Page 75 of Dreams and Desires

“Romance,” she finally admits, her voice soft but steady.

My mom’s eyes light up, clearly pleased. “Romance novels! I love a good love story. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a beautiful romance.”

I can see Juniper visibly relax at my mom’s reaction, and she nods with a small smile. “Yeah, I like the way they make you feel... hopeful, I guess. Like no matter what happens, there’s always a chance for things to work out.”

I’m trying to hold it together, but I can’t resist adding a little fuel to the fire. “And by romance, she means the steamy stuff.”

Juniper’s eyes widen, and she shoots me a look that could kill. “Zade!”

My mom chuckles, clearly amused by the exchange. “Nothing wrong with a little heat in a love story. Keeps things interesting, right?”

Juniper blushes, looking down at her plate as she mumbles, “Yeah, something like that.”

I reach over and gently squeeze her hand under the table, giving her a reassuring smile. “Hey, you’ve got me hooked on those books too. I can’t put them down either.”

She gives me a shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Well, they do have a way of pulling you in,” she murmurs, the hint of a laugh in her voice.

My mom catches the exchange, her smile warm and approving. “Zade, it's nice to see you so happy. It's clear Juniper brings out the best in you.”

I smile back, realizing how true her words are.”Yeah, I guess she does. She’s one of a kind.”

Finally, my dad, who's been quiet this whole time, clears his throat, getting us to look his way. He's careful with his words, taking his time. “So, Zade, I hear you’re considering pulling out of the project in Cody. That’s quite a significant decision.”

Juniper’s hand tightens around her fork, her knuckles turning white. She glances at me, her eyes filled with concern, and I know she’s worried about what this means for me, for us.

I meet my dad’s gaze, my expression calm but resolute. “Yes, I am,” I reply. “I’ve thought about it a lot, and I believe it’s the right choice. For a lot of reasons.”

My dad’s eyes narrow a bit, sounding colder now. “And what reasons are those? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you're tossing away everything you've worked for.”

My stomach flips, but screw it, I need to say this now or I'll lose my nerve.“I’ve realized that this project... it’s not worth the cost. It’s not worth losing the people I care about. And to be honest, Dad, I don’t care about Cody. I don’t care about that park, or the profits we’d make from it. What I care about is Juniper.”

My dad’s gaze shifts to Juniper, and I see the skepticism in his eyes. “And you think... Juniper is worth throwing everything away for?”

Juniper flinches, her face paling, and I feel a surge of protectiveness rise up in me, stronger than anything I’ve felt before. I lean forward slightly. “Yes, I do,” I say, my tone leaving no room for doubt. “Juniper is worth everything. She’s shown me what really matters, and that’s not something I’m willing to sacrifice for a project. She’s the one thing I’m not willing to lose.”

There’s a long pause, the air thick with unspoken tension. My mom watches quietly, her eyes flicking between me and my dad, sensing the gravity of the moment. Finally, my dad sighs, his expression softening just a fraction, the hardness in his eyes dimming slightly.

"Zade," he starts, softer now, like he's thinking it over. "Look, I've always wanted what's best for you. Yeah, I'm worried about how this might turn out. But if you really feel this is what you gotta do, then I'll respect it. It's your call."

I glance at Juniper, seeing the relief and gratitude in her eyes. She’s worth every sacrifice, every difficultconversation. I turn back to my dad. “I’m sure, Dad. I’m not going to let anything come between me and Juniper. Not this project, not Cody, not anything.”

His words take me by surprise, and for a moment, I’m not sure what to say. Juniper looks at me, her eyes wide with relief and gratitude, and I know she’s as surprised as I am by my dad’s reaction.

“Thank you, Dad,” I say sincerely, the words carrying more weight than I can express. “I appreciate that.”

He gives me a curt nod, then turns to Juniper, his expression softening further, his tone almost... regretful. “Juniper, I apologize if I was a bit... harsh. This project has been a long time in the making, and I admit, I was focused on the wrong things. But I can see that you’re important to my son, and that’s what matters.”

Juniper’s eyes fill with tears, but she blinks them back, offering my dad a small, tremulous smile. “Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I appreciate your understanding.”

My mom, ever the peacemaker, chimes in with a warm, inviting smile. “Why don’t we finish dinner and then have some dessert? I think we could all use something sweet to round off the evening.”

The tension in the room dissipates, replaced by a more relaxed, almost familial atmosphere. The rest of the evening passes more smoothly, the conversation lighter, easier. Juniper gradually opens up, and I can see her starting to feel more comfortable, especially as my mom continues to engage her with genuine interest. My dad, too, softens as the night goes on, his earlier skepticism giving way to a more accepting demeanor.

By the end of the night, Juniper is smiling and laughing, her initial nerves gone. My parents seem to have taken a genuine liking to her, and I can see the relief in her eyes as she realizes she’s being accepted, not just by me, but by the people who matter most to me.

As mom and dad leave, Juniper turns to me, her eyes shining with gratitude and something deeper—something that makes my heart skip a beat. “Thank you, Zade,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “For everything. For today, for standing up for me... for believing in me.”

I smile, pulling her into a hug, holding her close. “You’re welcome, Juniper. You deserve it. You deserve all of it.”

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