Chapter Twenty Two
May Thirteenth
Juniper
Sitting at Brittanya’s vanity, June cheered, “Thank you for doing my hair Brittanya,”
She examined her hair and make up in the mirror, “I’m sad you’re not coming with us, are you sure?”
“Not this time, I’m not feeling well anyway, I have my monthlies.”
Her hand covered her abdomen.
“Alright, it’s almost time for Wolfie to come get me. I’ve got to get my dress on, will you help me zip it up?”
“Yes.”
She flicked off the power button to her curling iron as June retreated to her room.
Juniper dropped the hanger from the closet door frame, holding it to her level. She unzipped it, removed both straps, and she slinked into it, zipping as much up as she could before opening her door. “Brittanya, I’m ready for help.”
She turned, exposing her bare back and felt the zipper tug the fabric tight around her. “Thank you.”
She looked at Brittanya.
“You look beautiful, I’m so happy for you, for Wolfgang. You two are perfect together.”
She smiled at June genuinely.
“Thank you.”
She wrapped her arms around her with gratitude. “I couldn’t ask for a better roommate.”
The front door beeped and opened. Wolfie's formal shoes tapped against the hard floor. “Hello?”
“We’re right here.”
They stood in the hall. “I need to get my shoes and bag.”
June turned into her room.
“Hi Wolfgang.”
June listened to their conversation as she strapped on her heels. “What? You’re not going?”
“No, not this time.”
“Remember two years ago, you didn’t come with me, but we ended up spending the whole evening together?”
“Yeah, that wasn’t my proudest moment.”
“Ouch.”
He laughed.
She scoffed, “You know what I mean.”
June grabbed her bag and stepped into the hallway. She could see Wolfgang in his traditional tux, shiny shoes, black shirt and black tie. His hair was softly combed back and his beard was cleaned up.
He raised an eyebrow at her recognizing the similarity of her dress. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, so do you.”
She smiled not realizing her word choice. “Good night Brittanya.”
“Goodnight, see you tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
June exited to the porch, turning the light on as she passed the switch.
Wolfgang closed the house door and stopped her, “Come here.”
His hands lined her waist, looking down at her. “You look beautiful. Is this dress an inspiration from a similar dress?”
“No, actually. I started this one before I wore the other. I thought you would approve of this one.”
She stepped back for him to inspect it. He took note of the cowl neck line and the floor length skirt. The slit to her thigh didn’t help but it didn’t hurt either.
“I do.”
He kissed her.
His face inches from hers she whispered, “I’m not wearing underwear with this one.”
Wolfie’s hands gripped her waist harder, “June.”
He sighed. “We are going to have to take care of that later.”
He kissed her again.
She looked up at him, eyes interlocked, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
His lips met with hers a last time, “Let’s go now. My mom’s dying to see you.”
June linked her arm under his as they walked down the driveway. Her heels were gently used, but new to her. She hadn’t walked in high heels in at least a year and appreciated his support. Wolfie opened her door, helped her in and his hand slid along her back side, feeling what he could before she sat.
His door opened and closed behind him, “I can’t wait for tonight.”
His eyes on her body.
“Let’s go then.”
She looked at his tux she had altered and it fit him perfectly. June felt proud of her work.
He turned the wheels of his Jeep and headed south on the main road. Wolfie grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it as he turned into the filled parking lot. Couples, singles and groups of people between the ages sixteen and ninety littered the parking lot in formal, fantasy formal and semi formal attire. June’s hand was sweating in her lap as he opened her door and she placed her heel firmly to the ground, stepping cautiously.
“Thank you.”
She linked her arm to his again.
“Thank you.”
He responded, kissing her between cars. “Let’s go.”
They entered the decorated community center, the lights low with twinkling lights above, a small band played gently in the corner. Each table held a table cloth, flowers and utensils wrapped in cloth napkins for each seat. “Over there,”
He pointed to his mom and Amy sitting at an empty table. Her heels clicked as they walked across the hardwood floor. June felt beautiful and adored.
