Chapter 22 + 25 Bonus

There was a time when such a question would have infuriated me. In my past life, I once destroyed everything in front of anyone who dared to suggest it. Not anymore. I didn’t love Noah anymore.

I took another sip of wine and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Everyone knows how perfect Zoe is,” I said. “If I’m even a little bit like her, I’d be overjoyed.”

“I have to agree,” Emily said. “I think anyone would be ecstatic to be compared to someone like Zoe.”

“Exactly,” I said, smiling slightly. “Besides, I don’t like female rivalry. Why should women’s conflicts always be about men? There are so many more important things to fight about.”

Emily smirked. “That there is.”

The day after the interview, I sat on the couch, watching various news outlets show clips of the couple attacking me alongside my interview. The commentary was overwhelmingly positive and sympathetic.

“I can’t imagine being so calm under such pressure,” one news commentator remarked. “Only a true Luna could be so unresponsive to those insults, especially in public.”

“I’ve never seen a Luna so open and generous with her resources, and with a tabloid reporter, at that,” another pointed out. “It was like watching two old friends, not an interview. I don’t know what’s gotten into Luna Hannah, but I can’t wait to see more of it.”

I puffed out my chest. If these commentators reflected public opinion, then things were going exactly according to plan.

My grin widened as I checked social media comments. What had once been filled with Noah/Zoe gossip was now brimming with support.

Why would those people attack her out of the blue? one comment said. Even if you support Noah/Zoe, it’s in such poor taste.

The poor woman! another remarked. To think, she has to endure this in her everyday life. Shame on them!

Look at how laid-back and open Luna Hannah is, said a third. How many Lunas do you know who act like that? She has to be the most approachable and down-to-earth Luna there is.

Most approachable and down-to-earth Luna, huh? I thought, my grin morphing into a smug smirk. I like the sound of that.

Chapter 22

Even the conversation surrounding the supposed love triangle had shifted. Instead of seeing me as the interloper, comments questioned whether Noah should even return to his first love.

Zoe might be his first love, but Hannah does seem to be a catch herself, one social media user said.

I’m on the fence, another commented. Should true love win out? What will happen to poor Hannah?

I’m a staunch Noah/Zoe shipper, but it’s up to Noah to make his return to his first love, a third remarked. Hannah has nothing to do with it. Outside of this debacle, she’s a great Luna.

I continued scrolling. A few Noah/Zoe shippers still trolled me, but most comments were supportive, praising my openness and honesty. Many echoed the sentiment that I was the “most approachable and down-to-earth Luna” of our time.

I was on Cloud Nine when my phone rang. It was Viona.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, Luna,” she said teasingly. “Someone’s been all over the news today.”