Page 89 of Dreams and Desires

She laughs—a sound that’s pure joy—and it warms me to the core. “And you're stuck with the Queen of All Things Scandalous. I guess we’re a perfect match.”

“Damn right,” I murmur, pulling her closer. “I’m in love with you, Juniper. And there’s no going back.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with something that makes my heart race. “I love you too, Zade. In all your grumpy, sarcastic glory.”

“Well,” I smirk, kissing the top of her head, “I guess we're a pretty unbeatable pair then.”

Juniper

We get out of the car and walk across the lawn and up the walkway to Cora’s house. Zade stays close, and I can tell he’s a little on edge—he’d never admit it, but Cora scares him just a bit. When I reach for the door, I hesitate before turning the knob. It’s unlocked, like always. I push it open and step inside.

The moment we enter the living room, I see Cora. She’s in the middle of cuddling her little one, her newest addition to the family. But the second her eyes land on Zade, she gets up with the baby still in her arms.

“You,” she says, her voice dripping with suspicion as she crosses her arms over her chest. “What are you doing here?”

Zade gives her a toothy grin, as if that will calm her down. “Nice to see you too, Cora. You look... glowing!”

Cora’s glare is intense; the friction between her and Zade is crackling in the air. Before things can escalate, I quickly step forward, sliding my hand into Zade’s and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Cora, it’s okay,” I say, trying to defuse the situation. “He’s not the enemy anymore.”

Cora’s eyes flicker to mine, suspicion softening just a bit. But then, she notices the ring on my finger, and her eyes widen in shock. “No way,” she whispers, her gaze darting between Zade and me. “You’re kidding, right?”

I grin, holding up my hand to show off the ring. “Not kidding. We’re engaged.”

For a moment, Cora just stands there, frozen in disbelief. Then, she lets out a squeal so loud it could wake the dead. “Oh my God!” she shrieks, jumping up and down with excitement. “You’re engaged! I can’t believe it!”

Before I know it, she’s rushing over, placing the baby in the crib, and then throwing her arms around me in a hug so tight I can barely breathe. “I can’t believe you’re actually going to marry this guy,” she says, her voice dripping with mock disbelief as she pulls back to give Zade a playful, scrutinizing look.

“Believe it,” I laugh, feeling warmth spread through me at her reaction. “I’m going to marry him.”

Cora’s face softens, but she still points a finger at Zade, narrowing her eyes. “But if you hurt her, I swear—“

Zade raises his hands in mock surrender, a grin tugging at his lips. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, I’m more scared of her than of you.”

Cora gives a satisfied nod before turning to me with a grin. “Come on, everyone’s in the kitchen. They’re going to flip when they hear the news!”

She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen, where her kids are gathered around the table, chattering away. The second we step into the room, all eyes turn to us. Kehlani and Jayden are perched on stools at the kitchen counter.

“Guess what, guys!” Cora announces, her voice bursting with excitement. “Juniper’s getting married!”

There’s a brief silence, and then the room erupts into cheers. Kehlani is the first to rush over, wrapping her arms around me in a whirlwind of excitement.

Just then, the back door opens, and Axel strides in, his tall frame blocks the doorway. His sharp eyes immediately zero in on Zade, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “Well, look who finally decided to tie the knot,” Axel drawls, clapping Zade on the back. “I thought I’d never see the day.”

Zade chuckles, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Took me long enough, right?”

Axel’s gaze shifts to me, and his grin softens into something warmer. “Congrats, Juniper. You’re officially part of the crazy crew now.”

“Umm… I already was… way before you came,” I say, returning his smile. “Right, Cora?”

“Yep!” Cora beams, pulling me in for another hug. “I’m so happy for you, Juniper. You deserve all the happiness in the world,” she whispers in my ear. Then, she steps back and announces, “Let’s celebrate!” as she grabs a bottle of champagne.

As Cora pops the cork, I turn to Zade, our eyes locking. He pulls me close, and his lips find mine. The sound of the champagne fizzing and the kids talking fades into the background. In that moment, everything else disappears. It’s just Zade—nothing else matters.

The End

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