A Good Neighborhood

Brad shoots a new commercial for his business at his house, and it catches the attention of the neighbors. His goal with the commercial is to attract business from building companies and to bother Valerie. The commercial also features Juniper, as Brad wanted to “give her a taste of the celebrity experience he [is] convinced all young women desire[]” (209). He sexualizes Juniper by dressing her in tight pants and having the makeup artists give her “sex appeal.” Marina, a beautician, and Lottie do not want Juniper looking in the mirror because she might get self-conscious.

Brad ponders how he will get Juniper alone so he can have sex with her. The narrators question how Brad became so self-assured, and they explore his backstory. He grew up poor, and his father, Rick, was a hard worker who worked as a mechanic at Dollywood. Brad and his brother, Jeff, helped Rick build things when they were young, and Brad decided to go to college for engineering and to start a business with his father once he graduated. Brad did not enjoy his general education courses, and then while speaking with his father, he discovered his father had no interest in starting a company with him. Brad dropped out of college and entered an HVAC education program. The narrators offer foreshadowing, saying they did not know what “Brad was capable of” (214).

Juniper tells Julia she is going for a run in the park and that she accidentally left her phone at work. At Julia’s urging, she takes Lottie’s phone with her instead and leaves, saying that she will be going to work right after her run. Juniper is nervous because she lied and is going to meet Xavier at a cabin in the park where they plan to have sex. She feels conflicted because she was taught that her worth is determined by her virginity, but she does not believe those teachings and now views them as corrupt. She feels that, since she loves Xavier, it is not sinful to have sex with him. She believes her mother was not ruined by premarital sex, so she will not be ruined either. Xavier had suggested they have sex, and Pepper encouraged Juniper when they talked about it. Juniper willingly agreed, and she and Xavier made plans to meet.

Xavier is at the park when Juniper arrives, and he follows her to the cabin after telling her there is “no pressure” to sleep together. Pepper told her that the first time having sex is “sucky,” and she is happy that, if that is true, at least she will be someplace beautiful. At the cabin, Xavier unpacks the food and brings out some wine, which they both drink. He plays her a song, and then they decide to take a hike and bring the wine. They talk about nature and go to sit by the river. As Xavier tells her about a pleasant childhood memory, Juniper thinks that she loves him, but she does not say it out loud. Hungry, they return to the cabin, and Xavier cuts up the salami and cheese he brought. After eating, Juniper pulls Xavier onto the blanket with her, and they begin kissing.

Julia calls Brad to ask him to look for Juniper’s phone. He finds it and realizes his opportunity to get Juniper alone to have sex with her, so he tracks her car.

The narrators announce the climax of the story and note that they are divided in their opinions. Xavier and Juniper believe themselves in love, while Brad is sexually attracted to Juniper and believes that she feels the same.