“Amazing. He wants to invest. We’re going to expand, so no more crowded gym and unhappy clients. He’s going to come and meet Cole and Aran too. You need to be in that meeting as a shareholder.” He takes my hand.
I look up at him and his eyes are sparkling. “So, you didn’t run out on me? You don’t regret what happened?”
He shakes his head. “Ilovedwhat happened. Do you think we could make it happen again as soon as possible?”
I squeeze his hand. “Ivar, I have to tell you something. I’ve liked you for a long, long time. Since high school. So this is all a pretty big deal for me. I don’t think I could take it if it was just a casual thing.”
He strokes my hair, gently. “I wish this had happened sooner. You’re perfect, Juni. I’m the fool for not realizing it could be so good.”
He stands, towering over me and picks me up. I wrap my legs around his waist as we kiss.
I break away for a second, breathless.
“Was this our first proper fight?” I ask.
He nods, carrying me into the bedroom.
“I think we have some making up to do.”
EPILOGUE - IVAR
One year later
The tiny dot on the lake is getting closer as the boat gets nearer.
I’m very invested in the tiny dot. Because the tiny dot is Juni, who is waterskiing behind a speedboat on this idyllic lake.
We’re on vacation with Lucas and Natalie at their property out here. They have a huge log cabin and acres of land, where they have a sustainable farm. Lucas wants to see if we think Langstones could run fitness retreats out here, so we’ve both come along.
Once we’d all joined forces, Juni and I had to come clean to Lucas and Natalie, telling them we weren’t actually engaged. They both thought it was funny we’d actually got together on the trip to the expo. Natalie always says she thought we were so natural together and she’d never have guessed. The two of them had an unconventional start when Natalie was hired to look after his kids, so I think they understand.
They’ve gone for a walk to pick berries, so Juni and I are alone. I took my turn around the lake and I’ve been sitting in the sunshine, drying off, watching the boat drive around. Juni’s been testing out everything she can do on the lake, from swimming to paddleboarding to being towed behind the boat on a giant inflatable donut.
She’s a much better waterskier than I am. The instructor Luis says that I act like I’m trying to pull the boat out of the water, not get towed along behind it. When Juni first set out, I ran up to the house to grab some stuff and came back to the dock to wait for her.
As the boat draws up and she gets onto the dock, I wave at Luis.
“She just keeps getting better, Ivar. I’ve said there’s a place for her here if she ever wants to leave the gym.” He smiles. He’s smitten with Juni.
She laughs. “No can do, Luis. Ivar can’t be trusted on his own in the new place.”
He shakes his head sadly. “Okay. But if you guys miss me, you know where I am.”
Luis steers the boat back out into the lake and I wrap Juni in a big beach towel, giving her a hug at the same time. Drops of water sparkle on the ends of her eyelashes and in her hair, glittering in the sunlight.
“Are you thirsty?” I ask. She nods.
I reach behind me and bring out the ice bucket. It has a bottle of champagne chilling in it.
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Champagne? It’s only three o’clock!”
I stroke a tendril of hair away from her cheek. “I know. But it’s our last day and Lucas wanted us to have it.”
She laughs. “Well if the big boss says we need to drink it, I won’t disagree.”
I pop the cork and pour her a glass. “Are you excited to go back?”
“Yes, I am. The new place is fun. I can’t believe there are four Langstone gyms now!” She clinks her glass against mine.
