Chapter Ten #2
“No, no it is cool. Honest!” Ethan swoops in to defend me. “She writes in like three different languages, and—”
Juniper’s eyebrows rise. “French?”
I shake my head, smiling. “Coding languages.”
Again I’m met with her glazed-over expression.
Fuck. We’re so compatible in other areas, but in this case, it’s like I’m a boring office worker while Juniper’s still so cool and carefree.
She tells us she’s “between jobs” right now, and she’s just content travelling around and picking up work here and there as she goes.
I swallow. And dammit. I want to sound cool too. “You know in action movies when they’re ‘hacking’ the system?”
Ethan laughs at my use of air quotes. He knows those scenes are a major pet hate of mine—I find them so cringey, I can barely watch, but still—
“Well, my code can look a little bit like that,” I say.
Juniper feigns a smile. “So … not French then.”
I drop my gaze. “‘Fraid not.”
“Her current fave is Larva,” Ethan says, clearly trying to big me up, but to no avail.
“Laravel,” I correct with a shrug.
“Yeah. Laravel.”
“That’s a pretty name,” Juniper comments, finding common ground.
I sip my mocha. “It is, isn’t it?” I eye her, smiling. “Not as pretty as Juniper though.”
She blushes. “You are too kind.” Juniper then turns to Ethan. “And you’re an English teacher.”
He sighs. “Those who can’t do—”
“Oh, we know you can,” she quips, and we all laugh.
“He’s actually a college professor,” I say. I cup my hand around my words as I add in a stage whisper, “His favourite language is Shakespearean.”
“You guys!” Juniper guffaws. Then, with the utmost insincerity, she says, “Computers and Shakespeare are my absolute faves!”
Which, of course, breaks any residual ice. I think our good old British sarcasm must be rubbing off on her.
Juniper stares down at her latte. “I am a total dud when it comes to PCs,” she says to me. “And I always, always struggled with Shakespeare.” She grimaces, avoiding Ethan’s gaze. “We had to do Macbeth in school.” She shudders at the thought, and honestly—same. “I didn’t even read it.”
Ethan gasps and I stifle a smile.
“Watched the movie though.”
And he’s back in the room. “Ooh, which one?” he asks giddily.
I groan. “Ethan is a total snob when it comes to the adaptations.”
“Oh.” Juniper blushes. “I don’t actually know.” Then she brightens. “Did you know, 10 Things I Hate About You is actually based on—”
“The Taming of the Shrew!” I call out, as if I’m on a game show.
She grins. “That’s Shakespeare, right?”
I laugh as Ethan drops his head into his hand and groans.
“Oh, and Clueless is based on Emma,” I say.
“That’s not even—” Ethan gripes.
“Oh, oh! The Muppet Christmas Carol!” she squeals.
Ethan sighs. “Give me strength.”
Juniper and I both look at him, giggling, but I’m momentarily distracted by this strange tinkling sound.
“Is that your phone?” I ask as the tinkling gets louder.
Juniper blinks and reaches into her pocket.
“Who would be—” She wrinkles her nose, pulling out her phone, then frowns at the screen. “Urgh. It’s my sister.”
I shrug. “Go for it.”
She nods and answers the call.
They immediately dive into some sort of sisterly squabble, and me and Ethan entertain ourselves by pulling faces across the table.
Then— “Yes, I know the power’s out.” Juniper rolls her eyes then smiles right at me. “No, I’m not pestering them.”
I bite my lip, silently gesturing towards myself and Ethan.
She nods. “I just um … checked in because …” Her eyes widen, and I cover my mouth before I release a giggle. “I’m the host?” Juniper offers unconvincingly.
She pulls the phone from her ear with a grimace and holds it out to us, putting Willow on speakerphone.
“Dammit, Juniper!” Willow continues. “You are not the host. You are standing in for me.”
“Yes, boss,” Juniper says, still holding the phone out.
We smile playfully at each other, all in on this little game. It’s like we’re back at school, lying to our parents about whose house we’re staying at while we’re hanging out with those friends they never approved of.
“Listen, you are representing me and my brand!” Willow continues haughtily. “I just want my guests to have a good time!”
Juniper winks at me, mouthing, “Oh, yeah!” and I cover my mouth again to stop from laughing right down the phone.
“Juniper?” Willow shouts, but Juniper can’t answer as she’s too busy trying to hide her own laughter. We’re all in bits. “Juniper!” Willow yells some more. “Are you even listening to me? What are you doing?”
“Giving your guests a good time, of course!” Juniper replies, now completely off the sass-scale.
We scoff as she blows into the receiver then claims, “Oh, I think you’re breaking up!” She covers the phone as she lets out a laugh. “I can’t hear you!”
“Juniper! For fuck’s sake!” Willow yells, making us all crack up even more. Then— “Did you sleep with the guests again?” she asks, and, despite the blankets, and the fire, and my stupid festive mocha whatever-it-is, my insides turn cold, and it’s not so funny anymore.
Juniper’s face falls. “I’ll call you back.” She hangs up and looks at me.
I have nothing to say.
She looks to Ethan, and he shakes his head. “I think we should go.”