After hanging up, he walked over to Juniper, ruffled her slightly messy long hair, and asked softly, "Is winter break getting a bit boring?"
Juniper naturally leaned into his embrace, ying with the buttons on his shirt.
Her silence was answer enough.
It was true.
Before, whenever she got bored, she would head back to Australis or Subterra Vanguard.
But now that she was used to being by his side, she couldn''t fall asleep at night without him.
And she couldn''t exactly ask Shanley to drop his work to go y with her.
Making money was still pretty important.
"I''ll take you to Caelus for a few days to have some fun," Shanley said, twirling a strand of her long hair around his fingertips. His voice was rich and deep. "We can do some shopping, kill some time."
"Caelus?"
Juniper lifted her eyelids curiously, her tone casual.
"Yeah." Shanley nodded, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. "My grandparents'' anniversary ising up, and my grandpa wants to get my grandma a gift."
"It just so happens there''s an auction in Caelus in a few days, and one of the items is exactly what my grandma wants."
"Sure."
She had nothing else going on anyway. If she saw something suitable, she could buy it. When Celine''s baby was born, she could give it as a gift.
Before leaving Era City, Juniper specifically made a trip to Fox''s Den Boxing Gym to see Ebony Fox.
Ebony Fox had previously been stressing over what to get her little nephew, so Juniper figured she could help her prepare something.
Who would have thought-
Just as she walked up to the door of the boxing room, she heard Kurt Schwartz''s voice.
"Ebony Fox, I swear my leg ispletely fine," Kurt pleaded, following Ebony Fox around like a lost puppy. "Please, just take me in."
"The doctor said I need to exercise more for this condition. Coming here to practice boxing might help me recover faster."
Ebony Fox had been pestered by him all day. The only reason she hadn''t kicked him out was because hisst name was "Schwartz."
"Tell you what, as long as you take me in, I''ll cook for you." Kurt tilted his head back, patting his chest in a solemn vow. "Three meals a day, and I promise not a single dish will repeat."
Ebony Fox paused her sorting of the documents and cast a meaningful nce at him.
Truth be told.
The dishes Kurt had madest time were actually incredibly delicious.
"If you can''t handle the hardship, you''re out," Ebony Fox said. "And if these ''three meals a day'' you''re promising taste bad, you''re also out."
"Mission guaranteed!" Kurt straightened up, practically vibrating with excitement. "Ebony Fox, I''m going to buy groceries right now. Let me show off my skills for you today.''
He threw open the door-
And bumped right into Juniper, who had just been about to knock.
"What are you doing here?"
Juniper asked, confused to see Kurt.
She had suspected him of wanting to assassinate Ebony Fox, she had suspected
him of trying to steal her martial arts secrets...
The only thing she hadn''t suspected was that he actually had a crush on her.
"Ah?"
Kurt felt incredibly guilty. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and said in a raspy voice, "I''m here for physical therapy."
"?"
Juniper looked up at the sign that
read "Fox''s Den Boxing Gym," her expression.utterly unamused.
"You''re a guy with a crippled leg. What kind of physical therapy are you expecting to do at a boxing gym?"
"Oh, right."
Kurt''s throat tightened. After a moment of frantic thinking, he changed the subject. "Juniper, have
you eaten yet? Let me make a few shes and you can stay and
eat with us!"
"Hmm?" Juniper paused for two seconds, then gave a slight nod. "Alright. I want a tomato and egg scramble."
"No problem."
After agreeing, Kurt bolted away as if ghosts were chasing him.
Once he disappeared from sight, Juniper frowned slightly. Something felt off, but
she couldn''t quite put her finger on what.
No.
She''d have to go back and ask Shanley about this.