“Hi!”
She squealed, approaching the table for eight.
Marilyn stood to embrace June, “You look absolutely stunning.”
She pulled away to look at her dress, “Did you make this?”
“Yes.”
Wolfie answered for June, proud of her with his hand warming the small of her back as his thumb brushed her bare back.
“It’s beautiful.”
She turned to hug Wolfgang, “Hi son, you look handsome as well.”
He pulled out her chair, gliding it under her as she sat, “You two look nice.”
June looked at Amy and Marilyn.
“Thank you.”
Amy smiled. “How are you two doing?”
“We’re good.”
June grinned as Wolfie threw his arm around her, resting it on the back of her chair.
“That is great, I’m sure you’ll be happy for work to slow down after this.”
June raised her brow, “Absolutely, I’ve been pretty stressed.”
Wolfie rubbed her bare arm with his palm, “Maybe ask Golden for a week off, you could stay at my place and do nothing.”
“That sounds nice.”
June sighed as she spotted Shianne and Max approaching them. “Hey guys.”
“Hey,”
Max spoke as Shianne hung behind him. “We’re expecting a fun night, do you mind if we sit here?”
Wolfgang looked at his mother and Marilyn blinked, smiling, “Go ahead.”
Max sat Shianne next to Wolfie and sat next to her. The table was quiet as Max asked her, “Do you want to tell them?”
“Sure,”
Shianne looked around the table, blushing, “We’re expecting.”
June attempted to be supportive, “Congratulations.”
She smiled and thought about the hatchet they buried.
“Yes, congratulations.”
Wolfie nodded towards Max.
“When are you due?”
Marilyn joined the conversation.
Shianne rubbed her stomach, “The end of November. We have a while, but the baby is healthy.”
Max spoke up, “We also plan to marry in July, so Wolfie won’t have to worry about a baby crying at all hours.”
“That’s awesome, congrats man.”
Wolfie smiled at Max and noticed motion from the corner of his eye. “Oh hey guys.”
Whitney and Fade walked up to the table, “Hello.”
Whitney hugged June as she stayed sitting down, “You look beautiful, I love your dress.”
“So do you, this green is amazing on you.”
“Thank you.”
“Where are you guys sitting?”
June looked at Marilyn and Amy.
“We haven’t found a seat yet.”
Marilyn spoke up looking at the couple, “Please join us.”
“Thank you.”
Fade said and sat in between Max and Whitney.
“Do you know what we are having for dinner?”
Shianne chirped, “I cannot stand the smell of fish right now.”
“You’re in luck,”
Amy spoke. “It’s chicken.”
She sipped the last of her wine glass.
“Can I go get the table a bottle?”
Wolfie leaned to her.
“Please,”
She nodded, “Maybe two.”
Fade followed his lead, “I’ll help you out.”
Wolfgang
June finished her second glass of wine and took the last bite of her chicken. Wolfgang looked over his shoulder, he had noticed Elijah when they walked in and sat June’s back to him to keep her from having a possible breakdown.
Under the table, Wolfie’s hand had found the slit in her dress, inching upward every few minutes. June had already moved it back to her knee once. Her thigh was smooth and he couldn’t help himself.
Marilyn had excused herself from the table giving June the opportunity to return the favor. Her hand slipped between his thighs quickly, grabbing him for revenge and finding that he was halfway aroused. Shocked, she pulled her hand out and wheezed in his ear, “Seriously, in your mothers presence?”
Eyes narrow with no reaction, “Yeah, I’m not thinking about that.”
His hand stayed firm on her thigh.
“Do we need to take this outside?”
Her eyebrow raised with the corner of her lips.
“That sounds like a great plan. If you want to head out first, I have a, uh,”
He cleared his throat, “situation to take care of.”
“Sounds like a plan,”
She kissed him and sat upright in her chair again. “I’m going to use the bathroom,”
June announced. Standing, Wolfie’s hand dropped at the last moment, protesting.
