Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
The familiar warmth of Bread & Batter wrapped around her. Junie willed it to sink all the way into her tired bones as she wiped her hands on her favorite pink apron.
The morning rush had finally slowed to a manageable trickle, and now her favorite girls had claimed their usual corner table near the window, turning what was supposed to be a quick coffee stop into full-blown girls’ night planning.
“I’m telling you,” Poppy declared, waving a half-eaten cinnamon roll like a conductor’s baton, “we need face masks, fuzzy socks, and something ridiculous to watch. Maximum chaos, zero plot. I’m thinking of that movie where the guy falls in love with the mannequin.”
“Hey, Poppy, aren’t you supposed to be working?” yelled Junie.
“Let’s just say I’m on an extended break,” she called back, giggling so hard she almost spit out her cinnamon roll.
“Hey, watch it.” Kip popped a bite of donut into her mouth. “But to your point, I’d say only if we follow it with crafts. I found these new glitter pens that are actually non-toxic. We could make bookmarks, or little keychains, or those cute painted rocks everybody’s doing now.”
“I just want to know why Kip here wants water or acrylic paint pens instead of oil-based ones. Is it just me, or does that scream ‘I’ve got plans with Daddy later’?” Tildi wiggled her eyebrows.
“Oh-oh,” everyone said in unison. Kip’s face turned the color of cherries, but she didn’t deny it.
Tildi leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I have a better idea than painting rocks. Can anyone say ‘tattoo’?”
Joy nearly choked on her coffee. “You’re going to give Boone a heart attack. Can you imagine what would happen if you came home with more ink? Even temporary ink? Can anyone say, ‘red ass’?”
The whole table dissolved into laughter, and even Junie couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips as she carried over a fresh tray of warm donuts.
This was exactly what she needed today. All her girls being loud and silly and full of love.
Tanner’s visit that morning had left her stomach in knots.
She was still trying to understand what had happened.
Having the girls over was a good distraction.
Kenzie leaned back in her chair, smirking right at Junie. “You know, if you think Tanner is still seeing you as just a friend, you’re crazy. That man looks at you like he’s two seconds away from throwing you over his shoulder and carrying you off to his man cave.”
Junie’s cheeks heated instantly. Oh no. Not this again. Her heart gave a silly little flip even as her brain tried to shut the thought down. She shrugged. “I didn’t notice.”
“Seriously. Don’t give up on him, Junie. That boy has been gone for you for years. He just needs a little push,” Tildi chimed in.
Joy pointed a fork at her. “Exactly. You two have history. Real history. The kind most people would kill for.”
Poppy sighed dreamily. “I mean, come on. The way he looks at you when he thinks no one’s watching? That’s not ‘just friends’ energy.”
Junie busied herself arranging the donuts so she didn’t have to meet their eyes. Inside, her thoughts were a whirlwind.
They didn’t understand. He teases me, and they think it means something more. Not Junie. She’d learned the hard way that Tanner’s teasing was just that… teasing. She’d been tag-along little Junebug since she was six.
He still ruffled her hair like she was a kid. The only difference was he’d shifted from calling her Junebug to calling her Cupcake. Not that she was complaining. Cupcake was an awesome nickname.
But if she was being honest with herself, a tiny, hopeful part of her still whispered that maybe, just maybe, her friends were right. Memories of how suggestive his teasing had been lately replayed in her mind on a permanent loop, making her stomach flutter every time.
Something was different, for sure. Why had he gotten so upset about the flowers? If it were anyone else, or she were anyone else, she’d swear he was jealous. But that was just silly.
“I don’t know,” she said softly, trying to sound casual. “He’s always looked out for me. That doesn’t mean he wants… more.”
Kenzie snorted. “Junie. Honey. That man is not looking at you like a little sister anymore. Trust me.”
Before Junie could come up with a reply, the bell over the door jingled. Another delivery driver stepped inside, holding a flat package wrapped in plain brown paper. Junie’s stomach sank.
Not again.
“Another one?” Kenzie asked, her voice dropping.
“Just put it here on the table,” Tildi said.
The girls all turned. Even Cherry, sitting at the far end of the counter with her usual scowl, lifted her head with interest.
“Come on, open it,” Poppy urged. “Maybe it’s from Tanner this time.”
Junie hesitated, but five pairs of eager eyes were locked on her. With a sigh, she untied the string and slid the paper off. Inside was a thick photo album. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.
Page after page of pictures carefully cut from old Wilder Community School yearbooks. Every single one had Junie or Preston in it somewhere. Their faces had been circled in bright red marker. Some pages had hearts drawn around the circles. Others had little notes in the margins: Soon. You’ll see.
The table went completely silent.
Junie tried to laugh it off, the sound thin even to her own ears. “It’s… it’s nothing. Preston’s just being Preston. He’ll get the hint eventually.”
Kenzie’s expression darkened. “Tanner is going to have a full-on conniption when he hears about this.”
Junie closed the album quickly, her heart racing. “I told Tanner I could take care of it. I called Preston. I was very clear.”
