Page 67 of Draft Pick
I wish my purse weren’t so far away. My anxiety feels astronomical, feeling like I’m betraying someone or something for simply being here with Crew. Or maybe it’s just my morals. I don’t know. Normally, I’d reach for my lucky butterfly and cling to it for mental stability.
Kind of like Crew does with me right now. He holds me close.
How can something so wrong feel so right?
“Tell me about the butterfly.”
“Butterfly?” I croak through nervous breaths.
“I’ve seen you. You pulled it from your scrubs before, then again in the car, and at Jack’s. It must be special to you. I can tell. Your eyes soften when you look at it.” His head lifts to mine, the passion behind our kiss slowly turning into emotional tension.
We’re fucking doomed.
My voice lifts slightly above a whisper. “It was all I had. My dad took me to a garage sale when I was little, and I knew right away I needed it. I had this obsession with butterflies and dancing. Much like Addie, I’m learning. It took a lot of begging, but he bought it for me. This was before everything at home got so extreme. I remember being in my room and crying one night because suddenly my toys were gone. I was so upset that my parents would get rid of my toys but keep all of their clutter. It still doesn’t make sense. My slightly rusted butterfly with beads missing and a broken wing was the only thing I could find that night. The only thing valuable to me. It got me through nights where I felt alone and like an outcast in my own home.”
There’s nothing but kindness in his eyes. “I won’t pretend to relate, but I can empathize. It makes me angry you grew up less than cared for. But if it means anything at all, you turned out pretty damn great, Juniper. I mean it. You spread those beautiful wings as far as they could reach.”
Tears rush forward, making me question what truly has me so emotional. “It means everything. Thank you for saying that.”
“This can’t happen again, huh?” He asks it like a question, but it feels like a statement. It’s written in stone, and we found a way out of it tonight.
I exhale. “I’m afraid not, Hugh.”
He chuckles. “Best kiss of my life, Lavender. No kiss will ever compare.”
I shove him playfully. “Let’s not get carried away. One glance at your Suburban, and you’ll have all the women lined up to kiss you.”
He tilts his head, appalled by my audacity. “And here I thought the ladies wanted me for the size of my thighs and di?—”
“Nope!” I snap. “We’re not even going there with that one.”
“Too far?” He grins.
I nod. “Too far. Wanna clean up and take me home? I’m sleepy and have a long day tomorrow. Plus, I miss my cat.”
Crew thinks for a moment before nodding. “Sure. You finish off the rest of the desserts, and I’ll get this place back to sparkling. No work for the lady.” And he kisses my cheek before hopping off the table and getting to work.
How am I supposed to forget that?
21
JUNIPER
Tenley Graves
Where have you been, girl? We miss you.
Slammed. Miss you girls too. What’s new?
Tenley Graves
Oh…you know. Just raising a feral boy over here. Slowly dying in dirt and piss all over my bathroom floor. They say I’ll miss these days but I don’t see it. Haha.
If you ever need a break…you know where to find me…
Tenley Graves
DO NOT TEMPT ME WITH A GOOD TIME, DR. WILDE
