Chapter Thirteen
February Twenty Fifth
Juniper
“You look good.”
Wolfie grinned at June after hopping into his Jeep.
“Thank you.”
She smiled back, “Where are we going tonight?”
She was curious about his request to dress casually and how he had mentioned it would be a surprise today.
“I thought I would keep it a surprise until we get there.”
The Jeep rolled forward.
“Really?”
“Yeah, is that okay?”
“Yes, I am just curious. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”
She looked his way to view the back seat. He was one step ahead of her and everything was covered by a blanket.
“No peeking.”
He glared at her while grabbing her hand. Wolfie started to weave through streets heading west of town until they hit a dead end. He continued through, spitting up gravel and rocks behind them.
June dropped his hand to brace herself, “Where are we going?”
A laugh busted out of him, “June, I am not going to hurt you.”
He peeled her hand off the dash, kissed the back of it and began holding it again.
“I know you don't intend on hurting me, but could you drive like it?”
Her hand tightened between his fingers.
“It’s how you have to drive to get there.”
Wolfie joked and sent her a playful smile. They weaved through trees on a narrow path covered in roots and rocks and ended up in a small clear out. “Alright you can let go of the door, you probably left a deep imprint.”
June felt her cheeks flush, “Sorry.”
She unbuckled and dropped out of the Jeep. The trail kept going up, but it would have to be on foot. Turning back she gasped at a beautiful clear view of the town. Small lights flickering here and there. June walked around the Jeep and looked up at him.
Wolfgang tilted her chin closer and softly kissed her, “I told you, I wouldn’t hurt you.”
He grinned. “Are you ready for your surprise?”
Wolfie was exceptionally happy tonight.
“Yes.”
June nodded. Wolfie reached into the back of his Jeep and pulled off the blanket and threw it over his shoulder. June was just inches shy of being able to see in the back. Followed by the blanket were two bags. “Do you need help with anything?”
“No.”
He hesitated. “But turn around and face the Jeep.”
She cooperated, “Are you going to blind fold me too?”
He shook his head smiling, “I didn’t have time to find one.”
She could hear his feet shuffling around in the dirt and June had no idea what he was up to. The bags rustled and she heard crackling coming from him as well. Footsteps approached behind her, “Okay, now you can turn around.”
June spun around to see him behind her and a glow tracing his body. Wolfie stepped to the side showing a blanket with a lantern lighting the setting for two people to enjoy some pie. “Wolfgang.”
A hand pressed against her mouth in awe, impressed with how thoughtful he was being. June was falling for him faster than she wanted but maybe it was what she needed to help her heal.
“Come join me.”
He placed a hand on her lower back as they took a few steps over. June slowly stepped onto the blanket and followed his indication to sit down. They sat on the blanket side by side and stared over the town while June continued to be speechless. She didn’t know love could be like this, or if this was just ‘like’.
“I feel like I haven’t had much alone time with you Juniper, we have had a few dates, but I want to get to know you on a deeper level.”
He pulled a bag towards him and handed her a water.
June accepted, “What do you want to know?”
“Like...you.”
June looked down at the blanket, at the strawberry pie slice and two forks. Brittanya most likely. “I bought that for you, so you have to eat it.”
“I will.”
She leaned over to bump him. They sat in silence with few birds still awake and a few bugs tapping against the plastic of the lantern.
“So, if I’m ever missing, this is one of the few places I’ll be.”
June looked at him, “I found this spot when my dad was going through treatments and I spent a lot of time here. The tree’s are almost like a healer or counselor, they listen. Great spot, huh?”
“It is beautiful, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Wolfie picked up the pie and opened it, “Ask me something.”
He handed it to her.
“What?”
She grabbed the slice and his fork he offered.
“Anything, you can ask me anything.”
“Okay,”
she scooped the tip of the pie off, “Where do you want to be in ten years?”
He shrugged, “Married, maybe some kids, typical human stuff.”
He came off certain. “What about you?”
June swallowed. “I want to be an old hag, living in a hut right here.”
She laughed.
“Oh my hell.”
He mumbled.
“No, I’ve never thought that far ahead. So, I don’t know.”
She grabbed a second bite, “Now you ask me something.”
“Oh, I have a good one.”
He put his hand on her waist behind them. “How would you feel if we became exclusive?”
June froze and repeated his question over in her head until each word made sense. Her insides were twisted and she was almost paralyzed. June had only known him for a month, she had only known everyone for a month, but there was no way someone was better on this island. Exclusive ricocheted in her ears, he only wanted her .
“Babe, the silence is killing me.”
his hand squirmed, almost tickling her.
“I’m warning you,”
She took her bite, and cheeked the pie, “It’ll be the worst mistake of your life. You’ll regret everything.”
She teased.
“I’ll take my chances.”
He pulled her closer, “Is that a yes?”
“I would love to ruin your life.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
He leaned down and kissed her, and June kissed him back until he pulled away, “I do have to tell you something, I do not believe in secrets in a relationship. So I have a confession.”
“Okay?”
June tucked the pie container to the side.
“You know how I came to your house to fix your door?”
“Um, yes.”
“I technically made it so your door wouldn’t work at that time. So you would have to call me. I wanted to see you again. I saw you at work and knew it wouldn’t be the last time.”
“You what?”
June smirked at him while taking a drink.
“And the next day I was an idiot and forgot to turn it back on, there was no ant, that was an alibi. But I did get to see you again and ask you out.”
“I knew it,”
She capped her water, “How did you know where I live?”
“Ugh, that’s another thing, I looked up your file. I knew all your basic info before I came to fix your door.”
