Chapter Eighteen
Sent via form submission from Deuxmoi
Pseudonyms, Please: Anon, please
Email: anon@
Subject: Those two publicists
Message: Those two publicists rumored to be dating after their clients’ red carpet debut last month were locking lips in the
frozen foods aisle of a Portland Whole Foods. Didn’t look like a first kiss, either, and they left in the same car. Anon pls!
Rosaline Sinclair and Poppy Peterson spotted dining out in Portland
by Micaela Monroe
published on December 5
“Those two publicists” as they’ve been affectionately dubbed (or by their most ardent shippers, “Posaline,” a portmanteau
of Poppy + Rosaline) were spotted out and about in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday amid escalating rumors that their clients
aren’t the only ones who are dating.
Peterson and Sinclair first sparked romance rumors during the World Music Awards preshow when they lit up social media with
their red-carpet chemistry, leading many to speculate that they might be more than peers.
Rumors escalated following a rare Instagram post from Sinclair, confirming her presence in Portland ahead of the Thanksgiving
holiday. As Sinclair is originally from Rose City, that was hardly damning evidence of a relationship with Peterson; however,
on November 30, the pseudonymous Instagram gossip account Deuxmoi posted a fan-submitted blind item, claiming that Peterson
and Sinclair were locking lips in a Portland Whole Foods.
Now it seems that Sinclair, notoriously private about her personal life, and Peterson are ready to make their relationship
public. The two were spotted dining on the covered patio of Lil’ America, a popular BIPOC and LGBTQIA–owned food cart pod
located in SE Portland. In photos first published by “Page Six,” the pair looked cozy, sitting close and keeping warm beneath
a patio heater. Sinclair donned a long, vibrant green peacoat over a cropped black top, black leggings, and a pair of black
Mexico 66 Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. Meanwhile, Peterson wore a black windbreaker over a mustard plaid skirt and matching vest.
She sported a pair of white sneakers.
An onlooker told People that Sinclair and Peterson were “absolutely giving couple vibes” and “looked incredibly cute” while noshing on Korean fried
chicken from acclaimed food cart Frybaby.
Another source added, “They didn’t call attention to themselves, but they were definitely holding hands and at one point they
shared a quick kiss.”
People has reached out to Sinclair and Peterson for comment.
Seattle vs Portland: Lyric Adair attends her third Pathfinders’ game in support of quarterback boyfriend, and talks about her relationship for the first time
by Anika Carter
published on December 8
Lyric Adair has been spotted at her third Pathfinders’ game amid rumors that her relationship with Cash Curran is getting
serious.
The “A Minute to Midnight” singer, 24, was seen arriving at Pathfinders Stadium ahead of the game with a handful of friends
in tow as Curran’s team faced off against the division rival Seattle Seahawks. Adair entered the building with publicist and
known friend, Rosaline Sinclair; personal assistant, Grey Daniels; friend and producer JJ Murphy; Curran’s publicist and close
friend, Poppy Peterson; and Cassidy Jones, wife of Portland Pathfinders’ tight end DeAndre Jones. Sinclair and Peterson were
spotted dining together—and kissing!—days before.
Also in attendance were Curran’s parents, whom Adair met in October.
On an episode of the advice and lifestyle podcast Unhinged with Caitlin McCrory, Adair opened up about her relationship with the quarterback, saying, “I’ve never been happier. It’s honestly been a breath
of fresh air, being in a relationship with someone who isn’t afraid to lay it all on the line, someone who doesn’t play games . . .
unless they’re on the field.”
When asked about the tweet that started it all, Adair laughed. “I was intrigued. I didn’t know who this guy was, but it was
such a bold move that I had to respect the—the hustle, you know? I’m so used to doing the chasing that being chased was honestly
surreal in the best way.”
During a team media availability session following practice ahead of Sunday’s game, Curran was asked how he’s handling being in such a high-profile relationship.
“Of course I don’t like having my privacy violated.
There are some people that take it too far with the pictures and sharing locations.
But Lyric’s got a lot of fans, a lot of people who love her and I consider myself lucky to be counted among them.
She’s so talented and I’m so proud of her and all that she’s achieved, especially with this new album.
I’m just happy I get to be by her side.”
December 11
“Fuck.” Rosaline panted, chest rising and falling rapidly. “I can’t.”
“Sure you can.” Poppy grinned down at her. “I believe in you.”
“You’re evil,” she whimpered and dragged the heel of her hand over her brow, wiping the sweat off her forehead so it wouldn’t
drip in her eyes. “Evil.”
“Come on. One more.”
Rosaline shuddered softly. “I think I’m going to pass out.”
