HIRAM'S POV:
I glance at Juniper and the frustration written on her face. It doesn't make me happy that she is frustrated, but I am happy I get to preserve my secret. Her thoughts scare me, and I know I should tell her, but not now. It is too much for me to think about.
"Is there a problem, love?" I question, and she looks up at me, forcing a smile onto her lips.
"No. Not at all." She tries to uphold the smile, and I flash her back a smile.
"I think the network here is terrible," she lies through her teeth, but I do not care, as long as she has no information about my family.
Then I text Alex.
"Please help me with whatever you have before she loses her mind."I shut my phone off, then I walk over to June, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"I will go freshen up," I say to her, then I walk to the closet to grab a towel, draping it around my waist. I try to keep my mind open, allowing her frustrations to flow through me while I hit the shower.
If I continue this way, Hiram is going to think I am crazy. No one wants a crazy girlfriend, June, and it is just all in your head. You have probably watched too much Teen Wolf; she says to herself, then she lets out a grunt.
"Everything okay out there?" I call out, then I hear her sigh.
"Yes, I am perfectly fine and not going crazy."
I hate what I am doing to her, but there is almost no way out. At least not now, when I have a lot going on in my life, and I cannot lose her. I try to focus on the warm water, hoping it will wash away all the stress embedded in my body.
Soon we are dressed.
"So, what do you have planned today?" she asks, and I kiss her lips.
"Oh, you are about to find out," I say to her, then I grab her hands, leading her out of the house. I get into one of my cars, turning the ignition on. June reaches for the player, connecting her phone to it, then she turns on some of her twenty-first-century blues, singing to it and swaying her body in a way that leaves a smile on my lips. She is the life of my party, and I do not want that to end.
Suddenly, my phone beeps, and Alex's name is on display. I know she has my solution, so I grab my phone, placing it on my ear.
"Is she there?" she asks, and I reply with a "Yes."
"Put the phone on speaker."
I do what she says. Then I place the phone on top of the storage box, reducing the volume of the speaker.
"Hey, what gives?" June asks, but before I can respond, Alex calls out to her.
"June."
I watch June freeze in her spot, and Alex says some things to her, ending the call without speaking to me. I press my leg on the brake, coming to a halt on the road, then I glance at June, who shuts her eyes momentarily before flipping them open.
"Are you okay?" I ask, with my heart hammering against my chest. I hate what this is doing to her, but there is almost nothing I can do.
"Yes, I am. Why wouldn't I be?" she asks, and I flash her a smile, shaking my head.
Her hands reach for the player in front, cranking up the volume. Then my heart suddenly slows back to its normal rhythm, and I wheel the car back onto the road.
The closer we get to the marina, the more excited I feel. June doesn't know what's coming, and I can't wait to see her face when we arrive. When I am almost there, I stop the car, and June glances at me.
"Why did we stop?" she asks, and I reach for my pocket, pulling out a silk blindfold.
"Do you trust me?" I question, and she nods. Then I beckon her to lean in. I gently tie the blindfold around her eyes.
"I want to make this a special day."
With this, I continue driving. The marina is quiet today, a perfect day for a private yacht cruise. The docks are lined with sleek boats-big and small. As we walk toward the waiting yacht, the sound of the water lapping gently against the piers fills the air.
It's been a while since I've had a chance to do something like this. June deserves something special, something beyond the everyday grind, something that'll make her forget about the world for just a few hours. She's been through so much, and I wish I could hold her and shield her from it all, protect her from the weight of everything she's been through.
My family owns a private yacht here in Miami, but I do not want to make it known to June. She knows I am comfortable, but she is unaware of how much power and wealth my family possesses. There's a soft breeze in the air, and the sound of the water lapping against the boat creates a calm, peaceful rhythm. I can hear her inhale sharply, as if trying to take in the new surroundings even without being able to see them. I take off the blindfold.
June's eyes are wide, and for a moment, she glares at me as if she's unsure whether to be surprised or impressed.
"God, Hiram, it's..."
I kiss her lips gently, silencing her.
She murmurs softly, "Beautiful," as I pull away, and I can't help but smile.
"Wow," she says, her voice full of wonder as she takes in the yacht's deck, the polished wood, and the plush seating areas. Her excitement is palpable, and that smile of hers-it's everything. At that moment, I realize I'd do anything to keep that smile on her face.
"God, I cannot believe it. I have never been on one, and..." She stops talking, covering her lips with both hands. "This must have cost a lot to rent."
I wrap my hand around her waist, pulling her toward me. "It is worth every penny as long as it is for you," I say, and her face turns red at once. Then she kisses my lips.
"Anything for you," I add, and she wraps her arms around my neck.
"Now I can get to shake my ass on a yacht for real," she says, and I give her a cocky smirk.
"Not for you, though."
She rolls her eyes, and a chuckle escapes my lips.
We set off, the engine purring as we glide across the calm waters of Biscayne Bay. The city's skyline starts to shrink in the distance, and the vast openness of the water seems to swallow us whole. The sun is bright, but the heat is softened by the sea breeze, and June lounges on one of the deck chairs with her eyes closed.
Her skin glistens under the sunlight, but I try to keep my hands to myself. She opens one eye, catching me staring.
"You've been watching me like you want to eat me up," she says, teasing me.
"Maybe I do," I respond with a grin, walking toward her, my eyes never leaving hers.
I sit down beside her, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her. June laughs softly, then she shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
"You know we have company, right? So you can't."
She's right. The crew is here, and one attendant approaches us, holding a flute of champagne in his hand. He offers the drink to June with a polite smile.
"Your drink, Miss," he says, and I glare at him, a little fire of possessiveness crossing my chest. June takes the glass with a smile, her fingers brushing his. I notice the way she looks at him, increasing what I feel in me.
I watch her take a sip, her eyes meeting mine as she does.
"You know," she says with a mischievous smile, "I was just joking, Hiram. Please loosen up and try not to punch him on this mini-vacation."
She is teasing me, and it is getting to me more than I want to admit. I raise an eyebrow, leaning in slightly.
"Oh, you like teasing me?"
"You like when I do that," she replies, dropping the glass on the floor.
"I own here for the day, so I can do whatever I want. Do not test me, or the entire crew will end up watching the both of us..."
"You wouldn't dare!" she cuts me off before I can finish, and a smirk crosses my lips.
"You are sick," she adds, and I chuckle.
"Oh, you are about to find out how sick I am," I reply. Then she rolls her eyes, leaning back on the seat.
As the morning turns into early afternoon, the captain drops anchor at a secluded spot near Star Island. The water here is crystal clear, and I watch as June practically bounces to the edge of the yacht.
"Can we swim?" she asks in excitement.
I nod. "Of course."
We dive, laughing, and splashing each other like we're kids again, completely forgetting about the world. At one point, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close, and for a brief second, I'm just grateful for this moment-this time with her. My problems seem to be nothing and I wish it can last forever, and never wake up from this dream. To the reality that my father is dying.