Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I headed back in the direction of the rec room while June finished up with settling in, only to hear, “Goodbye, Jesse.” I looked over my shoulder. June’s parents and Neenee had gone inside her suite, but she remained there, alone, green scarf on her head, brown eyes beautifully locked on me as she still clutched that notebook to her chest.
“First rule of the Last-Chance Ranch, Junebug: we never say goodbye, only good night.”
June laughed.
“Good night, Junebug,” I stressed.
June smiled, then said, “Sleep tight, Jesse.” She ducked inside her room, her cheeks flushing. My heart was racing, and shivers had broken out along my skin.
June Scott…what a revelation. Suddenly my time here didn’t look so bleak.
CHAPTER 4
June
Istared at the girl in the mirror before me. I ran my fingers over cheeks that were slightly swollen due to the many months of taking steroids. I rubbed together lips slathered in the lip balm I constantly wore to stop them from cracking.
Next, I ran my fingers over my chest where my chemo port had been. Even after two years, it still felt foreign to me. No matter how much I stared at my reflection, it still took me a while to recognize the girl before me.
“Hello, June,” I whispered, finally running my hands over my bald head and bare brow. It was something I did each day: reacquainted myself with “Cancer June.” And as much as I struggled to believe this girl was me, this sort of imposter, I couldn’t help but love her for how well she had fought for us.
Was still fighting.
It was a heady feeling.
A knock sounded on my door just as I tied a long, pale-pink scarf around my head, securing it at the back. I glanced in the mirror one more time. I wore a plain white T-shirt and comfortable, well-worn jeans, a pink sweater tied around my waist for when I inevitably felt the chill.
I opened the door only to find Jesse Taylor casually leaning against the frame. “Mornin’, Junebug,” he said, and my heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome. I felt like I could get lost in his forest-green eyes that reminded me of the trees behind my home. He was wearing a Longhorns T-shirt and jeans, with the same orange, Longhorns baseball cap he had on yesterday—worn backwards, of course.
A true country boy.
“Morning, Jesse,” I said, nerves accosting me. I’d tried to sleep last night. While the start of treatment in a couple days’ time should have been the reason why I hadn’t, it was because of this boy who had catapulted into my life in the most unlikely of circumstances. The boy I knew was sleeping just on the other side of my bedroom wall.
I wasn’t vain. I had never seen myself as anything but normal—not pretty but not plain. Just somewhere in between. Pleasantly average. But since meeting Jesse yesterday, I had been rocked. He’d called me beautiful. Me. This superstar QB who was destined for greatness—who I just knew was popular at school—had called me beautiful.
I couldn’t see the beauty on my face that Jesse seemed so taken by.
I was so confused.
“Chris, Emma, and I are going for a walk, to explore the grounds and just hang out. We wanna do it before treatment starts and we’re all puking for Texas. You coming?” he asked, wearing a playful smirk on his plush lips. Jesse Taylor had charm in abundance. But he wasn’t arrogant. He was innocently cocky and cheeky. Frankly, he was magnetic, and so far, when I was near him, I felt like I was being pulled into his orbit.
I laughed at his joke, but my stomach swirled with butterflies at the invite. Here he was again, showing interest. “Sure,” I said, and followed him out of my door. “Ah, wait!” I ducked back into my room to grab my notebook.
When I came back outside, Jesse pointed at my notebook. “You’re gonna have to tell me what’s with the notebook at some point, Junebug.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I will tell you sometime…if you’re lucky.”
Jesse turned to face me, walking backwards a few steps. “Junebug Scott! Are you flirting with me?” he asked, opening his mouth in mock shock.
I came to a dead stop, sudden nerves swallowing me down. “I-I-I—” I stuttered. Had I been? I wasn’t sure I knew what it was to flirt, never mind intentionally doing it.
“Don’t worry,” he said, falling back in step with me just a fraction closer than before. “I liked it.”
I looked at him and exhaled out my embarrassment in one long breath, shaking my head in admonishment. “You’re trouble.”
Jesse’s hand landed on his chest, as though he was offended. “Junebug. How could you say that? I’m a nice, respectable mama’s boy.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Okay,” he said, and pinched his forefinger and thumb together. “Maybe I’m a little trouble. But only in the best possible way.”