Page 79 of Dreams and Desires

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What’s up? Did you break something expensive?”

“Meredith visited today.”

I feel a muscle in my jaw tighten. Meredith, my ex-fiancée, showing up unannounced? Perfect, just what I needed. “What did she want? Did she bring a fruit basket?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.

Juniper places a hand on my arm. “She just wanted to see who you chose. But she was actually really nice.”

I narrow my eyes, skepticism creeping in. “Meredith? Nice? Are we talking about the same person?”

“Yeah,” Juniper nods, a small smile forming on her lips. “She was actually really nice.”

I relax a bit at that, though the thought of Meredith still lingers. “What did you talk about? World peace? The price of tea in China?”

“Not much,” Juniper says, avoiding my gaze. “She just wanted to chat.”

I can sense she’s holding something back. “Juniper, you can tell me anything. Unless it’s about how you ate the last slice of pizza, then we have a problem.”

She takes a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Zade, sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve you.”

I let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back in my seat. “Ah, the classic 'I’m not worthy' speech. Go on, tell me how you secretly run an underground fight club, and you’re just waiting for the right moment to confess.”

She gives me a half-smile, shaking her head. “I’m serious, Zade. I mean, look at me,” she says, gesturing to herself. “I’m not like those women you’ve been with. I’m not slim, and I’m not glamorous. I have curves, and I’m overweight. And then there’s my past... I feel like I’m not good enough for you.”

I shake my head, gently cupping her face. “Juniper, don’t say that. You’re beautiful, inside and out. And besides, you just saw one side of my ex. You don’t know the whole story. It just didn’t work between us.”

She looks down, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I just look in the mirror and see someone who doesn’t measure up. I see someone who’s struggled and who’s been hurt. I see someone who isn’t perfect.”

“Perfect?” I say, my voice softening. “Juniper, you’re perfect for me. Your curves, your kindness, your strength—everything about you makes you incredible.”

Her eyes meet mine, searching for any hint of insincerity. “Really?”

“Really,” I affirm, brushing a tear away with my thumb. “You have no idea how much you mean to me. You make me want to be better, to take risks, and to open up. You make me feel alive. Or as alive as a misanthropic jerk can feel.”

She takes a shaky breath, her lips trembling. “But what if... what if I can’t be what you need?”

“You already are,” I tell her the truth. “You’re everything I need and more. Your kindness, your heart, and your spirit—they’re more valuable than any superficial quality. I don’t care about the past or any imperfections you think you have. I care about you, the real you.”

Her eyes fill with tears again, but this time they’re tears of relief. She leans into my touch, her hands covering mine. “I guess I needed to hear that. Thanks.”

I pull her into my arms, holding her close. “I’ll spend every day showing you just how much you’re worth. And trust me, I don’t do that for just anyone.”

I hold her close, feeling her body relax into mine. The steady hum of the jet engines creates a soothing backdrop as we sit in silence for a while.

“I’ve always been afraid of commitment,” I admit, breaking the silence. “I’ve kept everyone at a distance because I didn’t want to get hurt. But with you, I feel like I can take that risk. Even if it means you’ll find out how neurotic I really am.”

Juniper looks up at me, her eyes soft but with a playful glint. “Zade, I already know you’re neurotic. But hey, at least you’re my kind of neurotic. We’ll be weird together.”

We share a laugh, but then I look at her, and a wave of affection washes over me. It's true—I don't care about her past or the choices she made. But I do care about what was done to her and what left her so broken. I can't stop myself from asking, “Juniper, there’s something I need to know. What happened in high school?”

Her body tenses, and a flash of discomfort crosses her face. “It’s not important, Zade.”

“It is to me. Very important,” I insist gently, my eyes locking onto hers. “I want to understand everything about you. Please.”

She looks away, biting her lip like she’s stuck between yes and no. Neither of us speaks, but the pause says enough. I reach out and lift her chin until her eyes come back to mine.

“Juniper,” I say softly, “you don’t have to carry this alone anymore. Let me in. Let me be there for you.”

Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and for a moment, I think she might pull away. But then, slowly, she nods. “Okay,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “I'll tell you.”

---