Destined.
Jesse’s mama and sisters hooted and hollered as we climbed the stage, and my parents whistled and cried.
This day was about gratitude—something I had in volumes.
Next was college, and a new chapter of our story would begin.
CHAPTER 14
Jesse
Jesse and June’s Happily Ever After
University of Texas
Iran off the training field and into the showers. I had barely been in there maybe thirty seconds before I was out and throwing on my clothes.
“Why’s your ass on fire?” Sheridan, my wide receiver and roommate, asked as I ran my fingers through my hair instead of a comb (I had a sprinkling of hair again!).
I threw on my sneakers and bolted out the door. “Taylor?” Sheridan shouted, eyebrows pulled down in confusion.
“My girl gets here today!” I said and fled as fast as I could out of the locker room. As I got closer to the dorms, the streets were teeming with freshman arriving with their parents.
My heart was slamming in my chest, and it had nothing to do with my pace. I got to see my Junebug after too much time apart. Preseason had been intense, giving me zero days off. So I had been on a countdown to see my girl for what seemed like forever.
Mr. Scott had texted me to say they had arrived. I wanted to surprise June and help her settle in. I could feel the curious stares of people as I rushed by them, but I didn’t stop until I reached June’s dorm. Out of breath, but thankful to have most of my fitness and strength back, I grabbed ahold of the front door that someone had just walked through and began my ascent.
I heard her voice first and I nearly stumbled. God, how had I made it these past few months without her? The sound of Mrs. Scott’s voice came next, and as I rounded the corner and approached her door, I saw Mr. Scott in the hallway.
He spotted me and gave me a wide, welcoming smile. I knew I looked so different from the last time he’d seen me. I had more hair, for one, but I’d also filled out more, gained some weight, and put on some muscle. I wasn’t where I needed to be yet, but I was getting there.
Mr. Scott came toward me and shook my hand, then pulled me in for a hug, and my chest tightened. The way Mr. and Mrs. Scott had taken me in would always be a shock to me.
Mr. Scott ruffled my hair, and I playfully pushed him off. He pressed his finger to his lips, then called out, “June, could you come and help me with this box, please?”
I held my breath, keeping my eyes fixed on the doorway. Then she appeared and just about split my heart in two. June was wearing faded jean shorts and a simple white shirt tucked in to the waist. My eyes dropped to her feet, and I smiled at the beat-up brown cowboy boots she wore.
But that wasn’t the biggest shock. The shock was the long brown hair that fell to the middle of her back. June opened her mouth to speak to her daddy when she saw me leaning against the wall with my arms across my chest.
“Mornin’, Junebug,” I said, wincing as my voice shook. I couldn’t help it. I was finally reunited with my June after toomuch time apart—a lump clogged my throat and tears flooded my vision. Seeing her again felt like a goddamn gift.
“Jesse…” June said, her voice breaking just as she launched herself into my arms. She was still light as a feather, but I loved that she had put on some weight. She was healthy and filled out and a complete knock-out. Her long hair tickled at my cheek as I pressed her to me, and her hold around my neck was so tight I wasn’t sure if she would ever let go.
June reared back and I saw tears trickling down her cheeks. Her big, brown eyes were raking over me, and she smiled when she saw my hair. She ran her hands through it. We video called every day, several times a day, but seeing how each other had gotten healthier in the flesh was a damn revelation.
“Your tiny curls,” June said, and pressed her hand on them. I just knew they were tight from the humidity.
I leaned in and kissed her, unable to not have her on my lips for one more minute. I cradled the back of her head with my hand and was content to stay like this all day. Even Mr. Scott didn’t interrupt this time.
When June final pulled back, she laid her forehead against mine and said, “We did it, baby. We’re here.”
I smiled so hard, I felt like my face would crack. I moved my hand into the small gap between us and clenched it into a fist. “Group two for the win.”
June bumped my fist. “Group two for the win.”
I took my fill of my girl. I didn’t want to miss a moment now that I had her back. “Your hair seems to have miraculously grown overnight, Junebug,” I said, and ran my fingers down her long, dark-brown strands.
“Mama treated me to hair extensions last night as a starting-college gift,” she said, blushing a little. “My natural hair isn’t much longer than yours.” She sighed.
