -J
I closed the app and dropped the phone into my pocket. Then I stepped into the light.
I waved at Maggie down the sidewalk. “I’m right here.”
Her whole body sagged. “Guys?” she hollered. “Found her!”