Chris Briney

The city lights of New York buzzed with energy as the red carpet unfurled outside the Lincoln Center, where fans had gathered hours ahead of the Season 3 premiere of The Summer I Turned Pretty. The scent of late-summer air mixed with perfume, camera flashes, and electric anticipation. Among the crowd of influencers, actors, and press, Chris Briney, now 26 and stepping confidently into his prime, was the center of attention. Fresh off a whirlwind press tour, his charm was effortless, but his smile turned a bit more genuine when his eyes landed on someone unexpected in the crowd. Romy, 19, wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near the VIP section. She had scored last-minute access through a friend-of-a-friend—a spontaneous night out that had turned into something surreal. She didn’t blend in with the Hollywood scene; that’s what made her stand out.