Page 60 of Next Time We'll Fall

“You want to be self-sufficient, yet you’re going to be on a reality dating TV show?”

“Yeah, because maybe it’ll be fun. Maybe I will meet a nice guy. Maybe.”

“Why do you keep going on about men? What about me?”

“What about you, Rafe?”

“Look, I’ve got to go. I am going to be late. We’re meant to be meeting down on the beach in, like, ten minutes.”

“So, last night was nothing to you?”

She’s silent again.

“Juniper,” I say, “I asked you a question.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Rafe. You came over. We got naked, and we fooled around. It’s not like you took me to Paris for a romantic evening under the Eiffel Tower with caviar and champagne. Anyway, I’ve got to go.”

She hangs up before I can even respond, and I stare at the phone in my hand. My heart’s racing.

“What the fuck?” I say, standing there.

But I realize I have to get back inside. I’m busy. There are a lot of animals waiting on me.

I stomp back inside and take a couple of deep breaths. I need my energy to be calm. If I’m angry or anxious, the animals will sense it, and I can’t allow that to happen.

I stare at my phone and think back to what Juniper said.

I didn’t take her to France for champagne and caviar. Was she expecting me to fly her across the world?

Is that what you have to do these days?

She couldn’t be expecting that, could she?

I head to the front, where I see Sarah, my longest-serving vet tech, standing there with some files in her hand.

“Oh, hey, Doc. We’ve got Ginger the tabby waiting for you in room two when you’re ready.”

“Can I ask you a question, Sarah?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“And you can tell me that it’s not appropriate, but do women expect to be taken to Paris if they’re dating someone?”

“I mean, I guess it depends how many dates you’ve been on and if it’s an engagement or something. I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute requirement. Why? Does your girlfriend want you to take her to Paris or something?”

Her eyes light up, and I can tell she’s delighted by the conversation.

Sarah loves to gossip, and I know she’s always wanted to know about my love life, which I keep under wraps because Idefinitely don’t believe in mixing personal with professional. But right now, I need some answers.

“She’s not my girlfriend, but I just got a feeling that she was expecting me to take her to Paris, and …”

“Oh, she’s not even your girlfriend?” She makes a face. “How many dates have you guys been on?”

I blink. “I guess none, but …”

“I’m confused. This girl’s not your girlfriend, and you’ve never been on any dates, and yet she wants you to take her to Paris?”

“What? I mean, she didn’t say she wanted me to take her to Paris. She just made a comment because maybe we kind of made out or whatever,” I say quickly. “And I kind of had an expectation that she wasn’t going to date any other guys.”