Page 31 of Next Time We'll Fall

I know Cindy because she often comes to Salty Pages to buy different books. And while we’re not exactly friends, I feel like I know a lot about her, considering the fact that she’s always asking for books like theKama SutraandHow to Please Your Man. She is the last person I want to see flirting it up with Rafe.

“You’re not jealous, Juniper. You don’t care,” I mutter to myself.

“Sorry? Were you talking to me?”

I look up into the dark eyes of a handsome man that I’ve never seen on the island before and shake my head quickly.

“Sorry, I was just giving myself a pep talk,” I lie because I don’t want to admit that I was giving myself a pep talk about a guy I used to have a crush on.

“Oh, I feel you. These things are always slightly intimidating, aren’t they?” He holds out his hand. “I’m Travis.”

“Hi, Travis. I am Juniper.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“This is a slightly informal event, isn’t it?” he says. “I’ve never been to a speed dating event quite like this. Would you like a drink?”

“No, I’m good. Thank you,” I say, holding up my half-drunk glass of pinot noir.

“I suppose you wouldn’t want to take a drink from a strange man anyway.”

“I guess that’s right,” I say, smiling. “So, have you been to these events often? Are you from Coconut Beach or …”

“No, I’m actually just in town for two weeks with my buddies. I thought it would be fun to come out here. I actually live in Atlanta.”

“Oh, cool. Hotlanta, huh?”

“No one calls it that anymore,” he says, shaking his head.

His dark eyes are warm as he gazes at me, and I notice there’s a very distinguished look to him. I suddenly realize he’s wearing a suit, and he has on a tie and a Rolex watch.

“You’re a bit overdressed for this event, aren’t you?”

“Oh, I just came from a wedding,” he says, shrugging nonchalantly and looking down in a slightly embarrassed fashion.

“Oh, cool. Was it fun?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He laughs. “If you call the groom’s ex-girlfriend standing up and objecting to the wedding and saying that she’s pregnant by the groom and then the bride calling off the wedding and a lot of fighting and name-calling going down, then yeah.” He shrugs and looks at me. “Sounds like a little bit of a hot mess, doesn’t it?”

I lean forward. “Damn, I’m so sorry. So, were you there because of the groom or because of the bride? Who did you know?” Eagerness is dripping from my tone because who doesn’t want to get the dirt on a wedding gone wrong?

He stares at me, looking uncomfortable in a weird way. Like he doesn’t really want to say more. “I’ll admit it. I was on the groom’s side.”

“Oh shit. And did you know he was cheating with his ex-girlfriend?”

He nods slowly. “I did.”

“Holy shit. And you thought the wedding would still go forward?”

He smiles and chuckles lightly. “I did.”

“Shit. So, what ended up happening?”

“Well, the wedding got called off. The ex-girlfriend laughed with glee, said she was going to take the groom to court for child support. He’s not sure if the baby is his though because she’s a bit of a ho.”

“Wow. And the bride?”

“I don’t know. I think she’s on the next plane out of Coconut Beach. Probably headed back to Atlanta or something.”