Page 107 of Shine For Me

“You’re talking to Cassie? Why does Cassie have your number?”

I can practically hear her roll her eyes. “We talked about logistics during the Napa trip. That part doesn’t matter. What matters is that you get yourself in front of a fucking screen right this second so you can watch this.”

“Pull over,” I tell River, but he already has his blinker on. A moment later he’s pulling to the shoulder and flashing his emergency lights.

“Fox, I’m sending a link to your phone. It’s streaming on the network’s website.”

“Send it to me,” River says. “I can play it on the console screen so we’re not all crowded around a phone.

He taps something on his phone, and then fiddles with the controls of the SUV’s entertainment system. A second later, June’s face appears on the console screen, and my breath gets sucked right out of my chest. She’s so beautiful, and it’s been so long since I’ve seen her. I ache to reach through the screen and touch her.

“Be quiet, be quiet,” Violet hisses, even though no one is talking. “River, turn the volume up.”

“…there have been many rumors circulating about your engagement,” the reporter is saying, and my stomach twists. “Perhaps you could clear up some of the misconceptions.”

“I’d love to,” June says sweetly. She looks completely at ease in the studio, like she gives major one-on-one interviews about her personal life every day of the week. It’s such a contrast to the slightly awkward, blushing, sometimes-sharp-tongued June that I know. This is her public persona, her playing to the cameras facade. It’s so easy to recognize, now that I know the real girl behind all the Hollywood glamor.

“The truth is, my relationship with Adam Garland ended quite a while ago,” she says, and Violet gasps next to me. “Adam and I have remained close friends,” she continues, eliciting a little boo from Ash. “And we have so much respect for each other. So we decided to keep our break-up private for the time being in order to avoid all the attention while our relationship transitioned into this new phase.”

It’s all bullshit. Everything she’s saying. She doesn’t respect Adam, and they certainly didn’t keep their break-up private for any reason other than pressure from their families. Part of me wants to turn off whatever this farce is, but I can’t help but be curious about where she’s taking this.

“So this summer, when rumors began circulating about Mr. Garland and an intern,” the reporter prompts.

June gives a gracious little smile. “I don’t want to give any credence to gossip. But I will say that our engagement was over before this summer.”

“Before you started filming with Fox Ransome?” the reporter presses.

June nods. “Yes. And Fox was such a supportive friend during that time in my life.”

“Just a friend? Because there have been rumors that the two of you have started a romantic relationship. And that, in fact, the alleged relationship began before your break-up with Mr. Garland. Some have even questioned whether the relationship began in retaliation for the rumors about the governor’s son and his intern earlier this summer.”

“That’s all nonsense,” June says breezily. “I’m sure Adam would be happy to back me up. The truth is, Adam and I are only friends, and we want what’s best for each other.”

“This is smart,” Rose breathes. “She’s being so gracious, he can’t contradict her without looking like an ass.”

“Shh,” Violet hisses.

“And what about Fox Ransome?”

I hold my breath as I watch June on the tiny little screen. She smiles, and something clenches in my chest. That’s not her camera smile.

“Fox is the most important person in my life. He’s my best friend. He’s the person who always pushes me to be more, because he believes I’m capable of more. I didn’t realize what a gift that was before I met him.”

There’s nothing contrived in the way she’s speaking now. This isn’t Juniper Cain the movie star giving an interview to cover her ass or protect her reputation. This is June, my June, telling the world the truth.

“Would you describe your relationship as platonic?” the reporter presses.

“That’s up to Fox.”

“Can you explain what you mean by that?”

June is quiet for a moment and I’m desperate to know what she’s thinking. I think of that voice recording I made for her. Maybe she’s repeating those lines to herself right now. God, I hope she is. I hope she believes every word I said.

“Fox is the best man I know,” June finally says. “I would be the luckiest girl in the world if a guy like him wanted to be with me.”

“Are you in love with Fox Ransome?”

This time, June’s smile looks more rehearsed. But that’s okay—she already told me everything I need to know. The rest of this interview can be for everyone else.

“I think it would be rude to announce that on television before I get a chance to tell him in person,” she says.

The interview goes to commercial break and the five of us sit there in stunned silence. Finally I clear my throat. “River, I swear to God if you don’t get me to Los Feliz in the next ten minutes I’m going to get out and run the rest of the way.”