She cradled her clutch and escaped the table cloth dragging on her dress and the chair behind her. Wolfgang watched her leave the room and head towards the building exit. He thought of anything that would remove the pressure from his lap, but nothing that would ruin it too much for when he got outside.
Wolfgang exhaled and looked at his mother who approached the table smiling. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a man standing and taking the same steps June did. Fucking Elijah.
“Mom.”
He stood, grabbing her, “I need you to get security and someone, anyone from the council outside, now. Do not make a scene, but trust me on this. Get them to the parking lot, now. Fast.”
He turned to track him down before he got to June.
Juniper
Her high heels rhythm on the asphalt ground was disturbed by the creak of the exit door, “I thought you had a situation to take care of? That was fast.”
She smiled looking back. Stopping in disbelief, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
“Oh, I do." He smirked, "Surprised?”
He slowed down approaching her, “Roxtyn, or is it Juniper now?”
His head tiled with questions.
“How-”
tears welled in her eyes, “How did you find me?”
“Roxy, did you forget my connections? Did you really think I wouldn’t be able to track you? Track Jay? I faked it all. Sometimes I wonder why, because you weren't really worth it. But this was fun.”
The exit door flew open making a loud crack against the building. “I made myself appear as pathetic as you, that's how.”
Instantly, Wolfgang had pinned him against the back of a van, “The fuck did you just say to her?”
Gripping him by his clothes.
“Really?”
Elijah continued his conversation with Juniper, not acknowledging any pain or Wolfie's grasp on him. “This guy? Sometimes you can be kind of smart, but this dick bag?”
June stood staring at them, frozen with tears rolling down her cheeks and her head turned as more people exited the building. Wolfgang took his chance before security contained him and slammed Elijah’s head into the back window with a sharp crack. She didn’t want to believe this was happening and didn’t know what to do.
Wolfgang
Two of the men grabbed Wolfie, believing he was the threat. Once Elijah was released, he headed for Juniper and grabbed her face to wipe her tears with his thumb before forcing a kiss on her gaped mouth. Wolfgang watched as he could see Elijah’s fingers dig into her soft jaw and her not knowing how to react or protect herself, killed him. The anger fueled him as the two men had never seen this side of Wolfgang when he whipped himself free to charge towards Elijah. He pinned the man against his own Jeep by his throat. The two security men attempted another tackle on Wolfgang and June stepped between them, stopping them with her terrified expression. “No.”
She held up her hands.
“What is going on out here?”
Margaret declared. Wolfgang turned to see Margaret and his mother stepping towards them, shocked at his rage, along with Whitney and Amy in the doorway.
Not letting go, he turned his head to the two women, “This guy, he’s the problem. Remember? I asked you about June’s ex, he’s abusive and you promised her that he wouldn’t be here.”
His hand tightened as he gritted his teeth with fury.
“Elijah?”
Margaret recalled his name.
“His name is Ben.”
June stepped towards Margaret. “He followed me and he lied to you.”
She gestured back to him.
Margaret looked at Elijah, “You told me your name was Luke.”
She expressed disappointment. “Wolfgang, let him go.”
The two guards secured Ben and June fell into Wolfgang's arms quietly weeping. “You’re okay June.”
He placed his hands around her face and his lips tenderly grazed hers while her hands curved up his back securing herself into safety.
Margaret stepped up to them and faced June. “I’m sorry June, I need you to come with us also.”
“What?”
Wolfgang stepped towards Margaret and stopped as she held up her palm.
“We need her side of the story to clear things up and then it’s up to the council to decide.”
He gripped Juniper cautiously, “I love you.”
He kissed her over and over, while holding her face.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, “I love you too.”
Her chin trembled.
“I’ll see you soon. Okay? Okay?”
He nodded, assuring himself in a panic while his mother grabbed his shoulder and turned to her, “I need to be there when the council decides."
“I understand. Be smart though, I don’t need you getting in trouble.”
She hugged him and watched as he entered his Jeep to follow the procession to the mountain.