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For the first time since her parents were alive, June’s world felt right. When the little nagging voice in the back of her head popped up, she tried to push it away. Even if he wanted to just be friends after their agreement, she could die happy. She could understand. She had nothing to her name except a failing business. She had no idea how writing a book would go, if it could be an avenue once the bookstore went under. She felt aimless, rudderless, wandering around her small home-town like the rest of the Townies.
Having him by her side as a friend was enough.
“Hey, Juney?” Her grandfather’s voice called through the store. She left the rolling cart in the aisle, peering at him as she came from behind a bookshelf.
“Hey, Pop. What’s up?”
“I need to go to the back and double check some of the special orders, could you cover the front?”
“Of course.”
Her grandfather ambled into the back room, muttering about his bad knee as he went. June took a seat at the counter, relishing the quiet Monday. Logging into the computer, June went about checking orders and inventory, profits and losses. Trying to ignore the pit in her stomach at just how bleak things were looking.
The door opened, and when June looked up she was greeted with the cocky grin of Rhys Dougherty.
“Well hey there, beautiful.” He leaned against the counter, showering her with a wide smile. “I was hoping you were working today.”
“Oh, yeah?” June went back to the computer, not trying to hide her own smile. He was cute, sexy, funny. He had a bit of a reputation, but he was also known to be an honest gentleman. They’d had a mild flirtation for years, but June always chalked it up to the older brother of a classmate just having a little fun.
“Yeah.”
“And why is that?”
Rhys shrugged and stood upright. He was wearing his Dougherty Construction sweatshirt, a peek of a tattoo on his neck craning out from under the collar. She’d wondered many times what other ink was covering his body, but had never felt compelled to actively chase him. Besides, she was sure he got plenty of that. He didn’t need another girl throwing herself at him.
“Well, Miss June Beaumont,” he said, growing serious. “I was hoping I could take you out sometime.”
June froze. “Take me out?”
“Yeah, on a date.” He cocked his head, confused. “I’m sorry, have I been reading things wrong?”
“Oh! Oh, no.” Embarrassment coursed through her as she processed what he’d said. “I mean, no, you haven’t read anything wrong. I — I don’t know, I wasn’t expecting this.”
He chuckled. “Wasn’t expecting me to ask you out after we been flirting for god knows how long?”
Her cheeks heated.
Rhys raised his hands, a sign of surrender. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to put you on the spot. I just figured it would be nice to take this out into the real world. You know?” He rapped his knuckles on the desk and started to turn towards the door. “Think on it. I’m a patient man.”
She watched him recede.
“Wait!” The words flew out before she realized she’d said them. He turned around, that cocky grin back. “Okay, yeah. A — A date sounds nice. Here’s my number, you can text me a date, time, and place.” She scrawled out her number on a Post-It and handed it to him. He took the note, holding her hand longer than necessary before tipping his head and walking out.
June stared at the door after he’d left, trying to understand what butterflies had decided to plague her. There was some excitement — after all, Rhys was cute and funny, and he wanted to take her out. They’d had a flirtation for awhile, there was no reason for her to be so surprised. His hand had been warm, comforting even.
But it was missing a sort of weight to it. The kind that said it could hold the weight of world if it meant keeping it off her shoulders.
June sighed, second-guessing if that was the right thing to do. She didn’t owe Dragan anything, and just because they ferociously made out the other night didn’t mean they were monogamous. Hell, it didn’t even mean they were together. She had to keep reminding herself this was fake. That they weren’t real She’d get through this last week of bliss, being his girlfriend, and then move on with her life.
She turned back to the numbers on the computer screen. One problem at a time.
Her meeting with Ruby was tomorrow, and it would hopefully give her enough steps to keep them from drowning. She was worried a foreclosure notice would arrive soon, but if she could just find the money to make a payment, June figured she might be able to head it off. Her phone buzzed.
19
Walking up to the falling-down townhouse, Dragan felt lighter than he had in… Well, ever. The taste of June was still on his lips, the feel of her body against his a phantom limb. He could hear the laughter of his family drifting through an open window, the driveway still empty of his dad’s car.
Life was good.
