Page 56 of Dreams and Desires

I head to the kitchen, needing the distraction of making breakfast. The routine helps ground me, gives me something else to think about. I crack eggs into a bowl, whisking them with a focus that borders on obsessive—anything to keep my mind from wandering back to him. I fry bacon, the sizzle filling the air, and brew coffee, letting the rich aroma fill the cabin. The smells are comforting and familiar, and they help steady me, at least for a little while.

From the living room, I hear a groggy mumble and glance over to see Zade stretching, his muscles flexing under his shirt as he tries to wake up. He looks around groggily before his eyes meet mine. For a second, there’s something in his gaze—regret, maybe, or something deeper—but I quickly turn back to my cooking before I can think too much about it.

"Morning," he mumbles, sounding half-asleep as he shuffles into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Morning,” I reply curtly, keeping my focus on the breakfast. I pour a second cup of coffee right away and place it on the counter for him because I don’t want him entering the tiny kitchen and invading my space.

He takes the coffee, looking at me with an expression I can’t quite read. “Thanks,” he says softly, as if he’s not sure whether I want to hear it or not.

I finally look at him, my expression hard. “Last night meant nothing, Zade. You used me; I used you. That’s all it was.”

He flinches,just a little, but it’s enough to make me feel a pang of guilt. Still, he nods, accepting my words with a sad, resigned look. “If that’s how you want to see it.”

“We need to move past it. I have my life, and you have yours,” I continue, my tone firm, leaving no room for argument. I need to keep my distance, to build those walls back up before he finds a way to tear them down again.

"But Juniper, it wasn't just—" he starts to protest, sounding desperate, like he's reaching for something already halfway gone.

“No, Zade.” I cut him off. “It was just that. Now, if you’re staying for breakfast, sit down. Otherwise, you can leave.”

An uncomfortable silence fills the room as he looks at me, his eyes searching mine for some sign that I don’t really mean what I’m saying. But I keep my expression neutral, my gaze steady, giving nothing away. After a long moment, he finally sighs and nods, accepting my words, though it’s clear he’s not happy about it.

He decides to stay for breakfast, probably hoping for another chance to talk to me later, to say whatever it is he thinks will change my mind. We eat in awkward silence. Each bite of food feels like a chore, and I can’t wait for the meal to be over, for him to leave so I can finally breathe again.

After breakfast, Zade stands up, grabbing his coat from the chair. He pauses at the door, his hand resting on the doorknob, as he turns to look at me one last time. His eyes are filled with regret, sadness, and determination. But it’s the determination that stands out the most.

"I'm notgoing anywhere, Juniper," he tells me straight-up, no hesitation, making my stomach knot itself.

I don’t respond; I just watch him leave, the door closing softly behind him.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Zade

I've always liked the quiet of the early morning, when the world hasn’t quite woken up yet. The stillness lets me think and clears my mind. I came here to deal with some paperwork related to The Opal, but even as I focus on the documents, I can’t shake the feeling of missing Juniper. She’s always in the back of my mind, and being away from her is harder than I expected.

The phone rings, cutting through my thoughts. I glance at the screen—an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, I pick up, expecting some routine call, but instead, I hear Dominique’s voice on the other end.

“Dominique, what’s going on?” I ask.

“I’ve been trying to reach Juniper,” she says, her voice strained, like she’s forcing herself to stay calm. “I can’t get through to her.”

My grip on the phone tightens. “Why? What’s wrong?”

She hesitates, and that hesitation tells me everything I need to know—this isn’t just a social call. “Dominique,” I press, my voice dropping an octave, “what’s going on?”

“It’s Jacob,” she finally says, the words tumbling out as if she’s been holding them back for too long. “He’s not doing well, Zade. I didn’t want to worry Juniper, but... he’s in the hospital, and it’s serious.”

A chill runs down my spine. “How bad is it?” I ask, already reaching for my keys, knowing I need to see this for myself.

“He’s got lupus, Zade,” Dominique says, her voice breaking slightly. “He’s been on immunosuppressive therapy, but it’s not enough anymore. His kidneys are failing. He needs a transplant. Without it...”

The rest of her sentence hangs in the air, unspoken but heavy with implication. My mind races, trying to process the information. Lupus. Kidney transplant. Jacob’s situation is dire, and the urgency in Dominique’s voice is enough to send me running.

“I’m on my way,” I say, already heading out the door.

“Zade,” Dominique says, stopping me in my tracks. There’s something in her voice that makes me pause. “I need to test Juniper to see if she’s a match. But she’s so isolated out there.”

“I’ll bring her here,” I promise. “I’ll make sure she gets tested.”

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