“Wow.”
June didn’t know whether to be impressed or mad. She stayed quiet. She thought of how he said there should be no secrets. She wanted to tell him of Ben, how damaged she was. “Do you want me to be honest with you right now?”
“I always want you to be honest with me.”
June’s mind was sprinting with thoughts, she knew if she was going to tell him, she had to just spill it. “You asked about my ex and I didn’t want to talk about it then.”
“I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do Juniper.”
She inhaled deeply and then released, “After my family passed and I was alone, I met this guy, Ben. And in society there’s poverty and high class. Ben was high class and I was struggling to get a meal. He helped me get on my feet, got me a room in an apartment and a shitty job where he used to manage. Everything he did for me, was to benefit him. But in my eyes at the time, I thought he truly was helping me. He had this way of making everything look good, like I should praise him and I was fooled.”
June powered through the tightness in her voice.
“After a while, things got sour. He tracked my every move and treated me as an object he owned. I knew he was seeing other girls too. He’d flirt with other girls in front of me and would say things like ‘that’s how you should dress, or do your hair.’ He’d buy me things to make me feel obligated to stay with him or that I wouldn’t find anything better than him. I never felt like I really loved him but felt forced to say it. I tried to learn how to love him, but the abuse made it hard. He would point out my physical flaws and any weight I gained, I packed my stuff so many times-”
Wolfie stopped her and tensed up, “Juniper, pray that I never meet him.”
“I’m letting you know, I’m damaged.”
Her eyes glazed over and her lips started to tremble.
“No.”
He pulled her onto his lap and held her against his chest. “You’re perfect.”
“I just think you should know if I act weird about something, that’s why. I have a shitty past. Margaret even asked if I was hiding from someone.”
She sniffled, “He broke me.”
“Stop.”
He pulled her face up revealing her big watering eyes, as if he wondering how anyone could hurt her. “You can always talk to me about it, but I don’t want to hear you talk about yourself that way. I see someone who is kind, funny, smart and beautiful.”
“You mean hot?”
June’s face lifted.
“Yes, hot.”
He squeezed her into his chest, brushing her face with his and placing his warm lips on hers. “You’re not damaged.”
After a moment June gathered herself back together. “That was embarrassing.”
“I guess we both have moments that have embarrassed us. But yours was nothing to be embarrassed about.”
June slid back next to him, “So, you don’t have any ex girlfriends, have you been intimate with anyone?”
“Um, I’ve kissed a few girls.”
“And?”
She cocked an eyebrow expecting more.
“We’re being honest right?”
“Ya.”
June exhaled.
“Only one, a one night stand. It was at a party and it was nothing. She’s married now and has two kids.”
“Oh, and here you brought me to an excluded area, to do what?”
She questioned.
“Well if you insist.”
He kissed her quickly. “Oh, I was also going to ask if we were going to go to the ball together?”
“Yes!”
June squealed and squeezed his arm after snuggling up to him again.
They watched house lights flicker out, one by one and be replaced by more stars.
“I have this theory.”
His deep voice broke the silence.
June looked at him and noticed he was staring up at the stars through the trees, “What’s that?”
“Have you heard about string theory?”
“Um no.”
“Basically, when massive stars die, they explode and the stardust is collected from a gravitational pull to make planets and such.”
“Okay.”
She followed along.
“I think that each stars’ stardust is spread throughout the world to a dozen or so people. That’s why some people are just drawn together. That’s where best friends, family and soulmates come from.”
“That’s interesting and beautiful, I love it.”
“You’re beautiful.”
He kissed her forehead. “By the way, my mom and aunt want to meet you but please don’t wear that black dress.”
“What was wrong with that dress?”
She pulled back.
Wolfie blinked at her wildly, “June. Juniper. I could see how cold you were, and my god are you more beautiful when you’re cold.”
The corner of his mouth upturned.
“Oh my goodness, I was hoping you couldn’t tell.”
“Why do you think I acted the way I did?”
“I didn’t mind.”
She giggled as he reminded her.
“I did, anyway. How about next Sunday, for Sunday breakfast.”
“Okay, should I bring anything?”
“No,”
He chuckled, “Do you want to spend the night at my place and then we can go together, unless that is too soon?”
His fingers caressed her arm.
“Sure!”
June hadn’t been to Wolfie’s place. She assumed he was being courteous in not having to go to his place because of Shianne. She began to think if it was messy or clean? What was on his walls? What trinkets were scattered on his shelves?
“As much as I hate to say this, I think it’s time I take you back.”
“No.”
She nuzzled him.
“Come on.”
Wolfie kissed her, leaving her to want more and then helped her stand up to take her home.
March First
Juniper ‘Thank you for bringing me coffee, I loved seeing you today.’
Wolfgang ‘Sorry I made it short but I wanted to see you.’
Juniper ‘Work is picking up so I’ll be working later, probably until after the ball.’
Wolfgang ‘That’s how it goes sometimes. I’ll still be here when you’re done.’
Juniper ‘Thank you.’
March Third
Wolfgang ‘Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.’
Juniper ‘Are you sure I shouldn’t bring anything for breakfast?’
Wolfgang ‘My mom would probably beat me if I said yes. So NO.’
Juniper ‘What should I wear?’
Wolfgang ‘I am working and you got me thinking about that black dress again.’
Juniper ‘I did nothing, haha. I’ll pick my own outfit out.’
Wolfgang ‘Do you need a ride to my place?’
Juniper ‘No, Whitney is going to drop me off on her way to Fade’s.’
Wolfgang ‘See you tomorrow around eight then.’