Page 61 of Dreams and Desires

I can’t speak; the words are tangled in my throat as I stare at him, and my emotions are too raw, and intense to put into words. Instead, I just sit on the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently touch his hand. His skin is warm, but there’s a fragility to him that I’ve never seen before, and it breaks something inside me.

“Why?” I finally manage to whisper, my voice cracking with the intensity of my emotions. “Why did you do this, Zade?”

He looks at me, eyes steady, honest. "Because I had to," he tells me, quiet yet solid. "Couldn't just stand around and do nothing. Not if I could help. Not when it was Jacob."

Tears well up in my eyes again, and I shake my head, my hand tightening around his. “You didn’t have to do this, Zade. You didn’t have to put yourself at risk.”

"Yes, I did," he insists, sounding stronger now even though he's clearly hurting. "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't. Couldn't let you lose him, Juniper. Couldn't watch you go through that."

His words crash over me, overwhelming and unstoppable, and I can’t hold back the sobs that finally break free. “You’re an idiot,” I cry as my voice shakes a bit. “A stupid, stubborn idiot.”

He chuckles weakly, squeezing my hand. “I’ve been called worse.”

I lean in, pressing my forehead against his, tears streaming down my face as I let myself feel the full weight of everything that’s happened. “Thank you,” I whisper, my words trembling with emotion. “Thank you so much.”

He doesn’t say anything; he just holds me close, his breath warm against my skin as we sit there, wrapped in each other’s arms. In that moment, all the anger, all the hurt, and all the confusion melt away, leaving only the overwhelming gratitude and love I feel for the man who gave everything for me and my brother.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” I whisper, my words breaking under the strain of my emotions. “I don’t know how to repay you for what you’ve done.”

“You don’t have to,” he murmurs. “Just be with me. That’s all I need.”

I go still. His sincerity hits hard, but I’m not there yet. “Zade, I know what you did for Jacob. No one’s ever stepped up like that for us. But trust doesn’t flip on overnight. I need time.”

He nods slowly, his eyes filled with understanding, though I can see the pain behind them. “I get it,” he says quietly. “Take all the time you need.”

My hand closes on the doorknob. His words catch me mid-turn. “Wait—where are you going?”

I glance back at him, hesitating for a moment before answering. “The cabin,” I say softly. “Now that Jacob is okay, I need to clear my head.”

“I’ll drive you,” he offers, already starting to push himself up from the bed.

“No, Zade,” I protest quickly, turning back toward him. “You’re still weak. You need to rest.”

He shakes his head, determination flashing in his eyes. “I’ve been stuck in this bed for two weeks. I’m going to lose my mind if I stay here any longer. Please, Juniper. Let me do this.”

I want to argue, to insist that he should stay and continue recovering, but the look in his eyes stops me. He needs this—needs to feel like he’s doing something, like he’s not helpless. And maybe, just maybe, I need it too.

“Okay,” I finally say. “But you’re taking it easy. No overdoing it.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips—the first I’ve seen since I found out what he did. “Promise,” he says, pushing himself to his feet, though I can see the strain it takes.

As we walk out together, the heaviness between us doesn’t fully lift, but there’s a fragile peace hanging in the air. It’s not perfect—not even close to the closure we need—but it’s something. And for now, that’s enough.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Juniper

Before heading back to the cabin, Zade insisted on visiting Jacob. I didn’t really have a choice in the matter; he was determined, and, in truth, I needed to grab my things from the house anyway. It had been two weeks of being at Jacob’s side, and now that he was doing better, I could finally think about leaving. The idea of returning to the cabin with Zade, though, left me with a knot in my stomach.

When we arrive at my parents’ house, it feels heavier than usual. I lead Zade inside, past the familiar creak of the wooden floorboards, and up the stairs to Jacob’s room. The house is eerily quiet—the kind of silence that wraps around you, making every sound feel louder than it actually is.

Jacob’s lying in bed, looking better than he did just a few days ago, but still pale and fragile. His face lights up when he sees me, and I can’t help but smile back. “Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Better,” he replies, sounding a little stronger than before. “Thanks to you and... well, you know.” His eyes flicker toward Zade, who’s standing in the doorway, watching us with an unreadable expression.

Zade steps forward, nodding at Jacob. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Jacob.”

Jacob nods back, but the look in his eyes says more than words ever could. He knows. He knows what Zade did for him, and I can see the gratitude there, mixed with a kind of respect I never expected to see between them.

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