Chapter 20
JUNIPER
My entire body feels different as I get ready for the day. I look at my reflection in the mirror and stare at my long, silky hair. My face looks like it’s glowing, and there’s an excitement about me that I haven’t felt in a long while.
I take another look at my floral dress and head out into the kitchen. Rosie and Sage are sitting at the island countertop, eating cereal. Both of them have twinkles in their eyes as they gaze at me.
“Morning,” I say.
“Morning to you too,” they say almost in unison.
Their faces look so similar that you would think they were twins if you didn’t know there were a couple of years between them. I love my cousins, and I love their bond, but sometimes, it irks me at how well they can read me.
“So, last night was fun,” Sage says, standing up. “I suppose … was last night fun for you?”
“Don’t play coy, Juniper. We know you did the dirty with Rafe.”
“What do you mean, you know I did the dirty with Rafe? What are you talking about?”
“Girl, you were on the phone with him half the night, and we heard you.”
“What?”
“You were like, Oh, I loved it too. It was so amazing,” Rosie says.
I groan. “I did not say that.”
“Kind of. Maybe not in those words,” she says. “So, was it good?”
“It was amazing. Absolutely amazing. I just don’t know where it’s going, if it’s going anywhere. But he did say that he likes me, and I told him that I like him, and I guess we’re just going to see what happens.”
I stare at them.
“I’m still continuing with the reality show though because I’d like to make some money, and he seems to understand that it would be absolutely ridiculous for me to just stop based on one date …
and, well, you know, us making love. Oh my gosh, I just made love with Rafe Bishop. ” I stare at them. “Am I crazy?”
“You’re not crazy,” Sage says with a small smile. “I truly do think he likes you. He’s a man. Sometimes, men are stupid about their own feelings. They don’t even know what they’re feeling until they’re about to lose the girl.”
“Well, it’s not like he was about to lose me.”
“Yeah, you may know that, but he doesn’t,” she says.
“Oh my gosh, I definitely want to talk about this more, but I have to go. Production wanted us to be there early, and I’m running late. I’ll see you girls later.”
“Okay, and don’t worry. We’ll look after the bookstore for you.”
“Thank you so much.”
I rush out of the apartment and to my car and drive quickly over to the beach.
I park and run into the tent, where all the other girls are standing.
Lily sees me, waves, and comes over to me. “Morning, sunshine.”
“Morning. How are you?”
“Good. You missed out on so much fun last night. The girls and I were dancing all night long, and I really think you would have had a good time.”
“I know. Maybe next time.”
“So, how was your evening?” she asks.
“It was fine. Actually, I had a …” I pause as I see Jackie coming toward us. “I’ll tell you later,” I say.
Jackie stops right next to us and looks me up and down. “Hey, can I speak to you for a couple of moments, please, Juniper?”
“Oh, sure,” I say, looking at Lily in surprise.
Jackie walks me to the side of the tent. She’s frowning, and I can feel my heart racing.
“So, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What?” I stare at her in surprise. “No. Why would you ask me that?”
“You were seen last night, walking hand in hand with a man with dark hair.”
She studies my face intently.
“Now, I’m a grown up, and you’re an adult, and you do whatever you want to do in your own time, but I need to know if you’re actually in a relationship with someone because, obviously, that will change the story we have going.”
“I’m not in a relationship with anyone. I just …”
“You just what?”
“I’ve gone on one date with this guy, and, well, he’s someone I’ve known for a while, and I’ve liked him for a while, and he just recently expressed that he also had interest in me, and so we went on a date. But, I mean, if this disqualifies me from being on the show, I understand.”
“No,” she says, her eyes narrowing. “In fact, we may be able to do something with this.”
“What do you mean?”
She smiles. “Is it possible this man can come in and see me?”
“Why?” I ask, my heart racing.
“I have a few questions to ask him.”
“What questions? We’ve only been on one date. It’s not serious.”
“I know, but maybe there’s a role he can have in the show.”
“Oh, trust me, he is not interested in being on a reality TV show, let alone a dating reality TV show.”
“I see,” she says, nodding slowly. “Well, think about it.”
She looks me over.
“That dress is very pretty. Very chaste.” She grins. “It’s perfect.”
“What do you mean, it’s perfect?”
“For your role in the show. The sweet small-town girl who’s not revealing everything.”
She looks over at the other side of the room, where all the influencers are dressed in their short skirts and tight tops.
