Freeform (19 page)

“I can't,” I deny my hands landing on his chest. “I have to work, Tucker. Not all of us have millions in the bank to let us gallivant around the world.”

He nods slowly. “And if I paid for your living from my account, anything you needed or wanted, and just took jobs to take care of me, would that change your mind?”

“No,” another defeated sigh escapes. “I'm not a leech, Tucker. I can't be that irresponsible. That's not who I am.”

To my surprise he grins widely. “I know. However, I also know, you had a fantastic idea and we're going to tell Aunt Brandi about it right now.”

“What?” He grabs my hand and begins dragging me back the direction we came.

“Wait. What!” I try to speak up. “Tucker! What! What are you talking about?”

The two of us branch off to the right where we arrive in front of patio doors. He points. “We'll meet you out there. Three minutes.”

“Wh-”

“Just trust me.”

Like I trusted him not to walk out on me to begin with?

I surrender my hands in the air and exit onto the patio section. Flopping down in the chair, I fold my fingers together.

Even if it were possible, which I don't think it is, could I leave it all behind to be with Tucker? I mean...he's willing to live here with me part time, could I live the life of the unknown for a few months to counter? It feels like Tucker isn't determined to have everything his way. He
wants
to share. He wants something
together
. Shouldn't I give him that chance? Shouldn't I give
us
that chance? Couples fight and people say shit they don't really mean when they're upset. But what he just said? The willingness to live together, to try family life knowing how important I find it, tells me what he said a couple of days ago was
the mistake
and plans for a future together is still his number one intention.

Brandi and Tucker come out the patio door together.

The moment the two of them have settled at the table, Tucker beside me, her across from us, he states, “June has an idea that's she been sitting on for months that would benefit the company.”

Brandi glances at her nephew with a displeased expression. “You wanna discuss business,
now
? At your mother's wedding reception? I know you're relationship with her is still touchy but-”

“I have to be on a train for Georgia at midnight. I want like hell for June Bug to be on that train with me.” He pulls two tickets out of his jacket pocket and puts them on the table. “So yeah. I wanna discuss business now.”

While my eyes widen, Brandi smirks as if impressed. “Alright. I'm listening.”

Tucker waves a hand for me to explain. All of sudden pressure like I've never felt before tugs on my vocal chords.

Uh......This can't be happening.

His hand falls onto mine and my eyes move to his. “You said you wanted to work. You tell her, she goes for it, and we both get what we want most. You're not invisible, June. You're bright and beautiful and bold. Now be seen.”

The vote of confidence causes my body to lift upward. I turn to my boss and say, “I think if you included artwork from local artists in the Frost hotels around the globe, you would create a mutually beneficial relationship with communities where the hotels are located. If you agree to purchase and display artwork from the local artists, the hotel chain will have a unique quality at each location, drive tourism to explore the local activities, and build a level of appreciation for driving business to these artists that may have never been seen otherwise.”

Brandi nods.

“While you would be driving attention towards the local establishments, they would also be driving praise the company’s direction when asked for recommendations on where to stay.”

“While I
appreciate
the idea, it's not exactly practical. In order to do something like that, it would require me to travel or send someone to travel to our various locations.”

“Send June,” Tucker declares, grabbing his aunt's attention.

Both of our mouths crack open.

“Send June to the cities with the hotels. I'll go with her. Let her find the talent and initiate the contracts. It's a brilliant idea, Aunt Brandi and you know one of things that makes the Frost hotels better than the others is the dedication to innovation.”

Hearing Tucker quote the company motto takes me off guard.

I didn't think he knew anything about the company.

“We can give this idea a shot under two conditions.” Brandi leans back in her seat. “One, you agree to family dinners whenever you're in town in which you
do not
raise hell simply to see your mother's head spin around.”

Tucker surrenders a hand. “And two?”

“You commission a piece for the hotel here. Yearly. You show up, you present it, and you connect to the Frost company the way you once wanted to.”

Confused, I ask, “You wanted to work for the company?”

His shoulders drop and he sighs, “When my dad was still alive. I wanted the job Aunt Brandi has. I wanted to learn to run the art division.” Our eyes meet. “But I'm glad I didn't. I'd be miserable in an office. I'd be miserable not experiencing the world of art past catalogs and Instagram photos. I'm happy this way.” Tucker turns back to his aunt. “But if that's what it takes to let June go then I'm in. Love and art sometimes require a little sacrifice. I'd rather that be one of my paintings than a life time without the only person who makes everything in my life so
so
much better.”

Brandi fans her face. “Aww....”

Speechless, I feel incapable of doing anything more than staring.

I have to take this risk, don't I? It's time to be responsible for my own adventures and enjoy happiness.

