Chapter 16
Juniper
“Iwant details.”
“Well, you’re not getting them, you pervert.” Juniper reached for a chip, dipping it in aioli and grinning at Mikayla. Lunch with her girlfriends, the bustle of the café, the late summer sunshine, an evening and morning of hot sex, left her feeling pretty good.
“Some friend you are. Just tell me one thing.”
“Mm?”
“Was it good?”
Juniper sighed.
“Fuck off.”
Juniper chuckled.
“How many times did he make you come?”
She counted out on her fingers, Mikayla’s eyes widening comically when she lifted her other hand.
“Well, good on you.” She reached across the table, rubbing Juniper’s arm. “I’m super happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
Leah cleared her throat and they both turned to her. “Is it…is it really that good?”
They looked at her a little non-plussed, not sure how to answer.
“It can be. With the right person,” Mikayla answered quietly.
“Oh, right.” She looked down at her coffee cup, stirring the spoon absently. Then she sighed and looked up at them. There was a deep sadness in her eyes that broke Juniper’s heart. “Maybe I’ve been unlucky, then.”
“Did you never…with your husband?” Mikayla’s eyes were full of concerned sympathy.
She shook her head. “He, ah, he didn’t really find me attractive.”
Alarm bells went off in Juniper’s head as Mikayla burst out with “What the fuck?”
Leah shrugged dismissively. “Well, you know, I’m not very tall, or curvy, or…blonde.”
“No, fuck that. Firstly, you’re gorgeous. Secondly, you don’t marry someone and then tell them they’re not absolutely gorgeous every second of the day. Unless you’re a giant, stonking arse.”
“Amen to that,” Juniper corroborated.
Leah looked at them thoughtfully. “Right. So, maybe he was just a giant, stonking arse.”
“I don’t think there’s much maybe about it. How long did you say you were married for?”
“Nine years.”
Mikayla gasped. “Nine years of marriage and he never made you come?”
Leah shrugged uncertainly. “I think it’s me.”
Mikayla snorted. “Unlikely.” She tilted her head to one side, surveying Leah for a long moment. “Have you ever…you know…on your own?”
Leah blushed. “No.”
“Hmm, well—”
Juniper, seeing that Leah was starting to get really uncomfortable, shot Mikayla a look. “Hey, would you look at the time? Leah, I think it’s time we headed back.”
“Okay,” Leah replied, barely disguising her relief. “I’ll get back and make a start on setting up that new display we talked about.”
“Great, thank you.”
With a shy smile for both of them, Leah pulled her bag over her shoulder and strode off up Main Street. After making sure she was out of earshot, Juniper turned to Mikayla. “Jesus, her ex sounds like a massive dickhead.”
“He sure does,” Mikayla replied, tapping her forefinger thoughtfully to her lips.
“Oh god, you’re trying to think who you can set her up with.”
“I sure am. It would have to be someone very patient and kind, who really knows what he’s doing.” Her eyes lit up. “Callum!”
“I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“What? Why not?”
“I don’t know, I just think she’s quite uncomfortable around him. Haven’t you noticed?”
Mikayla frowned. “Not particularly. She’s always quiet, so it’s hard to tell.”
Juniper rose to her feet. “I think we’re best off leaving it for now. We just have to make sure she knows we’re here if she wants to talk about anything.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Mikayla said doubtfully, as she stood up, leaving her share of the tab on the table.
Juniper smiled at her. She was always and forever action oriented, especially when it came to people she cared about.
She hated to see anyone struggling and would always go out of her way to help if she could.
“I am right,” Juniper said with a smile as they walked down the street.
“Okay. But I’m gonna keep an eye on her.”
“Me too.”