Page 65 of Dreams and Desires

I nod, my voice barely there. “I do.”

Something in him eases. His arms wrap around me tighter. I press my face into his neck, and neither of us says anything for a while.

He’s the first to move. He brushes my hair off my cheek. The touch is careful. Still soaked. Still warm.

“Come on,” he says, softer than before. “Let’s get you out of the rain.”

He doesn’t let go of me as we walk. His hand stays at my waist, fingers curling just enough to remind me he’s still there. And I let him. I let him hold me. I let myself be held.

Whatever just happened between us… I don’t have the words for it. But it changed something. And I’m scared it might matter more than I want it to.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Zade

Waking up to the sound of birds chirping, the first thing I notice is the warmth beside me. The soft rise and fall of steady breathing, the comforting presence that feels so right—it takes a moment to fully register. I turn my head and see Juniper lying there, flushed and breathing shallowly. I reach out to touch her forehead, and yep, she's burning up. Fantastic. I told her she’d catch a cold, but does she ever listen? Of course not.

I sit up carefully, trying not to disturb her too much, and give her a gentle shake. “Juniper, wake up. You’re burning up.”

She stirs, barely opening her eyes. “I’m fine,” she mumbles, and it sounds like her voice took a vacation to Raspyville.

“Nope, you’re not. Unless by ‘fine,’ you mean ‘feverish mess,’ in which case, spot on.” I give her one of my best ‘I told you so’ looks. “Do you have any flu meds, or should I start planning your funeral?”

She nods weakly. “In the bathroom cabinet.”

“Of course, where all the good stuff hides,” I mutter, getting out of bed and pulling on my jeans and undershirt. I head to the bathroom, rummaging through what looks like the aftermath of a small hurricane, until I find the medicine. I bring her the flu meds with a glass of water. She takes the pills without a fight, probably because arguing takes too much energy.

“I’m going to make you some soup,” I say. “And by‘make,’ I mean I’ll attempt something edible. Just rest and try not to die.”

She nods again, her eyes closing as she drifts back to sleep. I head to the kitchen and start searching for anything that can be thrown into a pot and called soup. As I chop vegetables, it becomes painfully clear that I’m missing a few essentials. Great. Because nothing says ‘I’m a caring human being’ like feeding someone plain broth.

With the soup barely managing to simmer, I turn off the stove and grab my flannel shirt, deciding to head to the nearest grocery store. Luckily, my driver arranged for another car to be parked outside the cabin after the last one broke down last night.

The drive into town is dull, but my arrival feels like throwing a rock into a still pond—everyone’s curiosity ripples through the place. Me, in flannel and jeans? I might as well be Bigfoot buying shampoo.

As I’m grabbing what I need, I hear a voice behind me that could curdle milk. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Zade, the househusband. I never thought I’d see the day.”

I turn around, and, of course, it’s Brian. His smirk is as irritating as ever, but there’s a twitch of fear in his eyes. “What, Brian? You got bored of being a nuisanceat town hall and decided to upgrade to grocery store heckler?”

“Just surprised to see you in domestic mode,” he smirks, trying to sound confident but failing miserably. “Juniper’s got you wrapped around her finger, hasn’t she?”

I step up to him, towering over his shorter frame. I look down, my voice steady as I say, “First off, I’d be damn lucky if she had me wrapped around her finger. Second, it’s none of your goddamn business.” I make sure to enunciate every word, letting him know I’m not playing around.

He laughs, but it’s more of a nervous chuckle. “Sure, sure. Just surprised, is all. I didn’t think someone like you would waste your time on a woman like Juniper. I mean, she’s small-town, nothing special. Not exactly the kind of woman a guy like you should be chasing after.”

“Watch it, Brian,” I warn, narrowing my eyes. “You’re skating on thin ice, and it’s about to crack.”

He shrugs, trying to play it cool. “I’m just saying you could do better. You’re wasting your time with her.”

And that’s it. I’ve had enough. I drop the oranges I’m holding and step closer, my fists clenched. “One more word, Brian. I dare you.”

His smirk falters, and he steps back, suddenly remembering that self-preservation is a thing. But he can’t resist pushing just a little further. “Come on, Zade, she’s just—“

My fist connects with his jaw before hecan finish that thought, and he stumbles back, crashing into a display of canned goods. The store goes dead silent, and everyone stares at us.

Brian scrambles to his feet, rubbing his jaw, his eyes wide with shock. “You’re crazy!”

“Yeah, that’s the consensus,” I say, towering over him. “And if you don’t shut your mouth about Juniper, you’re going to find out just how crazy I can get.”

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