Page 68 of Next Time We'll Fall

“Are you really?” Sage says. “I mean, you showed up in the middle of the night last night and you spent the night doing who knows what.”

Rosie’s giggles become louder, and Sage just winks at me.

“Is there a question here, Sage? Because I do have to get back to work.”

“I just want to know, what are your intentions with our cousin?”

“I don’t really know what you’re …”

“Oh, give it up, Rafe,” Sage says. “Obviously, you didn’t just happen to walk down to the beach because it’s your afternoon walk. Let’s be real. You wanted to go and spy on Juniper and see if she was making out with some hot TV star.”

I realize as I stare at her that maybe this is a serendipitous moment for me because maybe I should just ask Sage and Rosie what I should do.

It feels awkward and weird, and I don’t really want to, but if they are going to keep bringing up the subject to me, I will entertain it.

“Actually, you know what, Sage? You’re right. I did want to see how Juniper was getting on.”

Sage’s eyes widen in shock.

She can’t believe I’ve actually admitted it.

“So, you tell me, Sage, what should I do next?”

“You what? Is this a serious question?”

She licks the side of her ice cream cone, staring at my face.

I can tell she’s trying to figure out whether or not I’m being genuine.

“I’d like to take Juniper out on a date. I realize the timing seems off now that she’s on this reality show.”

“But you realize she’s hot and a hot commodity, and you don’t want someone else to get her?” Sage says.

I shrug.

Rosie looks me up and down. “If you really want a shot, you have to be honest with yourself, Rafe. What do you have to offer Juniper that another man can’t offer her? And are you genuinelyinterested in her because you really want to be with her, or is it because you just can’t stand another man having her?”

I look at her, surprised at the question.

“We may be young, but we’re not dumb, and we know men,” Sage says, hands on her hips. “And Juniper is our favorite cousin. She’s literally the best, and we would do anything for her. And she deserves a good man—like, a really good man. We actually think she deserves a billionaire, but she doesn’t seem to want a billionaire, so you’re lucky.”

I just stare at them, nonplussed. “Okay. So, you’re trying to tell me that I may not make enough money for her?”

Sage shrugs. “I don’t know how much money you make as a vet, and I don’t care. But the biggest question is, are you genuinely interested in Juniper?”

“I like her a lot,” I say honestly and nod. “Really like her. She’s a good woman, and I’m attracted to her, and I want to see where it goes. And I am not quite sure exactly how to approach this.”

“So, you thought instead of asking her out on a proper date, you’d give her an orgasm?” Sage says, shaking her head. “Like, why would you go for the physical before you got to know her?”

“I don’t know,” I shrug.

“Because he’s dumb,” Rosie rolls her eyes. “Like most men.”

“You were thinking with your small head, weren’t you?”

“I think I’m going to plead the Fifth here, girls. This is not a conversation I feel comfortable having with you both.”

They both start giggling.