Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1294

"Are you playing for keeps?" Shanley adjusted his posture, his tone turning clinical. "Given your status and position, even the slightest rumor is going to trigger an absolute media storm. Are you prepared for the tidal wave of backlash?"

If headlines claiming the country's top actor was gay hit the presses, his career would take a devastating hit.

"Heh," Jimmie smirked, a dangerous glint in his eye. "The person I want might not even want me back."

"I'll test the waters first. If she's completely uninterested, I'll take this secret to my grave." Jimmie leveled a serious look at him. "Only my parents and you know. Do not tell Juniper. I'm afraid of how she'd react."

He could barely process it himself, let alone expect someone as young as Juniper to understand.

Shanley nodded in agreement.

***

Leaving the bedroom, Shanley wandered into the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Juniper's waist from behind, resting his chin affectionately against her cheek. "All packed up?"

"Yeah," she replied, gently shaking the lunchbox. She tilted her head. "What were you two talking about in there?"

"Nothing much." He took her hand, his voice laced with adoration. "Luella didn't show up, so he was just feeling a little slighted. Vented for a minute."

"Oh." Recalling how weird Luella had been acting over the past couple of days, Juniper couldn't help but frown. "Do you think Luella's avoiding him because he's actually worried he'll make him pay the medical bills?"

It wasn't like Luella was strapped for cash!

"Avoiding him?" Shanley's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Not entirely avoiding, but whenever I bring up Jimmie, he acts so strange."

Juniper couldn't figure it out. Luella and Jimmie had always been like oil and water.

"Hmm." Shanley hummed noncommittally, dropping the subject. "Let's go. I'll drop you off at Eclara University."

She had a medical class that afternoon.

***

At Eclara University.

The moment Juniper stepped into the medical building, she could hear the surrounding students whispering.

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