I jog to catch up with June, then walk with her, but don’t miss her tight jaw. I’m not completely sure what’s wrong, but my own nerves start to brew, worrying that I may have accidentally upset her. When we reach the business area, I reach for her arm, but she turns to me before I can.
“Did you do that?” she snaps, a surprisingly angry look on her face. “Did you set me up in there?” I stare at her, confused, before she continues, poking me in the chest, and thewhybecomes clear. “Did you convince Rowan to ask if I could do the murals? Because we’re dating and it would mean a lot to me and probably make me believe in myself or something like that?”
I shake my head, stepping closer to her, putting a hand to her chin to tip her face up and force her to look at me.
“No, June. I don’t think anyone but Josie can convince Rowan to do anything. That was all you and your talent.”
Her jaw goes tight, and I fight the urge to kiss her. She made it terribly clear last night that kissing her while Rowan was here was a no-go, wanting to maintain a semblance of professionalism.
But it takes a lot of effort, especially when she’s looking at me like that, with a mix of irritation and hesitant excitement.
“I would never do that, June. I would do anything to make you smile, but I would never do something that would impact your career or your future. I think you know that.”
Once more, that guilt for the piled-up lies and mistruths churns in my stomach, but it’s still an honest statement. I wouldnever do anything to impact June’s real life, outside of giving her a job. I don’t count buying her first piece of art in that, mostly because it was just one piece and has nothing to do with the dozens of pieces she has sold since then.
I know she values earning her successes just as much as I do, and I would never want her to doubt that.
With my words, her panic melts, leaving only happiness in its wake.
“So that was all Rowan's idea?” I nod and a grin spreads on her full lips. “I really am so lucky, and everything works out for me!” Her voice is pure excitement, but I need to set her straight before I join in.
“No,” I say with a shake of my head, pulling her closer. “No. It’s you. It’s your talent and your mind, and it’s been that all along. You’re not lucky, you’re just June, and that is what is making everything work out. It’s the fact that you’re hard-working and kind and creative. That’s it.”
“I really want to kiss you right now,” she murmurs, her face soft, and I grin.
“Say the word, lady luck.”
She bites her lip and smiles, but before she can make a decision, her face changes.
“Wait, how did things go with Rowan this morning? Why is the CEO here? Is it just to see the resort?”
“Oh, uh, it went well. They like the place a lot. This morning, Rowan and I talked a lot about Daytrip. Then he essentially told me this was a trial period.”
Her face changes, something so subtle, if I weren’t always so attuned to every tiny microexpression on her face, I might miss it. Apprehension is buried beneath that sunshine smile, trying to stay positive while gearing herself up to sound excited no matter what I say next.
That’s when I realize June is just as wild for me as I am for her, in a way that means all she wants is for me to be happy and fulfilled. If I think about it, really, that’s what she’s always wanted. And right now, she doesn’t want me to leave Seaside Point, but I know she would cheer me on if Daydream sent me to the other side of the world, so long as it made me happy.
Lucky for us, we both get to have exactly what we want.
“They’re creating a new division of Daydream, small resorts under the Daytrip umbrella. This was a test to see whether it was feasible and whether there was an audience for it. They’re impressed by the success and want me to be the head of it.”
Her eyes widen, her smile becoming a bit less guarded, but when my next words spill out, whatever remaining nerves melt away, leaving nothing but unbridled joy in their wake.
“I’m going to be the managing director of Daytrip by Daydream. There’s still a lot to figure out, but my main office will be here, in Seaside Point.”
She gasps, a wide, beaming grin spreads across her face, lighting up the entire room in a way only June Taylor can do, before her kissing rule goes out the window. She puts her hands on my face and kisses me, hard and deep. When she breaks it, she begins peppering kisses all over my face, as if she can’t help herself.
“Oh, my god! Graham! I’m so proud of you!”
Warmth settles in my chest.
She’s not happy for me.
Not excited.
Proud.
And I realize then this is what I needed all along. This was the moment, this was what I was missing. Not a new job or a promotion to finally make me feel successful, though I’m grateful to have that, too.
