Page 93 of September
“Why does that matter?”
“Because it’s not a big deal. It’s just a van and me driving around, taking care of dogs. It’s a more regular workday and shift, which would be nice because Idowant those kids we talked about before. I want to be able to be home with them and my partner. This would let me do that, but it’s not like I’m ever going to be raking in the money, you know?”
Juliet looked up at her then and said, “You’re worried you won’t be enough.”
Gwen looked at the ceiling for a second.
“Babe, is that what you’re worried about? That your business wouldn’t make you millions or isn’t a medical practice, because that’s what your family thinks?”
“I want to provide for myownfamily.”
“That’s something you and that partner will figure out together,” Juliet told her before she kissed Gwen’s skin again. “And, babe, you’re enough. You’re doing what you love, which means you’re happier. That’s important.” Juliet placed her chin on Gwen’s stomach. “I’ve always thought that happiness is something we have to find for ourselves, you know? Like, we can’t just meet someone, fall in love with them, and expect them tomakeus happy. We do that ourselves. Then, we meet the person who can contribute or add to that happiness. How many people go through life hating themselves, their jobs, and their circumstances, and when they end up meeting someone, it doesn’t last because they’re looking to that person to make them happy? I imagine it’s a lot, and I’ve never wanted to be one ofthem. I know your family has their views on what success looks like, but success and happiness are different for everyone. I don’t know if I’m that future partner of yours, but I am for now, at least, and you’re more than enough for me.” Juliet smiled softly. “I love how you smile when you’re playing with Carly. I love how you tell me stories of the other pets you’ve worked with and sometimes, the stories of their humans, too.” She chuckled a little. “Personally, I don’t need to be a millionaire or have some giant house like I’m guessing your parents do. I’d happily settle for a quiet life with the woman I love and whatever kids or pets we decide to have. I’d love it if she were around more, but not because I’d demand it or anything but because she wants to be. She’d be happy being at home with us, and she’d be happy going to work because it’s a job she loves, too. That’s the dreamIhave anyway.”
“That’s a pretty good dream,” Gwen replied.
“I think so,” Juliet said and kissed her stomach again.
“Does that apply to you, too?”
“What?”
“The job thing,” Gwen clarified. “If you’re really happy about all this travel for the foreseeable future, we’ll figure it out, and it’ll be fine. It just doesn’t seem like you are, Jules. It feels like you kind of hate it.”
Juliet rolled off Gwen and lay there naked, facing up at the ceiling.
“I’m just not built for this, I think, which sucks because other people have no problem with it. Jordana loved it. She had all her travel accounts, points, and had no problem eating dinner night after night alone while she sat at some restaurant bar, checking her work email religiously and never taking a break.”
“First of all, I doubt she was alone all that much, given what you’ve told me about this woman. But second of all, and this is way more important, you’re not her. You’re you, Jules.”Gwen rolled onto her side to face her. “Some people thrive off of working all the time and traveling like that. I actually know someone who saved up all her travel points and miles for five years and used them to take a three-month vacation basically for free. She’d worked all that time specifically for this dream trip that she’d always wanted to take. She took a leave of absence, and when she got back, she decided that she was done with that kind of grind and took another job instead. Everyone’s different. I don’t thinkI’dlike to travel all the time like this.”
“I do love my job, though. I love training the teams and visiting the stores. I just liked what I was doing before, and I thought maybe adding another couple of classes would be perfect for me.”
“It sounds like you’ve got some ideas on how to improve things, babe. Tell them to that boss of yours. Even if you still have to do this travel thing for a little while so that they can hire Andrew’s replacement or make those changes, you’d be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel, and that could help make the trips a little easier.”
“Youmade this one a little easier,” Juliet replied as she rolled to face Gwen.
“Well, I’m glad I could help.”
“You did. And I have no idea how Carly is still sleeping because we’ve been awake and talking for an hour now, and she hasn’t begged to go o-u-t yet.” Juliet spelled the word ‘out’ so that Carly’s ears wouldn’t perk up at it.
“We probably have at least twenty minutes before you need to get up, right?” she asked, sliding a hand along Juliet’s curves.
“Yes,” Juliet said with a smile. “And if we’re quick out here, we can also take a shower together before I have to leave for class.”
“Leave for class?” Gwen moved on top of her. “That sounds like you’re the sexy teacher again.”
“But I’m not wearing the outfit.”
“Trust me, you don’t need it to be the sexy teacher.”
Gwen lowered her hips, and Juliet’s legs spread wider for her.
“You know that the moment we start this, she’s going to wake up, right?” Juliet asked as she wrapped her arms around Gwen’s neck.
“She’ll have to wait.”
“I agree. I took her out at one in the morning when she woke me up begging.”
“You did? How did I not hear that?”
