Page 48 of Dreams and Desires

I can’t help but let out a frustrated sigh, watching the warmth inside her cabin through the frost on my car windows. My breath keeps fogging up the glass, so I wipe at it with the sleeve of my coat, clearing just enough to keep an eye on that small haven of warmth and light. A part of me wants her to just come to the door, even if it’s just to throw something at me or yell at me to get lost. Anything would be better than this silent treatment, but I know Juniper too well by now. She’s a fortress, and I’m the idiot standing at the gate, knocking and hoping she’ll let me in.

“Come on, Juniper,” I mutter to myself. My voice sounds small and defeated, not something I’m used to. “You know you can’t just ignore me forever.”

The minutes drag by like hours, and the cold digs deeper into my skin, making my bones ache with every breath. I pull the blanket tighter around me, but it’s about as useful as a paper towel when it’s this cold. My eyes start to droop and before I know it, I’m slipping into sleep, the cold lulling me into a restless, uncomfortable slumber.

When I wake up, the first light of dawn is barely breaking through the trees, casting a pale, grayish glow over everything. My muscles are stiff, my neck feels like it’s been twisted into a knot, and every movement sends a jolt of pain shooting through my body. The car’s windows are completely frosted over, and the air inside is so cold that I can see my breath coming out in thick, white puffs. I glance over at the cabin, hoping, just maybe, that something has changed overnight. But there’s no sign of life—no sign of Juniper. The place is as quiet and cold as the inside of my car.

“Great, just great,” I grumble, rubbing the back of my neck and trying to work out the kinks. “She’s really not going to budge, is she?”

I try knocking on the door again, just in case, but there’s no response. The sound of my fist hitting the wood echoes in the still morning air, but it’s met with nothing but silence. She’s really not letting me in—not even a little crack in that armor of hers. She’s determined to shut me out, and I can’t really blame her. But I’m not about to give up that easily. Not on her.

“Alright, Juniper. If this is how you want to play it, fine by me,” I say to myself, a plan forming in my mind. There’s a challenge in her silence, and damn it if I’m not going to rise to it.

An idea hits me, and I know she’s not going to like it. Hell, she’ll probably hate it, but that’s part of the appeal right now. If she won’t let me in, then I’ll make sure she can’t ignore me. I start the car and drive back to Cody. The town is quiet, barely waking up as I pull into the parking lot of the outdoor gear store. The guy at the counter gives me a strange look when I start piling up camping gear on the counter—tents, sleeping bags, a portable stove, and enough supplies to last me at least a week. He doesn’t say anything at first; he just rings up the items, but I can tell he’s curious.

“What are you planning, some kind of solo expedition?” the cashier finally asks, looking at the growing pile of gear with raised eyebrows.

“You could say that,” I reply, flashing him a quick smirk. “I’m camping out until someone decides to talk to me.”

The cashier chuckles, shaking his head as he scans the last item. “Sounds intense, man. Good luck with that.”

“Luck’s got nothing to do with it,” I mutter as I swipe my card and head back to the car, loading up the gear with a determined set to my jaw. I’m not leaving until Juniper talks to me, even if it means camping out in the snow right outside her door.

The drive back to the cabin feels shorter this time; my mind is focused and clear with purpose. When I pull up to the cabin, the place is as quiet and still as ever, the snow lying thick and untouched around it. I park the car, grab the gear, and start setting up my camp right there at the edge of her property. The tent is a pain in the ass to set up, my fingers going numb from the cold as I wrestle with the poles and stakes. But I’m stubborn, just like she is, and there’s no way I’m giving up now.

I’m halfway through setting up the tent when I hear the creak of the cabin door opening. I glance up to see Juniper stepping out, her eyes widening in disbelief as she takes in the sight of me.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she exclaims. She’s wearing a thick, woolen sweater that clings to her curves in a way that makes my heart skip a beat, her long hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of dark silk. Even now, with anger flashing in her eyes, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Nope,” I reply, finally snapping one of the poles into place. I stand up straight, wiping the snow off my gloves, and meet her gaze with a smirk. “I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me.”

She lets out a frustrated huff, her breath visible in the cold air. “You’re seriously going to camp out here? In the snow? Have you lost your mind?”

I shrug, unrolling the sleeping bag and tossing it into the tent. “Why not? I’ve dealt with worse conditions before.”

Her eyes narrow at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You’re impossible, you know that?” She snaps.

“And you’re stubborn,” I shoot back, holding her gaze without flinching. “So I guess we’re even.”

She stares at me for a moment, her eyes blazing with anger, before she throws her hands up in defeat. “Fine! Do whatever you want. Freeze to death for all I care.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of supplies,” I say with a grin, motioning to the portable stove and the food I’ve stashed in the car. “I’ll survive.”

Juniper rolls her eyes, clearly fed up with me, and turns on her heel, storming back into the cabin. The door slams shut behind her, the sound echoing through the stillness of the woods.

“See you around, neighbor,” I call after her, knowing full well she’s probably muttering every curse word she knows under her breath.

I finish setting up the tent and crawl inside, zipping up the sleeping bag to my chin. As I lie there, I can’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all. We’re both too damn stubborn for our own good, and that’s exactly why I’m not backing down.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Juniper

I slam the door behind me, my heart racing like it’s trying to escape from my chest. Zade is camping out in the snow. The thought alone is enough to make me want to scream. He’s so damn stubborn. After everything he’s put me through, he thinks he can just show up, freeze his ass off outside my cabin, and that’ll somehow make things right? It’s infuriating.

I storm into the kitchen, hands shaking as I fill a mug with water. I need to focus on something—anything that isn’t him. I scrub the counters, even though they’re already spotless, and rearrange the dishes that don’t need rearranging. I try to lose myself in the mundane, but it’s useless. Every time I close my eyes, I see him out there in the cold, refusing to leave, waiting for me to crack.

“Why now?” I mutter under my breath, pacing the small kitchen like a caged animal. “Why does he have to show up now?”

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