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Bunny probably hadn’t successfully covered her own smile either. But that was all right. She didn’t have to hide her happiness or enjoyment of any of this. She didn’t have to hide at all.

It would take some time to get used to that idea, but Bunny pushed back the lifelong fear of showing emotions and clung to this blissful sensation.

“Now.” Siena placed the cup down smoothly. Her face no longer lit up with the joy of the moment.

Bunny knew Siena’s business face better than she knew her own reflection. Especially now with her fight to stop smiling any time of the day. But she wasn’t so far gone she didn’t know how to muster her professionalism.

She took a deep breath and put her own cup down. It clattered with an almighty rattle, spilling a few hot drops onto the back of her hand.

Pulling her hand back instinctively, she hissed in a breath.

“Are you all right?” Siena leaned forward in her chair, her body almost covering the circumference of the small outdoor dining table.

“Yeah.” Bunny shook her fingers before rubbing the affected area with the fingers of her other hand. “I’m fine.”

Siena took a moment to make sure before she continued in her thoughts. “What you did was completely unlike you.”

“I don’t regret a single second of it.”

“I need to know. I need to hear you say it. And if you want to get mad at me that’s okay, but I need to know the truth.”

“The truth?” Bunny didn’t understand what Siena wasn’t getting at. “The truth about what?”

“Is it real?” Siena asked slowly.

Bunny could see the worry and concern now, behind the twinkling that still lingered in her eyes.

“I’m missing something again.” Bunny frowned into her coffee, trying to figure out exactly what Siena wasn’t saying, but she couldn’t figure it out.

“Was it a stunt? Or are you and Bea actually together?”

“What the hell?” Indignation rose in Bunny’s chest, shocking her system like she’d been plunged into a cold ice bath.

“Okay.” Siena sat back, both hands raised with palms facing Bunny. “I know it might seem stupid to ask. But I need to hear it.”

“Why?” Bunny didn’t understand why Siena was being so insistent. She wouldn’t make these decisions lightly. She wouldn’t do what she’d done without just cause.

“Because I’m not the only one who noticed what a drastic change doing this was for you. Your reputation has… quite frankly been very buttoned up and private. You bleed for your fans through your lyrics, and I know they should never ask for more than what you’re willing to give. But please try to see it from the outside looking in.”

Bunny rolled her shoulders and let her head drop back. For a moment, she kept her eyes closed. She had to process all the emotions in such a short time and work through them as quickly as possible before she acted stupid again. Before she acted as though she always knew what she was doing, even if she had no clue whatsoever and made a complete fuckup of everything.

The first cold touch on her cheek made her flinch. The second made her open her eyes.

She smiled as she watched the first flakes of snow coming down.

Stop overthinking it, Bunny.

She scolded herself and brought her head forward to look at Siena. She smiled, and the relief in Siena’s body was obvious as she sighed, her face relaxing.

“It wasn’t a stunt. And it wasn’t something I’d planned either.”

“So you really do love her? The happiness isn’t some fake publicity thing like Jo and Piper?”

“No.” Bunny chuckled. She understood it as best she could. “I suppose asking you when I had ever lied would be the dumbest thing to do. But I’ve never lied to you, Siena. You always knew who I was. Right from the start. And I wouldn’t be faking this for you.”

“I know.” Siena smiled. “But this business makes people like me wary. It’s why I initially asked you to see the Sole Sisters and get a feel for them for me.”

“You thought they might be lying?”