Page 22 of Dreams and Desires

“Because you’re all the same,” she says, her voice rising. “You and Brian. If you’re working with a guy like him, I know exactly what kind of person you are.”

“I’m working with him, but I’m also friends with Axel. You like him just fine,” I counter.

“Axel is very different from you,” she snaps. “He cares about people, about things bigger than himself. You... just by talking to you, I know you’re selfish, ambitious. You don’t see Cody as a home. You see it as a project.”

I lean out the window a bit more. “Well, I do see it as a project. But it can be a good project. You just need to stop persuading people to oppose me.”

Her face turns bright red with fury. “You arrogant bastard,” she spits out. “You think you can just buy this town and everyone in it? You’re delusional, Zade.”

I nod, my tone softening just a touch. “I get it. You care. But so do I. We just care in different ways.”

She lets out a mirthless laugh. “Wow, you care about Cody! What? Do I look like an idiot? All you care about is money.”

She turns and starts walking again, faster now, as if she can outrun the conversation. I follow, still driving slowly next to her. “Come on, Juniper, let’s not pretend this is just about money. Sure, I want to profit from this town, but don’t insult me by thinking that’s all there is to it. You’re smart—you should know better. This town.. It’s only gonna get better with my resort project.”

She shoots me another glare. “You really think you’re clever, don’t you? That you can just outsmart everyone with a few well-placed words and a smug smile.”

“I don’t think I’m clever, Juniper,” I reply, my tone shifting into that mocking, know-it-all cadence. “I know I am. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner we can have a real conversation about what’s good for Cody.”

She stops abruptly, turning to face me with a look that could melt steel. “You are the most arrogant, infuriating man I’ve ever met.”

I smile. “Thanks, I’ve been working on it.”

She crosses her arms, clearly trying to figure out whether it’s worth continuing this conversation. “Why can’t you just leave things as they are? Why do you feel the need to change everything?”

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Juniper,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “Things don’t stay the same forever. They either get better, or they get worse. And right now, this town is on the fast track to becoming a quaint little ghost town. But with a bit of investment, a bit of forward thinking.”

She glares at me. “You think you can twist everything to make it sound like you’re the good guy, but you’re not fooling anyone, Zade. Least of all me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of trying to fool you,” I say with a smirk. “But let’s be honest here—you and I, we’re not so different. We both want what’s best for Cody; we just have different ideas of what that looks like.”

She scoffs. “Don’t even try to compare us. You’re nothing like me.”

“True, I’m better dressed,” I say, gesturing to my tailored suit. “But beyond that, we’re both fighting for what we believe in. You’re just doing it with hashtags and heartfelt speeches, while I’m doing it with business plans and capital investment.”

“Don’t touch that park, Zade. Don’t destroy this town,” she pleads, her voice trembling with something raw, something deeper than anger.“I honestly don’t give a damn about the people here, but that park—it’s different. It’s unique. There’s a quiet beauty to it, something you won’t find anywhere else. It’s untouched by all the noise and chaos you’re so eager to bring in. And... it’s where my Grams is. Leave it as it is. Not everything needs to be bought or built over.”

“Grams?” I ask. My curiosity is piqued despite myself.

“We scattered my grandma’s ashes there. That place is close to my heart.”

“Oh, please,” I cut in, unable to resist, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Spare me the Hallmark speech.”

Her eyes flash with anger. “Huh! You can pretend to be a good guy all you want, Zade, but at the end of the day, you’re just another rich prick who thinks he can buy his way into control. You don’t get it, and you never will.”

I meet her gaze, unflinching. “And you’ll never get anywhere if you keep seeing every opportunity as a threat. But hey, keep fighting the good fight, Juniper. Just remember—every hero needs a villain, and I’m more than happy to play the part.”

She stares at me for a long moment, her chest rising and falling with each angry breath. Then, without another word, she turns and starts walking again, faster than before. I watch her go, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Chapter Ten

Juniper

The park is alive with the sound of birds, a symphony that feels almost too perfect, a stark contrast to the storm inside me. Today feels special, almost sacred. Jacob has his immunosuppressive treatment scheduled later, and we both know he’ll feel the toll afterward. So, we planned this outing to soak up the fresh air and bask in the sunshine while he’s still feeling good. There's a fresh bite in the air, but the sun feels warm enough on my skin to hint that today might actually turn out okay.

“Ready to relax?” Jacob asks casually. His grin is infectious—the kind that reaches his eyes, crinkling the corners just enough to show how genuinely happy he is to be here, in this moment, with me.

“Absolutely,” I reply, mirroring his grin.

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