Page 55 of Next Time We'll Fall

“Whatever, whatever. Tell us.”

“Well, he started getting annoyed, I guess, that I was on the phone.” I giggle, thinking about the previous night. “And, well …” I blush again.

“Oh my gosh. What happened?”

“He pulled my panties off,” I say quickly, “and he might or might not have started going down on me.”

“Damn. While you were on the phone?” Rosie’s eyes widen. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”

“I knew I liked that guy,” Sage says with a giggle, and I just shake my head. “So, what, he went down on you while you were on the phone?”

I nod. “Yeah. And then I had to get off the phone because I couldn’t be moaning and shit while I was on the phone.”

“Exactly. He totally knew what he was doing,” Sage says. “So, he goes down on you, and then what?”

“And then he might or might not have taken off his briefs.”

“Okay. And what next?”

“He might or might not have gotten on top of me.” I let out a low sigh. “But we didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re wondering. Well, I know that’s what you’re wondering, but we didn’t. I got close, and I really wanted him to, and he was rightthere, and I knew all I had to do was grab his ass and pull him into me, but he didn’t think it was the right time. And he was probably right.”

I let out a long, deep sigh. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on. He’s never expressed this sort of interest in me before.”

“And, girl, it’s because we came to town, and you’re out there, and you’re having fun, and he’s seen that other guys want you, and that you have this sexy, fun side to you, and he’s probably panicking.”

“Because don’t take this the wrong way,” Sage says, “but you’re kind of boring when we’re not around.”

“I’m not boring. I mean, granted, I don’t enter wet T-shirt competitions, and I don’t get invited to be on reality dating TV shows, but …”

“Exactly,” Rosie says. “He just thought you’d be boring Juniper, sitting at home and watching movies, going to work at the bookstore, and never having a life. Now he realizes that you’re going to be out there, getting it on, and he’s totally jealous.”

“He’s not jealous.”

“He’s what?” Sage says, raising an eyebrow at me.

“I don’t know, but I don’t like playing these games. Does he want me? Does he not want me? Is this just about sex? Is it about anything else? I just don’t understand. It’s not like he’s asked me on a date. Just because he’s physically attracted to me doesn’t mean anything.”

Sage nods. “I agree. And I’m glad you didn’t have sex with him. I mean, I thought it would happen, but I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Oh, why?”

“Because if he wants you—like really and truly wants you—then he needs to step up his game. Everyone knows you havephysical chemistry and attraction, but if he actually wants to take this somewhere, this is not good enough.”

“What are you saying?”

“He needs to wine you and dine you and get to know you as more than Mia’s best friend, okay? He needs to know what’s going on in your brain—your dreams, your wants, your desires. He needs to know your favorite foods. He needs to know your favorite color. He needs to know what would be the last meal you ate if you were on death row. He needs to know you inside and out. And only then may he be worthy of you.”

I stare at her for a couple of seconds. “He doesn’t want to know all that about me.”

“Then he’s not the one,” she says, shaking her head. “You, my dear, are amazing, and you deserve the best man in the world. And, yeah, he’s cute. And, yeah, you’re attracted to him. And, yeah, you’ve had a thing for him for years. But don’t give in to him just because, all of a sudden, he realizes you’re a hot commodity. He needs to come right if he wants you.”

I nod slowly. “Maybe it’s just a physical thing. Maybe he’s not really interested in anything more than that.” I shrug. “He did sneak out of here early this morning.”

I feel guilty as soon as I say it.

I mean, he did it because he had gotten an emergency phone call about someone’s cat and he had to go into the office to take care of the cat. But still, I felt odd with him just leaving at six thirty in the morning while I was in bed, naked.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Rosie says.