When everyone had met June, I spread my arms wide and said, “Well, June, welcome to the Last-Chance Ranch!”
Emma groaned and tipped her head back in exasperation.
“What?” June said incredulously but laughing lightly.
I moved beside her. Her big, brown eyes met mine and reeled me in. “It’s what we’ve called this place. Yeah, Harmony Ranch is nice, but we prefer Last-Chance Ranch.”
“Heprefers it,” Chris said, elbowing me in my side. “Literally, no one else has been calling it that.”
“Bro, watch the ribs. My bones are fragile,” I said, rubbing my side. I was only half joking. I felt as breakable as glass lately. I was counting on this new miracle treatment to give me both my strength and health back, so I could get back on the football field and do what I did best.
“Allof our bones are fragile, dick,” Chris said.
I gave him my middle finger in response.
June took in the room, ignoring us two idiots. I traced what she was seeing—couches, a widescreen TV, and vending machines (but only stocked with appropriate nutritional food, of course) that were in the corner. “This has become the main room we hang out in,” I said.
June nodded.
“Obviously, we start treatment in a couple of days, so I don’t know what happens from there. We’re all just clutching on to freedom while we have it.”
June released a shaky sigh, but Emma sidled next to her, distracting her. “Want a drink?”
“Yeah, thanks,” June said and took off toward the vending machines.
“Dude,” Chris said, arm sliding over my shoulders. “Could you be more obvious?” He shook his head, laughing at me.
I didn’t care. I couldn’t take my eyes off June. I had nothing to hide. She was gorgeous. I’d never really been a subtle person, but getting told you wouldn’t live to your eighteenth birthday kind of made you hasty about telling people how you felt—or showing it.
I saw June take a bottle of water off Emma, keeping that notebook clutched to her chest with her other hand.
“She’s perfect, man,” I said to Chris, and he groaned. I ignored him. “Have you ever just looked at a girl and thought,damn? Because that is me today.” I shrugged. “Never happened before, but I’m not going to ignore it now.”
“Oh, jeez, man, down already?” Chris said. “We just got here! You’re meant to be my partner in crime.”
“Chill, my dude,” I said. “I’m just saying, seeing June has kind of knocked me on my ass.” Then June turned my way, and as our gazes caught again, I felt something in my chest explode. She cast me a small, shy smile, and I exhaled a long, calming breath.
Gorgeous.
Emma and June seemed to be hitting it off well, but when June came back over to me and Chris, she said, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting y’all, but I’d better go and find my suite again. I wasn’t meant to leave it. My parents will be finished with Neenee and wondering where I am.”
“Which is your suite?” I asked.
“Dove.”
Chris slapped my shoulder and groaned dramatically. I laughed at my friend.
“Emma! Join me on the couch,” Chris said.
“Why?” she questioned.
“I gotta tell you something.” Chris waggled his eyebrows at me.
I rolled my eyes. No doubt Emma would know about my little crush on June in no time.
“I’m so confused,” Emma said but followed him anyway, turning back to June to say, “Why are boys so damn weird? Thank God you’re here, girl. I’ll need you for my sanity.”
June’s responding smile was blinding. She turned to me. “Why did Chris groan like that? What’s he telling Emma?”
