Mr. Americana and The Heartbreak Princess

9

Juliette was halfway through her coffee when the knock came. She groaned, setting the mug down on the counter and running a hand through her slightly tousled hair. It was barely mid-morning, and she wasn't in the mood for visitors-especially not the kind who didn't wait for an invitation before barging in.

"Jules!" JJ's voice rang out as he strolled into her kitchen, John B trailing behind him with an amused grin. "Thought we'd check on our favorite debutante. You know, see how life in Kookland is treating you."

Juliette leaned back against the counter, crossing her arms. "It's too early for whatever this is."

"It's never too early for an interrogation," JJ replied, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and tossing it in the air. "So, tell us-what the hell was that last night?"

She arched an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What was what?"

John B leaned against the counter across from her, his arms folded. "You and Rafe Cameron leaving a room together. Looked... interesting."

Juliette rolled her eyes, picking up her mug again. "It wasn't interesting. We got locked in. End of story."

JJ snorted, leaning closer. "Locked in? Just the two of you? Alone? Sounds like the start of a bad rom-com."

"Or a horror movie," John B added, smirking. "Depends on how you look at it."

Juliette gave them both a withering glare. "It was nothing. A staffer sent me to check on something, and Rafe just happened to show up. The lock jammed, and we were stuck for a few minutes. That's all."

JJ grinned, taking a bite of the apple. "Sure, sure. And I'm guessing you spent those 'few minutes' glaring at each other in complete silence?"

"Something like that," she said dryly.

"Please." JJ leaned back, gesturing dramatically. "Rafe doesn't do silence. He probably said something dumb, and you tore him apart. Am I close?"

Juliette hesitated for a moment, her lips curving into the faintest smirk. "Closer than you think."

John B exchanged a glance with JJ, his grin widening. "So you did tear into him."

"I didn't tear into anyone," Juliette said, her tone sharp. "We had a... conversation."

JJ let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "A 'conversation' with Rafe Cameron? That's got to be a first."

Juliette sighed, setting her mug down with a little more force than necessary. "Are you two done yet?"

"Not even close," JJ said, still grinning. "You're holding out on us, Jules. What really went down in that room?"

"Nothing," she said firmly, though her gaze flicked away for a split second.

John B caught it, his smirk turning knowing. "You hesitated."

"I did not," Juliette snapped.

"You totally did," JJ said, laughing. "Come on, just admit it. Something happened."

Juliette picked up the nearest dish towel and threw it at JJ's head. He ducked, the apple still in his hand as he cackled. "That's not a no."

She sighed, shaking her head. "You two are ridiculous."

"And you're deflecting," John B said, leaning back against the counter. "Which means we're right."

Juliette glared at him, her tone icy. "You're not right. And even if you were, it's none of your business."

JJ raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Keep your secrets. But just so you know, this isn't over."

"Yeah, I figured," she muttered, turning back to her coffee.