" there you are ! " gianna announces her presence, hands wrapped around two cups of lemonade to help beat the texas heat. she grins, happy to have finally found her shopping companion. " i forgot how bad the traffic can get out here when it's summer. doesn't help the kids are all going back to school soon. " the attorney hands over the second cup. " i didn't keep you waiting for long, did i ? parking was a nightmare. "

    june instantly turned around upon hearing gianna’s voice, the corners of his mouth curving upwards as he noticed her hands seemed quite full — maybe something refreshing ? “ yeah, the traffic is pretty foul, isn’t it ? we’re kind of almost on LA’s level of bad . . . and, i truly forgot about the kids . . . you’re so right, though. ” he honestly couldn’t wait for when the little critters returned to school ; it just seemed less congested that way. the way he liked it. “ thanks, gianna, ” he appreciated the attorney’s gesture, taking the cup from her. “ nah, you didn’t . . . but speakin’ of nightmare, it took me so long to look for a spot — how much d’ya wanna bet i’ll lose the car ? ”

✦  after  a  relaxing  morning  swim  in  the  pool  mackenna  had  one  plan  left  before  she  had  to  think  about  the  content  she'd  be  posting  for  the  ranch  that  day.  and  that  line  of  thought  brought  her  to  the  door  of  the  steam  room.  a  love  that  she  had  always  had,  stepping  into  the  steam  filled  room  relieved  the  youngest  whitney  girl  of  any  stress  that  plagued  her  body.  if  she  could  have  she  would  have  spent  a  far  longer  time  than  one  should  in  a  steam  room.  as  her  hand  reaches  for  the  door  she  spots  the  other  in  the  corner  of  her  eye.  "  will  you  be  joining  me  in  the  steam  room  this  morning?  "

    it was getting way too hot in the steam room, and he didn’t like it one bit. frankly, june doesn’t do well in the heat — even worse if it’s humid — and it is quite ironic because the weather in willow glen can get pretty sweltering . . . or maybe he just naturally has warm body temperature. anyway, he was on a break, away from the steam, cooling himself with a pleasant, chilly bottle of water, and clearly perspiring a little bit, feeling a bit gross. of course it wasn’t a sauna, but it sure as hell was hot. “ oh, i don’t know — maybe, maybe not, ” and a light, airy chuckle escaped from his mouth.

                she'd   known   she   wasn't   supposed   to   be   in   there   .   had   only   intended   to   be   in   this   part   of   the   club   in   passing   ,   but   attention   is   easily   caught   by   a   grand   piano   tucked   in   the   corner   of   an   empty   room   ,   soft   light   of   the   setting   sun   spilling   against   the   maple   stain   ⸺   angelic   ,   almost   ,   and   who   was   she   to   not   follow   the   light   .   the   space   itself   doesn't   seem   big   enough   to   be   all   too   important   ,   likely   some   kind   of   banquet   hall   or   conference   room   that   hosted   small   events   that   didn't   need   a   grand   audience   .   steps   will   her   towards   the   piano   before   she   can   think   hard   enough   to   resist   ,   wood   of   the   bench   cool   against   her   skin   ,   fingers   finding   the   keys   like   it   was   exactly   where   they   belonged   .   music   was   so   easy   for   her   to   get   lost   in   ,   eyes   fallen   shut   as   soon   as   the   first   note   rang   from   the   soundboard    .   she   moves   through   the   song   like   it's   a   part   of   her   ,   letting   the   notes   rise   and   fall   as   they   may   until   the   last   lingers   between   her   finger   and   the   key   .   it's   only   then   that   her   eyes   open   ,   barely   in   focus   before   she's   startled   into   pressing   down   a   sour   note   ,   hand   lifted   to   clutch   her   chest   as   a   heavy   breath   accompanies   the   thrashing   of   her   heartbeat   against   her   ribcage   .   "   good   grief   ,   "   said   with   a   laugh   ,   incredulous   ,   tips   of   her   ears   warm   with   the   effects   of   her   own   embarrassment   .   "   sorry   .   .   .   i   wasn't   expecting   anyone   to   be   there   ⸺   well   .   .   .   i   guess   really   i'm   not   supposed   to   be   here   so   maybe   i'm   the   one   that   scared   you   ,   but   .   .   .   "   head   shakes   ,   rambling   ,   sweat   from   her   palms   wiped   against   the   skin   of   her   thighs   .   "   did   they   send   you   here   to   kick   me   out   ?   "

    frequenting the country club was a part of june’s routine. did he actually have one ? absolutely not. but no one has to know that. he is here every other day, and somehow, he hasn’t dropped dead of how fucking BORING it was. june was in dire of need of something new in his life. the sound of the piano low-key captivated him. surprisingly, the melody was a lot closer than he thought. now a few yards from the person who was playing the piano . . . and a beautiful song at that. his focus wasn’t entirely on her, however; june was on his mobile device, so lost in a tsunami of his thoughts. the sour note brought him back to reality, and he was just as startled as she was. the former skater flinched out of his skin; a soft laugh produced from his mouth, waving his hand dismissively. “ oh gosh, no— i mean, sure, ya scared the hell outta me, but i’m sure you reacted just the same, ” he clears his throat, and proceeded to apologize, “ i’m so sorry — and no, i don’t even work here to kick you out. but for what ? playing the piano ? ”

IM SIWAN via Instagram