Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
TWENTY-FIVE
Juniper
I haven’t heard from Fisher for three days. He’s been in New York City the entire time. And it’s not like we’re dating. I didn’t expect him to call. Or even text. Except… I miss him.
He’s supposed to be back today. But maybe he won’t come back. Maybe that will be that and I’ll never see him again. I huddle under my blanket, despite the heat. I just can’t get warm, but I can’t bear being inside because it’s too stuffy.
Riley is over at my parents’, batch cooking. Hopefully she’ll bring some home with her. Our freezer could do with a restock.
My phone buzzes on the table beside me and my stomach lurches. Is it stupid to hope that’s a text from Fisher?
I scoop up my phone and see Mom appear on the screen.
Riley wants to stay over. That okay?
It’s nice she’s having fun. I love the bond Riley has with her grandparents. I’m lucky they’re both alive, and they’ve been so supportive of me and Riley.
I reply that of course it’s fine, and I slide the phone back onto the table. Evenings on my own don’t happen very often. It’s precious free time that I should be reveling in.
My phone buzzes again and I stand the butterflies down. It’s probably just Mom asking if she has to wash Riley’s hair. I open the message.
It’s from Bill, Riley’s dad, confirming the date when he’s going to be coming to Star Falls next month.
As I’m staring at his text, wondering if he’ll actually make it this time, another text comes through telling me he’s leaving a day earlier than we’d discussed because of a ballet recital for his youngest daughter.
Typical. Riley definitely comes bottom of his list these days.
As I’m mentally handing my ex his ass, headlights illuminate the porch.
My breath catches in my chest. I can’t make out who it is right away. And then the headlights go dark and I can see that it’s Byron’s truck.
It’s Fisher.
I stand, fighting the urge to toss off my blanket and run to him. I want to feel his arms around me. I want to smell that expensive whatever-it-is he wears. I’ve missed him. It’s been three goddamn days and I’ve missed him.
“Hey,” he calls as he gets out of the truck, like he just saw me yesterday.
I can’t help but smile. He’s had his hair cut and he looks younger than he did before. He pushes his hand through the side of his hair like he’s self-conscious or something. I can’t believe Fisher could ever be self-conscious. He’s the most confident man I’ve ever met.
“Hey, stranger,” I call back. “You had your hair cut. What else is new?”
He bounds up the stairs and heads right to me. “Fuck, Juniper, it’s good to see you.”
My stomach tilts at his words.
I’ve missed you, I think.
He lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“What’s new?” he asks. “Tell me everything I missed.”
I tip my head back and laugh. “Nothing’s new. We’re in Star Falls, remember?”
He laughs. “You know, I thought the same about New York when I went back. It’s exactly the same as it was when I left.” Our eyes lock, and instantly I’m weak for him. I don’t know how a man managed to go from perfect stranger to making me weak just looking at me in a few short weeks. But Fisher’s managed it. “Kiss me,” he says.
I slide down from his arms, take his face in my hands, and stand on tiptoes. “There’s nothing I want to do more.”
He presses his lips to mine and my entire body buzzes, like it’s being woken from a deep sleep. He pulls me against him so there’s no space between my body and his.
He’s hard, and the thought that he wants me makes my knees weaken. Makes my heart weaken.
He pulls back. “You okay?”
He must feel how much I’ve missed him. I’m not okay that he’s been gone but I’m better now that he’s here.
I shake my head. “Come inside and… come inside me.”
He groans. “Juniper. I don’t want to wake Riley and—”
I place a finger over his lips. “She’s at my parents’ for the night. My mom just messaged to ask me if it was okay.”
“I really like your mom,” he says, stepping so close to me, sweeping his lips over mine.
“Let’s go inside,” I say. As much as I loved it down by the falls, I want to see him in my bed.
He scoops me up and takes me inside.
“I don’t even know where you sleep,” he says.
“The door next to Riley’s.”
He kicks my bedroom door open and puts me down softly on my feet. His fingers go straight to the buttons of my blouse.
“I’ve been thinking about this for so long,” Fisher whispers, pressing a kiss between my breasts. He pushes my shirt off my shoulders and kneels at my feet, unbuttoning my jeans and lifting each leg to take them off. He presses a kiss just above my knee, and I shiver. When he sweeps his hands down my thighs, my back arches. He’s barely touched me and all my nerve endings are standing to attention, waiting for what’s next, wanting more but knowing more will be too much.