Page 24 of Next Time We'll Fall

Why didn’t I change my clothes when I got home? Now I have to answer a bunch of questions and relive the night. Including the moment that Rafe kissed me. There. I blush, just thinking about it. Why did it feel so good, and why was it so hot? I am dying inside, thinking about that moment. About how excited I felt when I thought that perhaps he was going to come inside and we were going to make a night of it. How easily I would have succumbed. I am a sucker for a man with pretty blue eyes. Especially when that man is Rafe Bishop.

“Then whose shirt is it?” Rosie’s eyes twinkle, and I know she already knows the answer.

“I plead the Fifth.”

“Oh shit, Juniper done did the dirty with Rafe.” Sage squeals as she and Rosie high-five. “You go, you dirty girl.”

“I did not do the dirty with Rafe.” I blush bright red.

“Then why do you not have a bra on under his shirt?” Rosie raises her eyebrows. “Did he undress you, or did he undress you fast?”

“Girls, he didn’t undress me at all. Nothing happened …”

“Did you just pause?” Sage’s jaw drops. “I mean, I was just joking, but now I feel like maybe we were right. Juniper Meadows, tell us right now what happened last night.”

“Nothing happened, trust me. Rafe took me home because I was wet and he?—”

“Wanted to get in your pants?”

“No, he didn’t want me to catch a cold. He was a perfect gentleman. He’s always a perfect gentleman.”

My heart pounds in disappointment because my words are one hundred percent true. Rafe doesn’t feel that way about me. He doesn’t find me irresistibly charming. He’s not infatuated with me. He sees me as his little sister. Though, in my heart of hearts, I know that’s not true. He wouldn’t have held me against him like that if that was the way he felt, and he wouldn’t have just left. Ours was not a love story in the making. Or even a night of passionate lovemaking. Our story ended before it even began. And I was absolutely okay with that. Absolutely.

“I think you’re not telling us?—”

“What do you girls want to do today?” I interrupt Sage.

As much as I love my cousins, I don’t want to spend the next hour dissecting exactly what went on with Rafe the previous night. I know my cousins would make a mountain out of a molehill, and I don’t need or want that.

“To do?” Sage looks over at Rosie, and they both yawn and shrug. “Grab coffees and breakfast, head to the beach, flirt with cute boys, and just enjoy life.”

“That can be arranged.” I smile. “You want to help me at Salty Pages today, or would you rather do no work?”

“We will help. I want to buy a book for the beach anyway.”

“Me too,” Rosie says. “I want a cute fall billionaire romance.”

“Please don’t tell me you want the heroine to be named Rosie,” I say, and she looks at me in confusion. “No worries.” I giggle and watch as she twists her silky, dark hair on top of her head. “Okay, so coffee and food first?”

“Yes, please.”

They both jump off of the bed and stand there, looking around my small room, and promptly decide to invade my closet.

“Someplace with yummy Dutch baby pancakes would be great,” Sage requests.

I just smile. Sage has loved pancakes since she was little. I suppose that some things never change.

“Well, the diner down on Beach Drive still does those apple pancakes you love, and I bet we can throw in some bacon and home fries as well.”

“That sounds divine,” Sage groans and rubs her belly. “You sure know how to get to my heart, Juniper.”

“I guess food isn’t just a way into a man’s heart anymore.”

“Food and/or a good blow job.” Rosie giggles.

I just give her myI know you didn’t just say thatlook, and she laughs some more. I can’t help but laugh along with her, even though I feel like I should be educating her on not giving BJs to every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Not that I think she does, but sometimes, as the older cousin, I feel like I need to provide some sort of moral guidance as well. Which is a bit of a joke. No sane person would ever think I would be the morality police. Notbecause I’m immoral, but because I’ve kissed randoms many times.

“I’m the queen of blow jobs.” Sage raises her hand in the air. “At least, that’s what Vincent said.”