Chapter Fourteen
March Fourth
Juniper
June exhaled as she gently tapped on Wolfie’s apartment door before it swung open almost instantly. “You made it.”
He stepped aside letting June walk in. “Let me grab your bag.”
He greeted her with a kiss, taking her bag off her shoulder and brushed back his disheveled hair with his free hand. He looked slightly stressed but his apartment was spotless.
“Wow.”
June expressed, “It’s clean in here.”
“Yeah, I tidied up a bit.”
He closed the door, “My room’s this way.”
June took note of the open living room, with the same sectional as hers, the open galley kitchen had bar stools along the open counter. They passed one door and into the other. His room was bigger than hers and he had a private bathroom. A bed sat next to the door with an end table on each side and there was a desk next to a buffet dresser with a television on it parallel to the bed. The bed was made, there were no clothes scattered anywhere and the carpet appeared to be vacuumed recently.
Wolfie closed the door and walked across the room, placing the bag next to the television and then wrapped his arms around June. He was warm and his face was hot as he went in for a kiss. “Make yourself at home, I’m going to take a quick shower.”
June sat on his lifted bed as he disappeared behind the bathroom door. Her shoes dangled and fell off one by one. She glanced around the room and chuckled at the legos stacked together on his desk. She walked over and looked closer at the few items cluttering the corner. A rock, a cup of pens with a screwdriver in it and a photo book. She picked up the photo book and opened it. Her eyebrows creased and her lips pouted in adornment when she saw the picture of Wolfie at about three years old, being held by a man who looked almost identical to him. She assumed it was his father, he had dimples, shoulder length hair and a beard. She flipped to the next page, another picture of Wolfie, age five blowing out five candles with two ladies behind him, one blonde and one brunette. The picture next to it was a family photo, mother, father, and Wolfgang. The roses were in bloom, June assumed it was Spring, maybe it was Easter.
She heard the water turn off in the bathroom and returned the book to the shelf. June put her shoes together near the door, sat back on the bed and looked at her phone.
Whitney, ‘Call me if you get scared at your sleepover.’
Juniper ‘Thanks mom.’
The door opened and he stepped out in sweat pants and a tee shirt. “Can you hang up my outfit for tomorrow?”
June blurted.
“Sure.”
He tossed some clothes into his hamper in his walk in closet and followed June to her bag. She pulled out a dress, not black, and handed it to him. Wolfgang leaned down and kissed her, his hair and beard dripping wet still, and returned to his closet.
She looked back down into her bag. “I-”
Her lungs collapsed and inflated in an instant, “I forgot pajamas.”She curled her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“Do you need me to find something for you?”
He chuckled from the closet “If you don’t mind the size difference, I’m sure I have something.”
“I don’t.”
June also didn’t like her other options, current clothes or underwear.
He came out of the closet with a bundle of clothes and handed them to June, “That dress is a little fancy for breakfast.”
“It’s a sundress.”
“A what?”
“Your mom will understand.”
She grabbed the clothes and entered the bathroom and exited just as quickly in her new outfit.
“I got you water,”
He almost bumped into her in the doorway and extended his hand to give her a glass.
“Thank you.”
She took a sip and placed it next to her bag.
Wolfgang closed the door, chugged his water and set the glass on the nightstand next to the door. “This is my side.”
He claimed.
“Technically both sides are yours, you own this bed.”
June smiled and sat on the other side and watched Wolfie roll his eyes.
He crawled over, kissed her and flopped into the bed. “Just so you know,”
He muffled before rolling over, “I’ve never been a boyfriend before so, bare with me.”
“Well what makes me so worthy to be first?”
Her eyes flickered down at him.
“You’re beyond worthy, I’m the lucky one.”
He smirked facing her and sat up looking at the wall. June had a way of pulling things out of him without knowing it, “You’re different, there’s something about you. Something drew me to you from the very first moment I saw you and I can’t figure it out what it is. I don’t want you to ever worry about not being good enough for me. You’re not only on my mind all day, but I worship you in my sleep.”
June’s heart raced as his hand gently met her cheek and his lips fell on hers. His other hand made its way down her back as the fever grew between them and her hand found his chest. She had only dreamed of a man that would say those words to her, but couldn’t imagine them being the way he said them, he said it better. His lips parted letting his tongue free. His damp hands moved her shirt up and he felt the skin on the small of her back.
A bang came from his door, “Hey Wolf?”
Wolfie groaned, melting into the bed. “Yeah?”
He yelled annoyed as he got up and left the room.
June got under the sheets, set her phone on the night stand and adjusted her pillow facing the door. Her face burned from his beard. “What was that?”
She asked as he entered the room.
