“You’re so full of shit,” Oakley says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I see you sneakin’ out on the weekends. I see how you look at each other. Hell, everyone does, but no one else has the balls to bring it up.”
One look at Juniper twists my stomach into knots. This interrogation is making her want to flee, I can tell. She keeps glancing at the door like she’s waiting for the perfect moment to get the hell out of here.
If she runs, I’m going after her.
“Oakley, I already said it was nothing,” Juniper whispers. “Please drop it.”
My heart sinks to my stomach. Her words feel like dousing a fresh cut with rubbing alcohol, even though I understand why she’d say it.
What we have is notnothing.It’severything,and I know she feels that way, too.
The words flow out of me before I can stop them. “It’s not nothing, but what’s happening between us is no one else’s business. Yes, Juniper and I have been spending time together, but I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.”
A knowing smile spreads across Oakley’s freckled face. “Iknewit. I promise I’ll keep it to myself, but I need to know everythin’.”
“No,” Juniper and I say at the same time.
“Ugh, you’re no fun. Fine.But promise me one thing, okay? Because I care about both of you, and I don’t want either of you to get hurt. Promise me you won’t hurt each other.”
Juniper and I lock eyes, and I know she’s thinking the same thing I am. There’s no way to stop the heartache when this ends.
“We promise,” Juniper says.
I nod.
“Good,” Oakley says. “Now, help me clean this up so we’re not behind.”
We spend the next twenty minutes cleaning up the dusting of sugar, then helping frost cookies before we head to lunch. The whole time, I’m bursting at the seams to tell Juniper the good news about Athena.
I guess that’ll have to wait until later.
Chapter 23
Oakley knowingabout Addison and me should make me anxious, but instead it’s like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.
Every day, it gets harder to keep my feelings for her hidden, especially from Mama and Daddy. I want to tell them, but more than that, I feel like Ineedto, so they can be adequately prepared for the heartbreak that will come after she leaves.
I can’t keep pretending this won’t affect me. It was naive of me to think, and knowing the pain is coming won’t make it any easier.
The way she touched me yesterday after the powdered sugar incident is still ingrained in my brain. Her fingers grazing against my cheek, the look of pure adoration in her eyes, and the way she couldn’t seem to pull away had a swarm of butterflies erupting in my belly. If Oakley hadn’t interrupted us, I would have kissed her right then and there.
I shake off the memory, getting back to double-checking emails. We have a group coming in tomorrow for the rest of the week, and I need to make sure I have all of their information for the welcome packet.
Halfway through writing on their keycards, Mama and Daddywalk into the office and take a seat across from me. The air becomes thick with anticipation.
Uh oh.
I set down my Sharpie and turn my attention to them, my heart starting to race. “Hi… What’s up?”
Daddy clears his throat and looks at Mama, who gives a subtle nod. “We wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Is everything okay? Is it Briar?”
“Briar is the same, as far as we know. I just wanted to make you aware of a change happening next month.” Daddy takes a deep breath. “I’m giving Athena to Addison. She’ll be taking her with her when she leaves.”
