RACHEL:Because I’m concerned! (Notice how I’ve used some restraint right there.)
GRIFFIN:I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. Thank you.
RACHEL: Do you have feelings for her?
GRIFFIN…
GRIFFIN:It would appear so.
RACHEL:It seems like you’re being cryptic on purpose.
GRIFFIN:Sorry?
RACHEL:Is she blackmailing you? Are you not allowed to say anything? If you need help, send me a video of you wearing a yellow shirt and spinning around.
GRIFFIN:She’s not blackmailing me. I promise.
RACHEL:Is it Glambam?
GRIFFIN…
RACHEL:Oh my God, it is!
GRIFFIN:Meet me for lunch next week. I’ll explain in person.
Why Do I Always Fall for Fictional Men?
HARMONY
Overthenextweek,the internet has plenty to talk about.
Carlton Park did a piece on us, just like Jared said he would.
“Okay, so …” Carlton says to kick off his one-minute video, “It looks like things are getting real between Harmony Sonora and Riff Hurley. A lot of people have been speculating that the pop singer and country artist are now a couple, or at the very least are seeing each other privately while they ‘figure things out.’ It’s not uncommon for celebrities to hold back details until they’re on solid ground, so I can’t say I’m surprised at their discretion. Especially since Harmony, as you know, has a high-profile dating history, from musicians to actors to athletes, relationships that all ended under the spotlight and resulted in new music that dealt with the raw emotions of moving on. Riff has received much less attention when it comes to whomever he’s dating at the moment; as far as the internet is aware, he had a brief relationship with the owner of a record store right around the time he got his first record deal, then went on to date graphic designer Mikayla Niffenbacher, who worked on his second album cover, but he’s never hinted at any details abouteither of them in his music. Now, after several months of trading digs in the lyrics of targeted songs, it seems Harmony and Riff have finally kissed and made up—I mean, we can only assume. After a surprise romantic duet, the pair attended Glo Radio’s Spring Session together and were even spotted walking hand in hand and getting cozy in the cabanas. Some attendees say it seemed like Riff and Harmony may have been arguing, while others insist they were just trying to play it cool. Hard to say, but either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for these two, and you can bet I’ll let you know what I find out. With that, I’m Carlton Park. If you were infotained by this video, please like and subscribe and I’ll see you in the next one.”
Around the same time, Glo posts footage of the event on their socials. Riff and I are seen chatting with other attendees and, indeed, walking hand in hand. Thank God the disdain I felt in that moment isn’t visible on my face, I just look stoic. There’s also a brief flash of us on the cabana sofa, the sight of which makes my skin prickle—in both a good and bad way.
It was absolute torture trying to hide how much he was affecting me. The way he touched me, his body right next to mine. I kept thinking what it would be like if he were to slip his hand under the hem of my dress, wondering what his guitar calluses would feel like against my bare skin in more … sensitive places.
At the same time, I was trying to remember why I hate him—the fake cowboy persona he would put on every time someone came to talk to us, the way he must have been eating up the attention he got from all the women that introduced themselves to him, the fact that he wasn’t upfront with me the night we met, and of course all the things he’s said about me in his songs. I’m a danger zone? There’s a demon hiding underneath my smile? I’ve built a brand around putting my exes on blast?
And yet, when he pulled away from me afterward, I felt the chill of his absence, the cool shadow of his touch.
The worst part is, I still want to talk to that guy—the guy he seemed to be before I found out who he really was. Is that part of him really in there? Or was it all just to seem relatable so I’d let him get further with me?
Meanwhile online, some people have taken screenshots of the video clip and posted them with their thoughts.
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing ??” one user says.
“Mr. Five-Foot Ten … Miss Five-Foot-Three … what IS this?!” says another.
Someone else says, “Well well well …”
There are articles about it and some influencers have opinions, all repeating the same scant information but using it to squeeze out as many views possible.
All of that is to be expected, and it’s exactly what the label is going for.
What I don’t expect is what I see when I glance over at Jenna’s laptop while we’re having a casual PR meeting at The Sconey Express.