“You’re not going to pass out.” She held out a hand to help Rosaline stand. “One more lap around the block and I’ll make you
breakfast.”
“Six fucking miles.” With a whimper, Rosaline hauled herself up off the curb she’d been sitting on. “I must really like you,
Peterson.”
Twenty minutes and one lap around the block later, they stood in Cash’s kitchen, the ingredients for pancakes laid out on the counter.
They were in the middle of hotly debating the merits of chocolate chips versus blueberries—clearly blueberries were the superior addition—when Lyric and Cash stumbled into the kitchen holding hands and sporting matching grins.
Poppy squinted at Cash. She recognized that smile. Knew it all too well, as a matter of fact. It was his I did a thing I know you’re not going to like, but fuck it smile. The same cheeky, self-satisfied grin he’d worn when she’d confronted him about his Hail Mary tweet.
Rosaline must’ve picked up on the same thing because she set the bag of chocolate chips down on the counter and crossed her
arms, pinning the suspicious-looking lovebirds with a scrutinizing stare.
“What are you two up to?”
Lyric tucked herself into Cash’s side. “What makes you think we’re up to something?”
“Yeah.” Cash rested his chin on the top of Lyric’s head. “Can’t a guy grab a cup a coffee from his own kitchen? Or is that
not allowed now?”
Lyric turned her head to the side, hiding her face in Cash’s chest. Her shoulders shook and Cash’s smile broadened. He pressed
a kiss to the side of her head and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh harder.
As adorable and clearly head over heels in love with each other as those two were, they were definitely hiding something.
“It would totally be allowed,” Poppy said. “If you drank coffee, which you don’t.”
Cash laughed. “You’re going to be so pissed.”
“So pissed,” Lyric echoed, still giggling.
“Love that for me.” Rosaline scrubbed a hand over her face and sighed. “Okay, spill.”
Lyric and Cash stared at each other for a moment, not saying a word, seeming to silently communicate through waggling brows and quirked lips. He shrugged and she nodded, and they both turned to Poppy and Rosaline.
Lyric thrust out her left hand, showing off—oh. Holy shit.
A pear-shaped boulder of a diamond sparkled where it sat on Lyric’s slender ring finger.
“Cash proposed!” Lyric bounced giddily on her toes.
“She said yes!” Cash wrapped his arms around her, hugging her from behind.
“You knew I would.” Lyric tipped her head back and beamed up at Cash. “You could’ve proposed with a bread tie, and I’d have
said yes, baby.”
Engaged.
Lyric and Cash were engaged.
To get married.
After three months of dating.
“Well.” Lyric tittered awkwardly. “Come on, you two. Say something.”
Problem was, Poppy didn’t know what to say. “Wow, you guys. That’s, um—”
“Have you two lost your fucking minds?” Rosaline asked.
Poppy winced. It was a fair question, but she wasn’t sure she would have posed it quite like that. “Um. I think what Rosaline’s
trying to say is that this is very unexpected. You took us by surprise.”
“That’s quite the generous interpretation of my reaction, Poppy.” She was clearly agitated, her shoulders tense, practically
up by her ears. “You’ve been dating for three months, Lyric. I have condiments in my refrigerator that predate your relationship.”
“My parents got engaged after three dates and they’ve been married for thirty years.
When you know, you know.” Cash looked at Lyric like she hung the moon and stars, like it wasn’t so much gravity tethering him to the planet but her.
“I didn’t want to jinx it, but I knew I wanted to marry Lyric after our first date. ”
Lyric smiled dreamily at him. “I’ve got you beat. I knew after our first Zoom call. The screen went black, and I sat back
and thought, I’m going to marry that guy.”
“Baby,” Cash whispered, voice brimming with awe.
Rosaline pressed her fingers to the space between her brows and sighed. “It’s not that I’m not happy that you’re happy. Of
course I am. But right now, your brains are swimming in a cocktail of dopamine and oxytocin and—why the rush?” Her eyes bulged
and her gaze dropped to Lyric’s middle and Poppy’s jaw dropped. “Wait. You’re not—”
“No!” Lyric scoffed. “Jesus, Rosaline. I’m not pregnant.”
“Forgive me for asking the question that’s going to be on literally everyone’s lips. Get used to it.”
“Let them talk,” Lyric said. “See if I care.”
“Eventually we do want to start a family,” Cash said.
“We do. Not this second or anything, but we don’t want to wait to start our lives together. For one, we hate being apart.”
“Hate it,” he agreed. “I’m sick of long distance.”
“So sick of it.”
“Then move in together,” Rosaline argued. “You don’t have to get married.”