“Nothing, work stuff. We’re good.”
He turned the overhead light off, removed his shirt and joined her, “Do you mind if I watch something to fall asleep to?”
“No.”
She smiled and curled up under his arm as he chose his video.
March Fifth
“Good morning, how is my girl?”
June opened her eyes and rolled over, her stomach dropped and she began to sweat, “How did you sleep?”
His ash brown hair and dark blue eyes were staring into hers, making her gut churn. June sat up in Ben’s bed, unable to speak, “Why are you acting so scared?”
He sent a devilish grin at her.
“Why- What am I doing here?”
Her heartbeat began to race and her head began to spin wondering if he had drugged her again.
“You’re here with me, don’t worry.”
He placed a hand on each of her shoulders, “Don’t worry.”
June’s lungs filled but nothing escaped. “What do you think you’re trying to do?”
Ben could read her and he did it well. He forced her back on the bed, throwing a leg over her, straddling June's stomach.
“You’re hurting me!”
She wheezed through tears.
“You’re well aware I would never do that.”
His knees dug into her forearms. June watched as he reached for his pillow and she suddenly couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe but managed to howl out.
“Please don’t!”
June opened her eyes to gentle shaking and gasped. She sat upright and caught her breath, her heartbeat was racing and her eyes darted around the dark room. She felt a hand on her and jumped, pushing it off like it was a spider and then became aware of Wolfie and her surroundings. A wave of emotion came over her as she began to weep.
“Are you okay?”
He moved to her wrapping his arms around her.
“I had a horrible dream that I was back with my ex and he was trying to suffocate me.”
She sobbed.
“Ah, that makes sense why you were screaming and punched me in the face.”
“I didn’t.”
He could tell she was smiling and started laughing through the tears.
“You really did.”
“Are you okay?”
He brushed her hair away from her face and laid her back down.
“Yes.”
June’s hand landed in the center of his chest, feeling the thin patch of hair.
“How do you do it when you’re alone?”
“Do what?”
“Wake up like that?”
She shrugged, “I wish I could forget all of it and live a normal life.”
The clock flashed, five fifteen.
“If you lived a normal life, I would have never met you.”
He kissed her forehead. “Are you going to be okay with falling back asleep?”
“I think so,”
She faced him and he dragged her into his arms. Wolfie kissed the top of her head and dozed back off. June laid there, she couldn’t get Ben’s face out of her mind, she hated him. June forced herself to think of other things, like work, Wolfgang and what tomorrow would bring until her mind eased.
June’s eyes fluttered to rapid breathing and rolled over, there was no one. She sat up and Wolfie was on the ground doing push ups in a hoodie and shorts, in a stiff form. After looking at the time, six forty seven, she sat for a minute watching until the bed creaked and he stopped, catching her. “Good morning, beautiful.”
He balanced himself on a knee and June smiled, flattened her hair to check for bed head. Wolfgang stood and walked to her, planting his lips on hers.
“I like hearing that.”
Her doe eyes looked up at him inches away.
“Good morning, Juniper.”
He kissed her again.
“How long have you been awake?”
“Eh, thirty minutes? I would have made coffee but buying grounds slipped my mind until this morning.”
He pulled off his hoodie revealing his bare chest, reminding her of his tattoos “I’m going to go shower.”
*****
June’s hairspray filled the air as she applied her finishing touch and opened the bathroom door, “Whoa!”
Wolfgang looked her up and down. “I don’t think it’s just the black dress.”
He walked towards her. June pressed her hand against his black and white gingham, button down shirt. A few buttons undone at the collar and the sleeves rolled up.
“You look good yourself.”
“I gotta look good standing next to you.”
He slid his hands around her hips and pulled her into him. “You look alluring.”
Wolfgang maintained eye contact and cradled her face. “Or maybe inviting.”
June took in the scent of his beard and leaned into him as his lips grazed hers before connecting. How could someone so sturdy, be so tender? He wrapped around her waist and ran the other through her hair.
June giggled as he picked her up and laid her gently on the bed, putting his weight on the comforter with his hands, not separating their lips. She wanted to pick up from where they left off and bit his lip, Wolfie pressed himself against her with a heavy exhale. His hand slid up the back of her dress along her thigh, the more she got to know him, the more she knew his touch and his intentions. She knew he wanted her. But June was fighting between the thought that she wanted him to, and not wanting to feel she had to. He groaned, dropping his head on her abdomen and fixed her skirt, “We have to get going, we’re already late.”
He stood, tugging at his pants, “Ready?”
He extended his hand and helped June off the bed.
“Yes.”
She followed him through the open door after grabbing her bag, “Thank you.”
June looked back at Wolfie as she spotted Shianne facing the kitchen wall, cooking.