“I'll have paperwork drawn up and sent to you whenever you two get settled somewhere.” She stands and says to me. “I'll miss the hell out of you. You were the best personal assistant I ever had even if you were a clumsy little thing.”

“Thanks...”

“Take good care of my nephew, June.”

“I will,” I whisper.

The moment she's disappeared back in the venue, Tucker squeezes my hand, and leans over so our lips are only a breath apart, “Now....are you ready to run away with me, June Bailey?”

“Absolutely....”

Who better to show me the world, than the one and only Tucker Frost? Oh don't start singing that Disney song! Now it's going to be stuck in my head too!

Epilogue

One Year Later...

Tucker

“How do I look?” June spins around in the navy colored bridesmaid dress, tripping over her own feet in the process.

Even without shoes....

I toss the sketchpad to the side of our bed. “You okay?”

“You know, after a year of seeing me fall flat on my face on sidewalks, hotel lobbies, dance floors, and art showings, you'd think you'd stop asking that.”

With a crooked grin I state, “Hate to break it to you, June Bug, but making sure you're okay is something I'll always do, because I love you.”

She gives me a sweet smirk.

I think part of me knew it from the first time I saw her trip. How's that for Fate having a plan?

“Someday I like to think you'll be showing me a dress for
our
wedding rather than someone else’s.”

Her smile grows wider. “You do know, it would be bad luck to show you the dress before the wedding.”

“Then we'd just have to make our own good luck.” I wink.

June giggles and grabs the hanger. “So after Jaye and Archer's wedding, where are we headed?”

Leaning back onto my palms, I shrug. “You tell me. It's your turn to choose.”

This level of balance is a fun thing to discover. We not only found ourselves a nice little pattern of going away for weeks then returning to the city for an equal amount of time, we always alternate cities I want with ones that actually contain Frost hotels. Our ability to meet in the middle doesn't even feel like a burden so much as sharing art supplies to assure mutually beautiful creations. I'd share anything with June. Life's better this way. And the second I stopped running it was much easier to see.

“Mmm,” she hums slipping out of the dress. “Your mother and David are heading to Jamaica to celebrate their one year. What do you think about postponing a work trip for a personal one?”

The suggestion sits me all the way back up.

Things have slowly begun to change over the last year. While I don't necessarily love the idea of my mother married to another man, I meant what I said at their wedding. The next time we got together, David suggested maybe seeing a family shrink to face some of the unresolved issues between me and my mother. We agreed and when I return home, we take some time to talk with the help of a third party about Dad's death. I'm trying to be understanding that she's more than just a mother, but a person with needs and desires while she's learning to understand my want for my father's presence not to be alienated from their home. David and I have talked as well and it turns out when he's not being attacked, he's not a complete asshole. He even collects original Ninja Turtle memorabilia, he loves the tattoo of one I have on my calf. I even agreed he could turn my old bedroom into a place to showcase his collection.

Not having received an immediate answer, June quickly back pedals, “But we don't have to. We can totally do something else instead. If you're over the whole island adventure thing there's Alaska, Canada, a little town in Minnesota I heard does some great ice sculptures and-”

“Come here.” I whisper and motion her over to me with a finger. My girlfriend crawls into my lap to straddle me. “I think Jamaica's a good idea. Try a little bonding with them, see the beaches, meet some of the locals who do amazing wood work.”

“Do they?”

“Oh yeah. Eddie's been trying to get me to go see it for years.”

“I like Eddie. He's funny.”

“Don't like him too much. Would hate to see him limping away the next time our paths cross.”

What....I may be a lover and not a fighter, but swinging at anything that can come between the two of us is just my instinct.

As she smiles, my fingers stroke the skin on her lower back. “After Jamaica, when we come home, I wanna do something with your family. Maybe another big cook out? Your father grills a mean set of ribs. Oh! And Mya asked me to take her to one of the underground art exhibits.”

“But not an art rave!”

I chuckle at the memory. “No. We won't take your little sister to one of those.”

June wraps her arms around my neck and wiggles. “Okay...Then I like that idea.”

The feeling of her bra covered nipples brushing against my chest causes my cock to knock against her. “I have another idea you might like....”

She giggles and I quickly capture her mouth with mine. The two of us tumble backwards onto the bed.

I've always believed love inspires the most stunning creations, but now I know firsthand that love itself is indeed the most beautiful art form of them all. To be given a chance to enjoy it without forced rules or regulations is like being given the tools to design life's purest work. I'm learning love is not just an art form, but the canvas, the paint, the brush, and the artist itself. It's only when you've completely surrendered to Fate, and we're talkin', the good, the bad, the ugly and the perfect, that you're allowed to live every day as the masterpiece it is intended to be.