Page 37 of Next Time We'll Fall

“I don’t want to call him. I don’t want to.”

“Girl, stop being stubborn. Figure out what’s going on with him and then figure out what you’re going to do next. I know you like him.”

“I mean …” I stare at them. I know I can’t lie to my cousins. I’m not that good of a liar.

“Fine. Hold on. I’m going to go in my room and call him, but I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time, girl,” Rosie says.

I head into my bedroom and close the door.

I immediately call Rafe.

He answers after two rings.

“Hey, what are you doing?” he says, his voice light and sensual. Like he’s whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

“What do you mean, what am I doing? I’m calling you because you’re blowing up my phone.”

“I just wanted to make sure that you’re not going to make another poor decision.”

“I’m not making any poor decisions, Rafe. I’m?—”

“We should talk,” he says, cutting me off.

“We are talking.”

“No, I mean in person.”

“Talk about what? Why do we have to talk in person?”

“I don’t know. Maybe about everything that’s been going on and the decisions you’re making … and us.”

“There’s no us, and whatever decisions I make in my life have nothing to do with you.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” he says. “I want to speak to you in person.”

“What? Why?”

“Come outside.”

“What do you mean, come outside?”

“I’m in your parking lot.”

“What, are you stalking me?”

“How am I stalking you if I know where you live?”

“But why are you here?”

“I know you’re not that slow, Juniper. I’m here because I want to talk to you. Come outside.”

“But …”

“But nothing.”

“I will come outside for five minutes.”