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It’s been four days since the cat incident and I’m still uptight as fuck. Juniper tells me I don’t need to be because a lot has happened since then to calm matters.
Yes, we went shooting and yes, Juniper can still handle a pistol.
Yes, Malik Fournier came by with a crew and upgraded my security system, including cameras around the house and supersensitive motion detectors that reach out to the edge of my property.
And yes, I unlocked my gun cabinet and placed guns strategically throughout the house just in case.
All of this is overboard to Juniper. Maybe it wasn’t when I first put things into action, but she feels Joshua is no longer a threat. She’s bought into the idea that his father leaned into him hard because he’s back in Incline Village—confirmed by both Preston and more reliably, my mother.
More importantly to Juniper, Joshua finally hired a lawyer who is in contact with Julia. The ex-douche is apparently cooperating on the divorce. While he hasn’t turned over all the information Julia has requested, his attorney has promised that they are working diligently on getting it together.
In Juniper’s mind, Joshua has given up. Her rationale is that he’s a coward at heart anyway. His game was always intimidation, and he was successful at it because she always backed down. Played the part of submissive. When he came blowing into Pittsburgh, hoping to cow her back under his control and it didn’t work, he gave up.
I don’t buy it though. Juniper probably knows Joshua better than I do after having been married to him for so long, but I’ll never be swayed to believe that narcissist is willing to admit defeat. He always had to have the best and was covetous of his belongings. He always wanted to be better than me. The fact that he’s the most self-centered asshole I’ve ever met tells me he does not give a shit what his father has told him and he’s arrogant enough to not be fearful of my warnings.
But what fuels my unease the most is that look he gave us in Incline Village outside the attorney’s office. When his face went blank, I could see there was no conscience residing within him.
No, I don’t think Joshua is giving up. I think he’s plotting.
A hand comes down on my shoulder, jarring me out of my darkness. “Penny for those brooding thoughts.”
It’s Brienne and she offers an assuring squeeze before handing me a fresh bottle of beer. I take it and in exchange, she retrieves the empty one I’d been clinging to.
“It’s a party, Callum. You need to snap out of it.”
I give myself a mental shake and offer her an apologetic smile. “Yeah… I know.”
Brienne doesn’t need to offer me that penny in exchange for the brooding intel she asked for. This week we’ve had a handful of conversations regarding my concerns about Joshua. Of course, I worked from home every day, not willing to leave Juniper alone, and she refused to come sit up at the arena with me. I even accompanied her each day she went to see her dad, sitting in the room and working on my computer while she chatted with him, stepping outside the front doors when I had to take a call.
My eyes drift around the backyard until I spot Juniper sitting at a patio set with a few of the Titans women. We’re at Brienne’s house for Coen’s official going-away party. He didn’t want a big fuss and prohibited Brienne from doing anything fancy. His exact words were “Beer and brats will be fine.”
So that’s exactly what Brienne arranged. Of course, she hired a professional grill master who has not only brats going over the coals but also gourmet bison burgers. A table of sides is laden with everything from salads and vegetables to crispy french fries and greasy bowls of potato chips. Huge buckets of beer—varying craft varieties—as well as chilled wines are available. A large tent with tables provides a respite from the sun that glistens off the swimming pool and people hang out in pockets of outdoor furniture, laughing and talking.
It’s definitely my type of party and I need to shake off the sour mood Joshua has caused.
“Why don’t you go sit with your girl and just have some fun?” Brienne suggests with a tiny push on my shoulder.
A horrified look crosses my face. “But… but… she’s sitting with a bunch of girls. Ewww.”
Brienne rolls her eyes and turns away from me. “You’re such a child.”
Chuckling, I pivot and head toward the table where Juniper sits with Danica, Jenna and Simone. Can’t say it feels bad that Juni’s gaze locks on mine before I get close, meaning she knew where I was this entire time.
Just as I was aware of exactly where she’s been since we arrived at this party. Not because I’m proprietary—although I can be—and not because I think she needs protecting—because here at Brienne’s, she doesn’t—but because it pleases me to look at her whenever I can, so I always know where she’s at.
Because Juniper stares at me as I approach, the other women eventually turn their heads to see what she’s looking at. A glance reveals the smirks on their faces.
When I reach their table, I use my foot to hook the leg on a patio chair to pull it from the table and sit without invitation. Before anyone can say a word, I reach out to Juniper and draw her toward me with a hand to the back of her neck. Just a light kiss on her lips before releasing her and it’s the pink blush that makes my heart trip.
That I can do that after all these years.
“What are you lovely ladies talking about?” I ask as I settle back in my chair, clasping my hands over my stomach, beer clutched between. Contrary to acting like I was bothered about sitting down and talking to the women, these Titan Queens are always fun to hang out with.
“Mucous plugs,” Juniper says.
Okay… can’t stop the grimace. “Excuse me?”
She snorts, leaning over to pat me on the shoulder. “Pregnancy stuff.” She nods at Simone whose hands rest on her pregnant belly. She’s about six months along, if I remember correctly.
