Page 32 of Next Time We'll Fall

“Dang. So, where’s the groom right now?”

He stares at me for a couple of seconds, and I watch as he runs his hands through his dark hair. He reminds me slightly of an overgrown frat boy—a really rich, really good-looking one, but still a frat boy.

“You’re kind of staring at him,” he says. There’s a glint in his eyes that makes me feel like he’s proud of the fact.

My jaw drops. “Wait, what? You’re the groom. You were meant to get married today.” I don’t know if my brain is computing everything he’s just told me because I can’t stop staring at him in shock and awe, instead of disgust.

He cocks his head to the side. “Does that mean you’re not going to want to go on a date with me later?”

“Wait, seriously? You were meant to get married today, and you’re at a speed dating event?”

“You can’t say I’m not honest,” he says, shrugging.

I burst out laughing then because how ridiculous is the situation? It’s so ridiculous that it’s hilarious, and I can’t wait to tell everyone I know. I wonder if every man in the world is an idiot.

Apparently though, I’m laughing a little too hard because the fun police is suddenly next to the table.

“Yes, Rafe, what can I do to help you?”

“I was just making sure everything was going okay.” He stares at me, a frown on his handsome face. He looks at me, and then he looks at my date. “I’m Rafe.”

“Okay. And is that meant to mean something to me?”

“Well, I’m just letting you know I know Juniper here, and I’m very protective of her, and …”

“Dude, okay. We haven’t gotten back to the hotel yet. We are not near a bed. If you want to cause some drama in my life, today is the wrong day to do it because I honestly don’t give a fuck what you have to say.”

I press my lips together because Rafe looks infuriated, but he has no idea just how serious this dude is.

“Well, here’s a word of advice: Don’t go back to Juniper’s place because she has bedbugs.” Rafe looks over at me and licks his lips. “Or did you say it was crabs? I did notice you scratching a lot.”

“Oh my gosh, really, Rafe?” I glare at him.

“What? I was at your place last night.”

“You didn’t come inside,” I say quickly.

“Wait, he was at your place last night?”

“He was, but only because he was giving me a ride home because …”

“And whose shirt did you wear into your apartment?”

“Well, I wore your shirt because my shirt was wet,” I explain. “Because …” I pause. It’s not really going to look good if I say I was in a wet T-shirt competition that didn’t actually happen.

“And whose lips were sucking on your nipples last night?” Rafe says, and all color leaves my face as my jaw drops.

“Holy shit. And I thought I was a dog.” My date jumps up and shakes his head. “Look, you’re a pretty girl, but I dodged one bullet today. Actually, I dodged two bullets today, and I’m not looking for a third one. I just want some hot fucking sex and to bounce up out of this town. And, well, I don’t know what you two got going on, but I don’t want a part of it.”

And with that, he disappears.

I glare at Rafe, who bursts out laughing.

“Did he just say that?” He pauses as he notices that I’m glaring at him with absolute hate in my eyes. “So, you’re looking a little bit pissed off at me right now, Juniper.”

“A little bit?” I say loudly. “I’m more than a little bit pissed off. How dare you?”

“How dare I what? Tell the truth?”