Page 122 of More For Me

“Ignore him,” June says, turning back to Alex. “I definitely want you to do the wedding dress. And I think grandpa will go for it too, since we’re doing this whole cross-promo thing. Your producer is trying to convince him that it would be a great storyline for the show—you guys working on my dress. And it would throw us together a bunch, which is what everyone is hoping for, right?”

“Wow,” Everly says quietly. On my other side, Alex’s shoulders have gone stiff. I’m pretty sure I know just what they’re thinking—neither of them want to be given a job like this because someone’s Hollywood bigwig grandfather thinks it would be good PR.

But they’re also damn good business women, so they both manage polite smiles. “We’ll definitely talk about it with our producer,” Everly says.

“Perfect,” June beams. “I really, really love your stuff.”

That seems to dissipate some of the tension from the girls and their smiles look more genuine.

Before this lunch, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d be able to contribute to a conversation with two movie stars. I needn’t have worried. June takes complete control of the conversation, peppering the girls and Fox with questions about their line, the family, and their show. She either did her homework or she’s a real fan ofRansom the Runwaybecause she seems to know a hell of a lot about all of us. I wonder if that’s an actress skill or if she’s actually this curious. She certainly seems nice enough.

Her brother is another story. He spends most of the time looking at his phone screen. Which is fine by me—I don’t think the guy has much to say that I’d want to hear.

Every so often, June laughs at something Fox says, and she makes sure to touch his shoulder and tilt just slightly each time. After the third repeat of this, I realize what she’s doing—angling them for the photographers outside.

My stomach swoops with worry for Fox. I’d been very much on Team Movie Star when he told everyone about auditioning, but all of a sudden, I’m starting to doubt the decision, no matter how confident he looked outside. Sitting next to a superstar like Juniper freaking Cain, Fox looks way younger than usual. And out of his depth. What does he know about camera angles and fake promo lunches and paparazzi?

“Did your producer tell you about grandpa’s other idea?” June asks, turning her gaze to Everly. “About you and James?”

The guy finally looks up from his screen and gives Everly that smirk. “I’m game if you are.”

“Um,” she says, eyes darting between the twins. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“The two of you going out,” June says, and my stomach drops.

“Going out?” Everly squeaks. “Like, on a date?”

“To get our photograph taken together,” James says, like it’s no big deal.

“The press will love it,” June adds. “The daughter of a Ransome and the son of a Cain? They’ll go crazy.”

“Exactly the kind of interest we’re hoping for leading into this movie,” James says.

I feel dizzy, and a little sick. Are they seriously sitting here talking about Everly dating this douchebag for publicity? My eyes dart over to her, to the stricken expression on her face, and my stomach somehow finds an even lower depth to crash down to. She wouldn’t consider this, would she?”

“That doesn’t work for me,” she says, her voice firm, and relief crashes through me. Then she takes my hand right there on top of the table, in front of both of them. “And I don’t think it would work for my boyfriend, either.”

June doesn’t look put out by this. In fact, her face lights up. “Oh my god, are you really dating? That’s amazing! I’m such a Boderly shipper!”

Before I can wrap my mind around the idea that this super famous actress actually knows my name, her brother makes a patronizing scoffing noise.

“Just because you’re dating him doesn’t mean you can’t be photographed with me. It’s Hollywood. None of it is real.”

“James,” his sister snaps. “Knock it off. You’re being a terrible cliché right now.”

He shrugs, leaning back in his seat. But a little smirk stays fixed on his face as his eyes trail over Everly. I kind of want to punch him.

“We’d take good pictures together,” he says in a suggestive voice.

Scratch that. Ireallywant to punch him.

“Ignore him,” June says, turning to us with sparkling eyes. “I want to heareverything. How did you finally get together? Please tell me you filmed everything for the next season.”

“Sorry,” Everly says. “We weren’t really thinking about the TV show when we got together.”

June puts an elbow on the table, resting her chin in her palm, and gives us a dreamy smile. “Your chemistry came right through the screen. That sexual tension!” She fans her face and I practically choke on my own tongue.

James is watching us again, his eyes narrowed. “We could go for a love triangle,” he says thoughtfully.