“You’re going to stand out in a good way.” She grins. “I hope you’re ready for that.”
“Ready for what?”
“For fame?” she says.
“I’m not looking for fame. I just …”
“Don’t worry, Juniper. I think you’re going to think of this as an amazing opportunity. Now I want you to come outside in about fifteen minutes. As I told you yesterday, you’re in the first set of women who will be meeting with August.”
“Okay.”
I swallow hard and head back over to Lily.
“What was that about?” Lily asks me.
I look around and lower my voice. “So, I kind of went on a date last night, and it turns out that someone saw me, and she was asking me if I was in a relationship.”
“Oh shit,” Lily says. “And what happened? Are they booting you from the show?”
“That’s what I thought was going to happen, but she said no. They still want me in the show, and I don’t understand why. She was even asking if Rafe would come in, but obviously, I told her no.”
“Who’s Rafe again?”
“It’s the guy I went on the date with.”
“Oh.” Her eyes narrow. “Oh, interesting. Maybe they’re seeing this as some drama to add to production.”
“I hope not. Anyway, I know Rafe would not be interested. By the way, are you in the first group that’s going to go out to meet August?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “No, but I am in group two. What do you think of my outfit?”
She spins around, and I laugh as I see a flash of her panties.
“Your skirt is pretty short.”
“Got to show off my legs, you know? Got to make him admire me.”
“I guess that’s true,” I say, laughing.
A bell is rung.
A lady with a megaphone shouts out into the room, “Everyone in Group A, please come outside. It’s time for you to meet August.”
“Good luck,” Lily says, and I give her a wide smile.
Four other women and I head to the front of the tent, and I notice all the other women are staring at us in envy.
My heart is racing. I don’t even want to be in Group A, but I suppose whatever I’ve got to do to get that money, I’ll do.
My mind goes to Rafe, and I wonder what he’s doing.
I step outside, and immediately, we’re all led down to the beach and five chairs. We all take a seat, none of us speaking to each other.
There are four different camera crews set up, and all of a sudden, I feel nervous. All of a sudden, it feels real. All of a sudden, I wonder if I’ve lost my ever-loving mind.
Then music starts playing, and I see flower petals being thrown into the air.
I look around in surprise.
“Hi, everyone. I’m Pamela. I’m the Assistant Director on set today.
It’s all very natural. Feel free to talk.
Feel free to look around. Please don’t wander too far away from the seats.
We’re just getting some opening shots. August is going to come down and meet everyone, introduce himself, and then, in about thirty to forty-five minutes, we’re going to start the first take for episode one.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to come up to me.
Right now, we’re just going to get everything set up. ”
Pamela walks away, and I stand up and look around in surprise.
Within seconds, a tall blond man with green eyes heads toward us, and I can’t stop my heart from racing.
August Pitt is even more gorgeous in person than he is in the movies.
“Oh my gosh, he is drop-dead gorgeous,” a redhead next to me says.
“He is fine,” another girl says to the left of me.
I just stand there, watching as they all race toward him. I don’t know what to do or what to say. Plus, I’m not really trying to draw attention to myself.
I’m surprised though when I see August’s eyes on mine. He offers me a warm smile, and I smile back at him.
I look down at my watch and wonder if I have time to send Rafe a quick text message. Instead, I realize that August is walking over to me.
“Hi there. I am August Pitt.”
“Hi. Juniper,” I say, holding my hand out.
He shakes it warmly. “Nice to meet you, Juniper. I’m glad that you could make it out today.”
“Thank you. I’m glad that you’re a part of the show.”
He grins. “You know, they offered me ten million. I couldn’t say no to that.”
“Fair point,” I say, laughing.
“Plus, I’m sure you heard about my scandal.” He makes a face.
“Kind of. I mean, only yesterday though, from one of the other girls. I’m sorry I hope you don’t think I was gossiping.”
He shrugs. “It’s okay. It wasn’t me with the prostitutes. It was a buddy of mine. You might have heard of him, though I’m not going to tell you his name just in case you’re a paparazzo.”
“I’m not a paparazzo.”
“I didn’t think you were. You’re too pretty to be a paparazzo.”
“Thank you.”
He chuckles. “You’re different, aren’t you?”
“Different as in from another planet, or different as in I’m not an influencer?”
