Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
juniper
My apartment application was approved a week after the Fourth of July holiday, so I told Kelly I’d be able to start by the end of the month.
It didn’t take me long to pack up the things I owned—I didn’t have many belongings since Brady kept almost all of the furniture.
My parents were going to bring a U-Haul over to Minnesota to furnish my new place, so I didn’t have to worry about that at least.
Time sped by in a flash, and tomorrow was the day I was set to leave.
I knew Mikey and his friends had been out of town for the holiday, and I’d heard around town that they wouldn’t be back right away.
I had no way of talking to him in person, but it was probably for the best. I could have sent him a text, but what was I supposed to say?
Hey, I’m leaving Montana. Have a nice life?
I didn’t think so.
When I heard that Mikey got injured, I redownloaded social media to see if it was true.
It seemed as though the entire rodeo and western community was talking about it, and a pang hit my chest. I hoped he had someone to support him even if it wasn’t—couldn’t be—me.
As much as I wanted it to be me, there wasn’t enough time. We’d run out of that.
All throughout my shift at Rudy’s, the regulars came up to me to congratulate me on my new job and express that they’d miss seeing me when they came in for a drink. I guess they’d heard about my departure, probably from Liv and Nico, possibly even Rudy himself.
“Oh, June, I’m going to miss you so much!” Liv cried when she arrived at the bar.
I was working the mid-shift so I could get out at a decent time to ensure the rest of my belongings were packed up and I was ready to leave bright and early in the morning.
“Yeah, Junie, who am I going to harass about going to bonfires and parties now?” Nico sighed, his shoulders slumping.
I let out a soft laugh. “I’m going to miss you guys, too. Coming to Miles City may not have been in my plan, but becoming friends with you guys was one of the best parts of working here. Maybe I’ll come back to visit, and you can host a bonfire in my honor.”
Nico smiled and nodded vigorously before a patron waved him over.
The three of us dispersed, working around each other at the bar, tossing around stories and memories in our downtime.
Before I knew it, my shift was over, and Rudy had come out of the back office to send me off.
“We’re sure going to miss you around here, Juniper.” The old man pulled me into a hug. “Even though we didn’t have you here for long, you’ll always have a place if you want to come back.”
My eyes blurred, but I wasn’t going to cry. I blinked a few times, forcing the tears back. “Thank you, Rudy. I’m sure I’ll always have a soft spot for this bar.”
I went to hang up my apron when the television caught my attention.
“Mikey, a few weeks ago you got injured. Do you mind telling us what happened out there during your ride? What was going through your head after your injury?”
“Honestly, I was unfocused and that moment of distraction cost me. But even if I could go back and change how everything shook out, I wouldn’t, because I realized something.”
The reporter didn’t say anything, leaning in closer as though she was entirely engrossed in what he was saying.
“What the fuck?” I muttered as the video footage continued on the television.
“I was selfish. I hurt someone important to me. I know this whole bull riding thing won’t last forever. Every cowboy has to hang up his hat eventually.”
The reporter looked like she was about to cut in, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“No, I’m not retiring, if you think that’s what this is about.
I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.
But when that day comes—when I don’t have the thrill anymore, when I don’t have the fans or the glory—I want the people who I care about the most by my side.
Right now, the most important person isn’t here, and it’s my fault.
I fucked up. But I intend to do everything in my power to make it up to her. ”
“Would this happen to be about—” the reporter started, but Mikey just smirked and replied, “No comment.”
Before the reporter on screen could respond, the TV snapped off. I turned around to face the bar to see who turned off the TV, but my eyes caught on the entrance. Mikey was standing in the doorway, the sun behind him creating a silhouette of his frame.
Juniper started to walk toward the end of the bar, like she wanted to hide in the back office until I left, but I limped toward her.
“Peach, listen to me. Please,” I pleaded.
“What was that?” She pointed to the television screen. “Was this just another act for you? Something to improve your image? Another bet?”
“No, God no. I meant every word I said. After the accident, when I was laying on the dirt, I was terrified. Not because of the injury, but because I realized if I can’t have a future with bull riding, I also don’t want a future without you.