He sincerely reached out, “See you later Shianne.”
“Mhmm.”
She didn’t turn to look at them. She knew June was with him and he closed the door behind them.
“Is she always like that?”
“Like what?”
“Likes to pretend you’re not there, you know, moody?”
“She’s usually in a good mood when Max is around.”
June entered the open vehicle and Wolfie circled the Jeep, entering on his side. “Do you and Max share this?”
She gestured to the Jeep.
“No. This was my dads and my aunt and mom share a car.”
“Oh, is she going to like me?”
Her hair tickled across her chest as the window came down.
“She already does.”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t said much to her but, if I haven’t brought a girl home in twenty nine years, I’m sure she will like anyone. Because I’m picky!”
He corrected himself, “Not because she’ll like anyone.”
June’s mouth split open in surprise of his quick thinking and rolled her eyes, “What have you said?”
“Just how we met, you know, the basics. Age, your roommates, your job.”
“What’s your moms name? What should I call her?”
“Her name is Marilyn, you can call her that or mom.”
“And your aunt?”
“Amy, you’ve met her.”
“From Placement Day?”
“Yes.”
He turned down a residential street with small homes on small lots.
“She was nice.”
“See, she probably already likes you?”
June’s hands began to get clammy as they pulled into the driveway. The house was small and had rose bushes surrounding it. The pathway led under an arch and into a small side yard with an iron table and chair set. “Do I look okay?”
“You could wear a potato sack and look good.”
He kissed her at the front door and pulled his body to hers. Holding her close he kissed her over and over again, trying to not get passionate and then pulled away to open the door. Female chatter came from a nearby room, “Hello?”
His voice echoed off the walls. Everything was neat and well balanced. The walls were a warm white and stood on dark wood floors, it felt timeless.
The voices stopped, following footsteps, “My baby!”
A small woman with brown hair pulled back in a bun with a silver strand framing her face, entered the small entry with Amy behind her. Wolfie’s arms swallowed his mother as she kissed his cheek. June held her own hands and wore a nervous smile. She was soon wrapped in Marilyn’s arms, her motherly hug was warm and June melted while holding everything together, as she pulled away. Wolfie looked at June seeing her eyes glisten. “You two look very nice.”
Marilyn turned and led them into the kitchen, Wolfie followed June and attempted to comfort her by kissing her hair.
“It smells good Mom, what did you make?”
“Pancakes.”
She picked up a stack of plates and handed them to Wolfie. June watched as he walked them over to a small square table budded up to a bay window looking over a small side yard with a path through it.
Amy picked up the carafe of coffee and looked at June, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Yes please.”
June weaved around the counter to assist, receiving two cups, one for her and one for Wolfie and passed him his as he was done setting the table.
He pulled out June’s chair as he sat, he went to pull his mothers and she swatted him away, “Quit that.”
She sat across from June and next to Wolfie.
“Amy, are you going to join us?”
“I was just going to have coffee but I guess I could sit.”
June placed a pancake and one slice of bacon on her plate, “You have a beautiful home,”
She spoke to Marilyn, “and the food looks delicious.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled in response.
“I love your view here.”
She pointed to the window.
“That’s all thanks to Amy.”
“How long have you two been living together?”
“After Brigham passed away, Amy moved in for support and well, never left.”
Her smile circled the table, “But I prefer it that way.”
June sat quietly, she tried not letting the thought of never getting to have this with her sister haunt her. A hand grazed her knee, she looked over at Wolfie who gave her sympathetic eyes. He brushed it back and forth until it stopped and left his hand there.
“Mom, how is work?”
“Boring as always.”
“My mom is a dispatch operator for the fire and police, not a lot happens here.”
“How is designing?”
Marilyn asked June.
“I’m actually just a seamstress.”
“She has some incredible designs though, Golden wants to promote her.”
He looked back at June, “That’s supposed to be a secret though, right?”
“I told you that you would do good here,”
Amy looked back in from gazing out the side window, “How do you like your roommates? I heard you got one to move out.”
“I didn’t do anything,”
June blushed.
“She put Shianne in her place.”
Wolfie rooted.
“Hardly.”
She rolled her eyes.
“We’ve never liked her. She’s a spoiled brat.”
Amy pointed at Marilyn with her mug. “I bet he hasn’t told you half the stuff she has done to get his attention.”
“Amy, please.”
He shook his head knowing he wouldn’t get his way.
“She obviously knows Shianne is obsessed with you?”
“So I’ve heard.”
June raised an eyebrow intrigued.
Amy opened her mouth to speak and Wolfie mumbled, “Oh please no.”
While keeping his eyes closed momentarily.
