Page 53 of The Hearts We've Broken
“Why does everyone care so much about who you’re dating?” The question was barely above a whisper, like she was afraid to ask. “Or who you’ve been with in the past?”
“I wish I knew.” I huffed out a laugh without humor. “I guess it’s easier to focus on someone else’s problems rather than their own. And that kind of stuff sells. It never used to bother me, the attention.”
“How come you let it bother you now, then? Why do you let them continue to do it?”
While I’d normally have a different reaction to those questions—take it personally or get defensive—they didn’t frustrate me coming from Juniper. I thought she was genuinely curious, so I answered.
“It was easier to go with it rather than fight it at first. I liked to think that any publicity was good publicity if it got my name out there. Then I think it just got to a point where I couldn’t stop it. Now it’s all anyone cares about. If I could change it, I would. Even on my best days of riding—the daysIfeel like I’m on top of the world—it seems like the only thing that matters to them is who I take home at the end of the night.”
“I’m sorry that people can’t see you for who you are.”
Juniper didn’t say it aloud, but she didn’t need to. I understood the hidden message.
I see you for who you are.
“Okay, okay. Would you rather have hands for feet or feet for hands?” Juniper asked in between bites of the fast food we’d gotten on the road.
“Hands for feet. I could always use more hands.” I winked, and she smacked my arm with a laugh. “What would you do?”
“Hands for feet also.” She shot me a look when I laughed at her because she chose the same answer as me. “Without the sexual comment!”
“Who said it was for sexual reasons?” I teased, knowing damn well it was for sexual reasons.
She ignored me, instead waving me on. “Your turn, Casanova.”
“Would you rather travel to space or to the bottom of the ocean?”
“Oh, that’s a good one, actually. I’m terrified of openwater, but I don’t know if I like the odds of going to space, either.”
“I mean, either way there’s a risk of dying. Don’t you remember the people who died in that submarine?” I pointed out.
“Yeah, but think of how many people have also died in space!” she protested. “Space. I’d go to space.”
“I think I’d go to the bottom of the ocean. I feel like it’d be cooler. We already know what space looks like, but there’s so much of the ocean that hasn’t been discovered.”
She shuddered next to me. “Horrifying. Would you rather be able to read people’s minds or see the future?”
I tapped my lips with my finger for a moment. “See the future. I don’t think I need to know what people think about me. I already know too much.”
“I don’t know, I think it would be nice to know what people thought. Might prevent a lot of heartache.” Juniper paused, going silent for a little too long. She snapped out of it, though, looking to me to ask the next question.
“Would you rather ride a horse on a two-day trip or ride a bull for eight seconds?”
“Of course, that would be your question.” She snorted. “I value my life, so I would take the horse. Wouldn’t you? If money wasn’t involved?”
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t be caught dead on a horse.”
“What? Why?”
I didn’t answer, avoiding eye contact and gluing my gaze on the road.
“What, are you afraid of horses or something?”
“Of course not!” I didn’t sound too convincing.
Laughter filled the cab. “Oh, that’s good. Imagine that. A bull rider who’s afraid of a horse.” Her body shook asshe tried to compose herself, but each time she came close, she burst into a fit of cackles again.
“Shut up.” I rolled my eyes playfully. “Ask your next question, Peach.”