You make me feel whole, Juniper. The past few months have been some of the happiest of my life.
I know whatever we had started out as fake, and I was a hypocrite for being upset when I lied to you, too.
I broke your trust, and for that I’m sorry.
We could have ended our arrangement right in the beginning, but you stuck with me.
You chose me, and I took that for granted. ”
“I—”
I grabbed Juniper’s hand across the bar, desperate for her to listen.
“I’ve broken a lot of hearts, baby, but the one I regret the most is yours.
I can’t promise I’ll be perfect. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I can be a fucking idiot, but I swear to you, if you give me the chance, as long as I’m still breathing, I’ll do everything in my power not to hurt you again.
I’d let you break my heart a million times if it meant I could use the fragments to make yours whole again. ”
“I-I’m leaving,” she choked out. “I got a job and I’m moving. I’m going tomorrow.”
I winced. Mustering up all the strength I could, I murmured, “Then we’ll make your last night here in Silver Creek one to remember. We can figure out the rest later, Peach.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean that?”
“Of course. I let you go once, but I’m not doing that again. Please, just give me a chance to make everything up to you.”
“What about everything that happened? I was using you, too. How can you just let that go?” She looked down at the bar.
“Hey, look at me.” My index finger and thumb found her chin and lifted it so she was looking at me again. “We both made mistakes, but I’d be a hypocrite if I asked you for forgiveness without also forgiving you.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth before nodding slowly. “Okay. I really am sorry.”
“I know, baby. I am, too.”
After hanging up her apron for the last time, Juniper followed me out of the bar, letting me take her hand and pull her along to my pickup truck, ironically just like the first night we got together.
The ride home was silent, but the cab of the truck still buzzed with anticipation and tension. I peeled into my makeshift driveway, not bothering to park straight as I threw open the driver door then ran to Juniper’s side, practically ripping the door off.
I lifted her out of the cab, holding her in my arms as I carried her inside.
I kicked the front door of the trailer shut then set Juniper down, moving her so her back was flush against the wall by the entrance. My hips pinned her in place, and her hands fisted my shirt as she pulled me even closer.
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” My voice came out in a low groan as I thought about all of the nights I had to spend without her by my side.
Her eyes burned with desire. “Oh, yeah? Then show me.”
My lips smashed against hers, and my hands cupped her cheeks.
A quiet whimper fell from Juniper’s mouth as her tongue darted out like she was asking for permission.
The kiss deepened, but it was still patient.
Neither of us were frantic, instead taking the time to explore each other as though we were strangers meeting for the first time.
Her hands roamed down my body until one cupped the front of my jeans. I sucked in a breath as she squeezed, and my cock sprung to attention.
I grabbed her hips and lifted her. Juniper wrapped her legs around my middle, and I carried her to the bedroom, laying her down on the bed gently.
My lips brushed against her collarbone as I kissed my way down her body before stopping at the top of her breasts.
A whine fell from Juniper’s lips, and I looked up at her.
“Please.”
I shook my head. “No, baby. I plan to take my time. I had to be without you for too long, and I’m going to make up for all the time we lost.”
Her head lolled back as I pulled the top of her blouse down and flicked my tongue against her nipple. I sat up when she lifted her arms so I could pull the shirt over her head, leaving her chest bare.
After planting a line of kisses down to her navel, I unbuttoned her jeans, tugging down the zipper and hooking my fingers in the waistband. She shimmied out of them as I pulled the denim down her thighs.
“What do you want from me, Peach?” I asked as I blew a puff of air on the cotton covering the space between her legs.
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t make me beg for anything, Mikey Tucker. You know I won’t.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Just tell me what you need, and I plan to give it to you.”
“Just touch me. Please.”
I gently ran my thumb along the apple of her cheek. “Like this? Or”—I swiped a finger up her cotton-covered center—“like this?”
Juniper sucked in a breath. “Stop teasing.”
“As you wish.” My lips melded with hers as I slid her panties off. Her entrance was slick with her arousal, and I curled a finger inside her, eliciting a moan.
My thumb circled her clit as my index finger brushed her walls. She clenched around me, and I added another, pumping them faster.