Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
It’s the best birthday ever.
I was never the type to daydream about big parties and celebrations, but if I had ever allowed myself to, this is what I would have imagined—chaos, luxury, life, luck, and all of my favorite people enjoying it with me.
I can’t stop smiling as the girls and I move to the center of the dance floor, Claire and I screaming along to the song that, in college, we determined was our song.
The four of us dance to a handful of more songs, giggling and grinding on one another before Claire tugs my hand.
“Sutton’s gotta use the bathroom,” she yells, tipping her head toward the edge of the club.
I nod, grabbing Lainey’s hand, the four of us moving to the bathroom together in a line so as not to get separated.
When we enter, the bathroom is surprisingly empty, a small blessing, and blissfully quieter once the door closes on us.
Claire and I stand at the mirrors, waiting for Lainey and Sutton to be done.
“You having a good time?” Claire asks, giving me a wide smile.
“The best,” I say, my eyes drifting shut, the liquor in my veins making me feel warm and light, the unfettered joy of being out with my favorite people only improving that.
“I don’t know the last time I’ve seen you let go this much,” she says with a laugh. “You seem…freer.”
“I’m happy,” I say, and I mean it. “Everything really is working out for me. Today’s been amazing. I have the hottest boyfriend,” I say, with a giggle. “And I’m figuring out what I want to do with my life.”
“So you don’t want to teach anymore?”
I lift a shoulder.
It’s the first time I’ve actually thought about it in weeks, the fact that in a year, I’ll have the option to go back to teaching. The thought of going back makes that dread creep back in, though. The liquor makes my tongue looser, confessing.
“I don’t…think so. I haven’t thought much about it or made any real decisions, but I like having art in my life. I never thought it would be a viable option, but here we are…”
“I mean, you’re about to be a huge, famous artist with your big mural for the town.” I don’t argue with her even though I still have to present my idea next week. Instead, I grin.
“And my first big mural for Daydream,” I say. “End of September, I’m spending a week at the Keys location. They also have four new Daytrip locations opening next year, and he wants to make them must-see destinations. I’m about to be a busy girl.” I bite my lip as Claire’s jaw drops.
“What?” Lainey asks, coming to the sinks to wash her hands, eyes wide. I nod, giving her an excited smile. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of this?”
“It’s been a busy couple of weeks,” I say with a laugh, even though the truth is it all feels a bit too good to be true, like if I start telling people before the ink dries, it might disappear.
But yesterday I got the final contract back from Rowan, signed by all parties included, so now it’s official.
I’m making a career out of art. The one thing I always swore I’d never do, the one thing I always swore was impossible after a lifetime of watching my parents chase it at the expense of thee people I love.
Lainey’s eyes go wide, Claire’s tear up, and my throat aches a bit at the sight of their utter joy and pride.
“It really is the luckiest summer ever,” I say with a smile.
“Told you that you getting fired was lucky!” Claire says, grabbing a towel and dabbing at the corner of her eye.
I glare at her. “Oh, come on. It might not have felt that way at the time, but now…I mean, it’s obvious.
Everything just… worked out so perfectly.
Your career, your love life, everything. ”
“So, are you going to quit on Graham?” Lainey asks, and something churns in my gut. I hadn’t actually thought of that.
“I…I don’t know,” I say, with a shrug. “We haven’t talked about it, to be honest. Originally, he wasn’t going to be here much longer after the season, moving on to bigger and better things, but now he’s staying here, taking on the Daytrip branch…” I bite my lip as my words trail off.
“Why does everyone look so sad? We’re supposed to be celebrating!” Sutton says as she walks toward us, joy in her words as she moves to wash her hands. “No pouting on a birthday Atlantic City Trip! Sad, drunk girl on her birthday does not actually have to be a real stereotype!”
“June just realized she doesn’t know what she’s going to do when she has to tell Graham that she doesn’t want to be his assistant forever,” Claire murmurs.
Quickly, before Sutton gets the wrong idea, I shake my head.
“It’s not that I don’t like the job—I do. I actually enjoy it so much more than I thought, but I don’t want to be stuck in another job that I feel like I should stay in. But I also don’t want to leave Graham high and dry.”
Sutton looks to me, brows furrowing before she shakes her head.
“That won’t be a problem,” she says. “You could quit today, and he’d be fine.”
I give her a look.