“He came home from work one time, went into his room and turned on the light, Shianne was naked in his bed waiting for him.”
June snorted, which didn’t help the other two women from laughing along, “Please tell me you burned those sheets.”
Amy continued, “ To make it worse, or better in my opinion, He had to, you know, go . And she almost scared the literal crap out of him.”
June couldn’t help but chuckle.
“If I remember, didn’t you stay in there until she left?”
“I was taking care of business, you know how thin the walls are.”
He blushed.
Amy continued, “Didn’t she also try to get into I.T. work as well? That was a joke.”
June looked into Marilyn’s green eyes, Wolfgang’s green eyes. “What’s her plan with Max?”
Wolfgang sighed, “Honestly, I don’t know. She has left me alone so maybe she really likes him? Max seems happy.”
“Lucky him.”
Amy stood to top off her coffee.
Wolfie followed her lead, grabbing everyone’s plate from the table and placing them in the sink. “I’m going to take June in the garden out back if you would excuse us.”
He grabbed her hand and escorted her down a short hall on the opposite side of the entry and out through some french glass doors. The fence was lined with bushes, trees and vines of all kinds. It looked similar to June’s backyard but tended to and was well taken care of, it was green, it was colorful and June was in awe.
“Some of these look familiar.”
June stepped into the sun that reflected on her hair and glistened on her shoulders as she looked around, reminiscing of her bouquet she had received from their first date.
“I got them from here.”
She smiled, “They’re beautiful.”
She brushed a pink stringy flower hanging low on a branch and felt Wolfie shadow her.
“That one is my moms favorite.”
He chased her under the tree, stepping over roots that protruded out of the grass, watching June’s step as well and pinned her against the trunk, “You look absolutely gorgeous out here, you’re not doing the flowers any favors.”
He gripped her chin and drew her in close, slowly grazing her lips with his, teasing both of them. He kissed her gently twice and pulled away, still gazing into June’s eyes. “Too bad Amy is watching.”
June looked around him, back towards the house and saw Amy, sitting at the wicker chair set on the patio with her cup of coffee. “How did you know?”
“Amy always comes out here after breakfast, she loves the garden.”
He grabbed her hand and led her back through the yard. The tall grass grazed her ankles and cool air rose up her dress walking back to the house to join the others.
Wolfgang
June looked beautiful in her dress and in her surroundings. Wolfgang was falling for her and she seemed to fit with his mother, which was a plus, but he believed his mother got along with everyone. Looking at June, he couldn’t understand how anyone could treat her badly, let alone, enough to give her night terrors. He was falling in love with the way her cheeks rose and smiling in conversation with one of the few other women he cared for. The way her legs crossed and her toes pressed tenderly into the floor. The way June held herself, she fit like a puzzle piece. This was the beginning of their life together, and he wasn’t letting her go anywhere.
Juniper
June closed the door behind her and set her tote on the couch, “You look pretty.”
Brittanya sat with her show paused.
“Thank you,”
She glanced at Brittanya, “Is Whitney still with Fade?”
“No, she’s just in the bathroom.”
She grinned at Juniper.
A door closed down the hallway and Whitney appeared, “Oh hey, how was your sleep over? Did you do any sleeping?”
She walked around June and stood next to Brittanya who was still seated.
“What?”
June was caught off guard. “We didn’t do anything.”
She stood straight faced, grabbing the handles of her tote, preparing to retreat.
“Hm,”
Whitney stared at June, inspecting her face, her hair and her clothes. “I believe you.”
“I did run into Shianne while I was there, that was weird. But Marilyn and Amy are nice.”
“They sure are.”
Whitney adjusted her stance for a third time, swaying back and forth until a shine caught June’s eyes. She looked in the directions to find a ring on Whitney’s finger.
“Holy shit, what is that?”
June let go of the handle to her bag, almost pulling it with her as she went around the sectional.
She laughed as June grabbed her hand, “I’m engaged, Fade asked me last night. It’s his mothers ring.”
“Oh Whitney, it’s gorgeous.”
She twisted Whitney’s finger back and forth letting light hit every angle. “How did he propose?”
“Whitney pulled her hand back to look at the ring herself. “ We went to dinner and then randomly he wanted to go walk on the beach. So we drove out there and he was so weird the whole time, I didn‘t know what to think. We got out there and two minutes into our walk he drops to a knee and proposes.”
“And then?”
June raised an eyebrow teasing Whitney.
She looked surprised at June’s inquiry. “And then we went back to his house, told ghost stories and braided each other's hair, what do you think we did?”
Brittanya laughed at Whitney’s response.
“I just have to give you a hard time.”
June hugged Whitney. “Congratulations.”