She had been. She’d been polite but firm. Preston had just said yes to everything and then told her she didn’t really mean it. Of course, she kept that part to herself.
Cherry rose from her stool and sauntered over, lips curled in distaste. “It’s incredibly rude to open gifts in front of other people, you know. Some of us weren’t invited to the little party.”
Before Junie could respond, Cherry fumbled her coffee cup. “Oops,” she said sweetly as the cup tipped, spilling dark liquid across the photo album and straight onto Junie’s uniform—the only clean one she had left in the shop.
Cherry’s eyes glittered with satisfaction. “Gosh, Junie, that was really clumsy. Why in the world would you bump into my cup like that? Now you’re a mess. But don’t worry, I doubt anyone will even notice.”
The words landed like a slap. Heat rushed to Junie’s face as several customers turned to stare.
Kenzie stood up fast. “We’ve got the shop, Junie. Go grab another uniform.”
Junie nodded, throat tight, and slipped around the counter and out the back door before she created a scene in her own store.
The cool air outside helped a little, but her mind was still spinning with hurt and embarrassment.
There were no clean uniforms in her office, so it was off to her home, Rainbow’s Edge, for another one.
That was when she saw him.
The little stray dog was standing by the dumpster, watching her with those big, wary eyes. He didn’t run this time and was wagging his tail.
“Hey, Pup,” she whispered, crouching down. “You need a bath and a trip to the vet, don’t you? Come here, sweet boy.”
To her surprise, he actually came. He gave a slight whimper as she scooped him gently into her arms. He was lighter than he looked—all skin and bones and trembling hope.
Junie carried him to her car and settled him in the passenger seat. “Don’t get any bright ideas,” she told him as she started the engine. “This is a one-time thing. I can’t keep you. That’s why I’m only calling you Pup.” She hesitated. “And no pooping on the seats.”
The little dog tilted his head, ears perked like he was actually listening. He really did look like a long-haired wiener dog with that crooked little smile. Turning onto the main road, her phone rang. Tanner’s name flashed on the screen. Her heart did that familiar silly flip.
She answered, trying to sound normal. “Hey.”
“You aren’t driving while you’re talking on the phone, right?” His deep voice rumbled through the speaker, already sounding stern.
Junie winced. “Um… maybe, you aren’t calling me while I’m driving, are you?”
Tanner let out a low growl that sent shivers down her spine. “Junie. That’s not safe. We can talk later.”
“I’m almost there,” she said quickly, cheeks burning. “Oh, wait, I picked up that stray dog again. The one I told you about. He finally let me get close. Do you think maybe Trace could look at him for me?”
There was a pause. Then Tanner’s voice dropped into that low, commanding tone that always made her tummy flutter. “If you were my Little girl right now, you’d be sitting on a hot ass for not being safe. You know that, right?”
Junie’s breath caught. Her friends’ words from earlier echoed in her head. He’s not looking at you like a little sister anymore. For the first time, she wondered if they might actually be right. He had never threatened to tan her ass before.
“I’ll be careful,” she whispered, her voice small.
“Good girl,” he murmured, softer now. “Call Trace when you get there. I’m sure he’d be glad to help. And, Junie?”
“Yeah?”
“Be safe. I mean it.”
She smiled despite everything. “I will, but Tanner?”
“Yes?”
“Why did you call?”
“I was hoping to catch you alone or at the very least not driving. I wanted to see if Preston had contacted you again and… to discuss something else.”
“I did call him and tell him very firmly not to send me anything ever again. I told him we were only friends and that was all we’d ever be.”
“Haven’t you told him all this before?”
“Well, yes.”
“And what did he say?”
Junie closed her eyes. “He said I was wrong and that I would find out soon.”
She didn’t dare tell him about the picture album.
“Don’t worry, babygirl, I’ll take care of it, and I can guarantee he’ll get the message.”
“Tanner, please don’t hurt him.” Her heart rate ticked up, and her chest closed down. She needed to get a grip. She wasn’t about to have a panic attack in front of Tanner even if he couldn’t actually see her.
“Only if necessary, babygirl. You’re going to have to trust me. Now, be safe.”
“What about the ‘something else’?”
“We’ll talk about that later, when you’re not in the middle of something.”
When she pulled up to Rainbow’s Edge, she turned to the dog one last time. “This stays between us, got it? He called me babygirl twice! Can you believe it?”
Pup stepped toward her and wagged his tail as if celebrating.
“Now, don’t read too much into that, Pup. No use jumping to conclusions.” She was talking more to herself than to the dog. She had to keep her guard up. If she didn’t, she’d slip up and embarrass herself in front of Tanner by doing something stupid, like calling him “Daddy”.
A shudder raced through her at the very thought. And not a shudder of revulsion. Get a grip, Junie. If she acted like he was her Daddy and he turned out to be teasing, that would be a disaster. If that happened, she’d probably have to move.
Shaking her head to clear her mind, she scooped the dog up, pressed a kiss on his head, and carried him inside. Nanabelle was going to fall head over heels in love with him. She just knew it.