Page 70 of Love Deep

“I am not!”

Jack shakes his head. “You gotta get her out of your system. Make the rest of your time in Colorado count, and then come back and do business the way you want.”

He says it like I’m considering an alternative. I’m not. It’s not like I can move to Colorado. My business is in New York. My business that needs my attention. My friends. My life. Everything I’ve ever known. Except Juniper.

TWENTY-FIVE

Juniper

I haven’t heard from Fisher for three days. He’s been in New York City the entire time. And it’s not like we’re dating. I didn’t expect him to call. Or even text. Except… I miss him.

He’s supposed to be back today. But maybe he won’t come back. Maybe that will be that and I’ll never see him again. I huddle under my blanket, despite the heat. I just can’t get warm, but I can’t bear being inside because it’s too stuffy.

Riley is over at my parents’, batch cooking. Hopefully she’ll bring some home with her. Our freezer could do with a restock.

My phone buzzes on the table beside me and my stomach lurches. Is it stupid to hope that’s a text from Fisher?

I scoop up my phone and see Mom appear on the screen.

Riley wants to stay over. That okay?

It’s nice she’s having fun. I love the bond Riley has with her grandparents. I’m lucky they’re both alive, and they’ve been so supportive of me and Riley.

I reply that of course it’s fine, and I slide the phone back onto the table. Evenings on my own don’t happen very often. It’s precious free time that I should be reveling in.

My phone buzzes again and I stand the butterflies down. It’s probably just Mom asking if she has to wash Riley’s hair. I open the message.

It’s from Bill, Riley’s dad, confirming the date when he’s going to be coming to Star Falls next month.

As I’m staring at his text, wondering if he’ll actually make it this time, another text comes through telling me he’s leaving a day earlier than we’d discussed because of a ballet recital for his youngest daughter.

Typical. Riley definitely comes bottom of his list these days.

As I’m mentally handing my ex his ass, headlights illuminate the porch.

My breath catches in my chest. I can’t make out who it is right away. And then the headlights go dark and I can see that it’s Byron’s truck.

It’s Fisher.

I stand, fighting the urge to toss off my blanket and run to him. I want to feel his arms around me. I want to smell that expensive whatever-it-is he wears. I’ve missed him. It’s been three goddamn days and I’ve missed him.

“Hey,” he calls as he gets out of the truck, like he just saw me yesterday.

I can’t help but smile. He’s had his hair cut and he looks younger than he did before. He pushes his hand through the side of his hair like he’s self-conscious or something. I can’tbelieve Fisher could ever be self-conscious. He’s the most confident man I’ve ever met.

“Hey, stranger,” I call back. “You had your hair cut. What else is new?”

He bounds up the stairs and heads right to me. “Fuck, Juniper, it’s good to see you.”

My stomach tilts at his words.

I’ve missed you, I think.

He lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist.

“What’s new?” he asks. “Tell me everything I missed.”

I tip my head back and laugh. “Nothing’s new. We’re in Star Falls, remember?”