The flashback to a few months ago made every fiber in my body strain. I rubbed the back of my neck again. When I felt that pit in my stomach begin, I didn’t want anyone else to notice it. I was outgoing Jesse. MVP QB Jesse. Would beat this cancer and get to UT next year Jesse.
I wasn’t weak.
Mr. Scott cleared his throat, and when I looked to him, I panicked that he could see through me, could see the cracks in who I tried to be. “I wish you nothing but the best, son,” he said. “Truly. I saw highlights of you on our local football channel. You’ve got a great talent that I hope to see on the Longhorn field someday soon.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said, meaning it. I could see June’s brows pulled down in confusion, but she didn’t ask anything else—thankfully. “Are you a UT alumnus?”
“I am,” he said, then put his hand on his wife’s arm, a proud expression on his face. “We both are. It’s where we met,freshman year.” He then put his arm around June. “June is set to go there too.” His demeanor shifted. “After?—”
“After she also kicks cancer’s butt,” I interrupted, and watched as June’s anxious face morphed into one of amusement.
“That she will,” Mr. Scott said. “Oh, how rude of me! This is my wife, Claire.”
I shook Mrs. Scott’s hand. It was like seeing June in the future. “Nice to meet y’all,” I said, then looked to June. “I guess I’ll be seeing you soon, Junebug.” I nodded at them all as I turned to leave.
I headed back in the direction of the rec room while June finished up with settling in, only to hear, “Goodbye, Jesse.” I looked over my shoulder. June’s parents and Neenee had gone inside her suite, but she remained there, alone, green scarf on her head, brown eyes beautifully locked on me as she still clutched that notebook to her chest.
“First rule of the Last-Chance Ranch, Junebug: weneversay goodbye, only good night.”
June laughed.
“Good night, Junebug,” I stressed.
June smiled, then said, “Sleep tight, Jesse.” She ducked inside her room, her cheeks flushing. My heart was racing, and shivers had broken out along my skin.
June Scott…what a revelation. Suddenly my time here didn’t look so bleak.
CHAPTER 4
June
Istared at the girl in the mirror before me. I ran my fingersover cheeks that were slightly swollen due to the many months of taking steroids. I rubbed together lips slathered in the lip balm I constantly wore to stop them from cracking.
Next, I ran my fingers over my chest where my chemo port had been. Even after two years, it still felt foreign to me. No matter how much I stared at my reflection, it still took me a while to recognize the girl before me.
“Hello, June,” I whispered, finally running my hands over my bald head and bare brow. It was something I did each day: reacquainted myself with “Cancer June.” And as much as I struggled to believe this girl was me, this sort of imposter, I couldn’t help but love her for how well she had fought for us.
Wasstillfighting.
It was a heady feeling.
A knock sounded on my door just as I tied a long, pale-pink scarf around my head, securing it at the back. I glanced in the mirror one more time. I wore a plain white T-shirt and comfortable, well-worn jeans, a pink sweater tied around my waist for when I inevitably felt the chill.
I opened the door only to find Jesse Taylor casually leaning against the frame. “Mornin’, Junebug,” he said, and my heart skipped a beat. He was so handsome. I felt like I could get lost in his forest-green eyes that reminded me of the trees behind my home. He was wearing a Longhorns T-shirt and jeans, with the same orange, Longhorns baseball cap he had on yesterday—worn backwards, of course.
A true country boy.
“Morning, Jesse,” I said, nerves accosting me. I’d tried to sleep last night. While the start of treatment in a couple days’ time should have been the reason why I hadn’t, it was because of this boy who had catapulted into my life in the most unlikely of circumstances. The boy I knew was sleeping just on the other side of my bedroom wall.
I wasn’t vain. I had never seen myself as anything but normal—not pretty but not plain. Just somewhere in between. Pleasantly average. But since meeting Jesse yesterday, I had been rocked. He’d called me beautiful.Me.This superstar QB who was destined for greatness—who I just knew was popular at school—had called me beautiful.
I couldn’t see the beauty on my face that Jesse seemed so taken by.
I was so confused.
“Chris, Emma, and I are going for a walk, to explore the grounds and just hang out. We wanna do it before treatment starts and we’re all puking for Texas. You coming?” he asked, wearing a playful smirk on his plush lips. Jesse Taylor had charm in abundance. But he wasn’t arrogant. He was innocently cocky and cheeky. Frankly, he was magnetic, and so far, when I was near him, I felt like I was being pulled into his orbit.
I laughed at his joke, but my stomach swirled with butterflies at the invite. Here he was again, showing interest. “Sure,” I said,and followed him out of my door. “Ah, wait!” I ducked back into my room to grab my notebook.