“Different as in you’re easy to talk to and you’re not asking me how much money I made on my last picture or how much I spent on my last house or any of those things.”
He looks around at the girls waiting behind us, who are looking at me with envy.
“Plus, you’re dressed differently.”
I look down at my dress and shrug. “I figured I wouldn’t draw too much attention to myself.”
“It’s funny you say that.”
“Oh? Why?”
“Because the fact that you dressed like that actually made me notice you more.”
“Oh?” I stare at him with wide eyes.
Is August Pitt flirting with me? Like, for real? There is no way, right? He would never be interested in someone like me over these big, buxom ladies.
“So, what made you be a part of this show?”
“Honestly, the paycheck. I have a bookstore I’m trying to save, and, you know, I figured maybe I’d make some money and maybe I’d also fall in love.”
He bursts out laughing. “And you’re honest. I knew you were different.”
“I hope honesty doesn’t make me unique.”
“Trust me, in this world,” he says, rolling his eyes, “it does.”
I start laughing then because I can’t stop myself.
He’s handsome, and he’s charming, and his smile is infectious. If I didn’t have a crush on Rafe and if I wasn’t so desperately in love with him, I might actually think about trying to get to know August for real.
“So, Juniper,” he says, “where are you from?”
“I’m actually from Coconut Beach.”
“No way.” He looks me up and down. “I would have thought you were from—I don’t know—Iowa or something. You look like a Midwest girl.”
“I do?” I tilt my head to the side. “You look more like a Midwest man than I look like a Midwest girl.”
“I’m from Guam, but I grew up in Oklahoma.” He winks at me. “Can’t get any more Midwest than that.”
“Can’t you? I thought Oklahoma was considered the South.”
He grins. “Nah. So, tell me, Juniper …”
“Yes?” I ask him softly.
“Who’s that man staring at us?”
“What?” I look at him in confusion.
He points to the right, and I follow his viewpoint.
My heart races as I see Rafe standing there, glaring in our direction.
I wave at him and smile, but he doesn’t wave back.
I wonder how long he’s been staring at us. Fuck. Does he think I’ve been flirting with August? What is he doing here? Doesn’t he have to work?
“That’s my friend,” I say. “Actually, he’s my best friend’s older brother.”
“Well, he’s looking at us like he wants to murder me.” He grins. “I’m glad to know you know him because I was thinking perhaps he was a paparazzo or something.”
“Oh, no. Rafe’s a vet in town. He’s a good guy. He’s just got resting bitch face,” I say.
August wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I look up at him in surprise.
“Sorry. Was that too forward?”
“No.”
I just shrug, taken aback.
“I like you, Juniper. Jackie told me you are one of the front runners and that I should come over and meet you, and I’m glad I did. You might even be my pick for the end.”
“What?” My jaw drops. “But you haven’t even met the other girls.”
“That doesn’t matter,” he says. “I’m going to let you in on my little secret.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t really care which woman I end up with because this is not real. However,” he says, looking at me with a small smile, “now that I say all of that, now that I’ve met you, I might have to take back those words.”
“But you barely know me.”
“I know enough about your spirit to know you’re not here for the fame.
But you already told me you’re here for the money, and that’s exactly how I know you’re not after mine.
” He grins, running his fingers through his short golden-blond hair.
“Because if you were here for my money, you wouldn’t have admitted that you were on the show for the money. ”
He leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Plus, you never know. Maybe it was fated for us to meet.”
“You believe in fate?”
“Not really.” He laughs. “But that’s the line I’m practicing for the show.”
“Oh.” I start giggling. “Sorry. I thought you were being for real for a moment.”
“Some parts are real.”
“Some parts?”
“Well, I’m an actor. I mix the real with the method. Have to make it sound good, right?”
“Yeah. That’s true.” I start laughing again, and then I remember that Rafe is staring at us.
I look over, and he’s now closer to us.
Jackie heads over to us. She’s got her pen in her ear. “Hey, Juniper.”
“Yes, Jackie?”
“That guy over there”—she nods toward Rafe—“is he the man you were telling me about?”
I think about lying, but I think I pause too long, and she grins.
“Okay. I’m going to go and have a little word with him.”
“No, don’t.”
She looks back at me. “If he says he doesn’t want to talk, then we won’t talk. But if he does, then I think we’ve got ourselves a show.” Her eyes are bright with excitement. “I think I might be on my way to winning a Daytime Emmy.”