“I can’t imagine him hiring anyone else for the position. He’d be mean and scare them off.”
“It wouldn’t be a non-issue because he’ll get a new assistant. It will be a non-issue because Graham doesn’t need an assistant,” she says. Claire hands her a paper towel to dry her hands while I stare at her, lost.
“I’m sorry, I—”
She looks at me before her eyes go wide. “He didn’t tell you.”
My stomach drops to the floor. “Tell me what?”
The color starts to leave her face, and panic fills my veins.
“I really thought he told you,” she murmurs.
“Told me what, Sutton?” I ask. She looks at me, both appeasing and nervous.
“It’s really not a big deal, June. And it’s kind of sweet, if you think about it.”
“Hey, Sutton, babe, you gotta tell her before she has a coronary,” Claire says to her sister, something I’m grateful for, but I’m too panicked to be able to express that.
Especially not when Sutton looks at me a bit drunk, her eyes apologetic, a tiny smile on her lips.
“I made this position for you.”
“What the fuck,” I say, eyes locked on Graham as I walk into the private room. It’s quieter in here, above the rest of the party, and I’m grateful for that, though the cameras that are most definitely in here would work against me in case I actually kill Graham Hawthorne.
“June,” Graham says, stepping over to me, an entertained look on his face. I want to slap it away.
“What the fuck, Graham?” I repeat, and his face goes from humorous and sweet to confused in an instant.
“What’s going on?” Instinctively know it’s my brother speaking, but I don’t break eye contact with Graham.
“June’s about to rip Graham a new asshole,” Claire explains.
“She found out, didn’t she?” Decker asks, and all eyes turn to him, including mine. “About Graham setting things up for her?”
His words settle, and I realize in a heartbeat it’s not just the job. Tiny moments I thought were pure, unadulterated luck settle into place, confirmed only when Graham’s face goes pale. I don’t know how to feel right now, so I focus on an easier target.
“You knew?” I ask, my eyes wide.
Deck lifts his hands and shakes his head as if realizing his error. “I didn’t know shit,” he says, lifting his hands. “Not until like, ten minutes ago.”
“Sure, convenient,” I say with a roll of my eyes, returning my focus to Graham, but I’m distracted once more in a moment.
“I knew,” Miles says, a grin on his lips.
“You knew?” Claire says, aghast. “And you didn’t tell me?”
He gives her a deadpan look, then reaches over and pulls her into his side.
“Love you, but you have the biggest mouth on this planet, Claire. Of course I wouldn’t tell you.”
Her jaw goes tight, but she doesn’t argue because we all know he has a good point.
“How did you know?” I ask, and his eyes go wide. I groan, covering my face. “My car. It was my car, wasn’t it? I knew that you were undercharging. I can’t believe you did that, Graham!” He opens his mouth to argue or defend or apologize, I’m not sure, but Grant speaks then.
“Cut him some slack, June; he was trying to help you out. It’s not his fault that you’re the most stubborn person on this planet.
” I snap my head to him, my anger suddenly having a new target.
I feel untethered, confused, and unsure of where to focus my irritation.
Or, a tiny part inside of me whispers, if that irritation is even valid at all.
“You’re not supposed to be on his side! You’re supposed to be on my side!” I say, stomping my foot and pointing to myself, but my brother just rolls his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.
“June, I am on your side,” he says, looking a bit exasperated. I point to Graham.
“No, you’re not, you’re not kicking his ass,” I argue.
Graham’s eyes widen, and I get a small amount of joy, seeing his discomfort, even if I don’t actually think I want Grant to get into a fight with him.
“For what?” Grant argues. “For making you happier than you have been in a long time? For giving you a job, something steady while you figure out what you want to do with your life? For making everything work out for you so you could live in a la-la-land of manifesting and woo-woo shit?” I blink at him, but he keeps going.
“Everyone knew you were miserable. Getting the chance to safely do what you were made to do, to start your business and pursue art, is a gift, June, and you wouldn’t have done it without him working in the background. ”
“You think I should pursue art?” I ask, confused.
I came in here on a mission, anger fueled by liquor and the feeling like I was the last to know something about my life, but now that it’s fading away, a glowing ember is all that’s left.
And that ember’s warmth isn’t angry at all. It’s soft and sweet and hopeful.
“You gave me shit about it,” I murmur.
Grant rolls his eyes and sighs.