Page 8 of Next Time We'll Fall

“I guess ‘Summer Nights.’” I stare at her, wrinkling my nose before plastering my best fake smile on my face, and offer Rafe a goodbye wave. “Sorry, but I’m here to have fun tonight. Not waste my time entertaining you. You enjoy doing you.”

“We will need to figure this out at some point. You know that, right, Juniper? We can’t keep arguing and being standoffish with each other just because, once upon a time, you had a small crush on me and I told you it wasn’t going to happen.”

He folds his arms and raises an eyebrow at me, and I blush a deep red because I am mortified at his words.

“I seem to remember it went down slightly differently from what you seem to recall,” I say. “But like I said before, I don’t care, and I certainly don’t need to have a conversation with you about what happened. So, have a nice life.”

“Have a nice life?” He raises a single eyebrow. “Is that your way of saying?—”

“That’s my way of saying nothing.” I run away from him and head up to the stage with Rosie and Sage.

I don’t know why I let him get to me like this. I don’t know why I give him the power to make me feel all the things I felt when I was younger. But I suppose I never really resolved myfeelings. It’s not like I could tell Mia that her brother rejected me.

I’d had the biggest crush on Rafe Bishop. There was one point in my life where I thought he’d be my future husband. There was one point where I thought he’d be my everything, and the saddest point was when I actually thought he felt the same. Just because of one birthday kiss, which meant nothing to him. I’d just been a delusional teenage girl in love, and he let me know in no uncertain terms that nothing was ever going to happen between the two of us. He let me know he saw me only as his little sister’s best friend and that he would never cross that line.

His words still sting, especially the fact that he thinks I’m still into him or that I still even think about him. I can’t believe his ego is so large. I am not interested in him like that anymore, and I am never going to let him embarrass me again.

Chapter 3

RAFE

“You’re staring, man.” Preston chuckles from behind me as he cleans some beer glasses, and I turn to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “Enjoying the singing or the view?” The look on his face tells me he knows I’m not paying attention to the frankly awful singing coming from the stage.

“I don’t think anyone here is saying they came for the music right now.” I lean back into the bar, sip on my now-lukewarm beer, and shake my head.

Juniper, Sage, and Rosie are giving their all to theGreasesong they’re performing, but their screeches sound more like cats caught in a cold shower than Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta singing in harmony.

“Yeah, if I didn’t love them, I’d have to get them off the stage.” Preston waves to someone as he continues talking. “Lucky for them, they’re all cute, and even if they can’t sing, the patrons don’t mind watching.” He looks back to the stage, where the girls are dancing. “Just like you and me, I guess.”

“Any of them in particular?” I turn to him casually, wondering who is catching his eye.

“Well, they are all beautiful, but Juniper is special. She’s got an aura to her that …” He pauses and shrugs. “Not that I’d make a move on her or anything.”

“You’re interested in Juniper?” I frown, my tone going up an octave as I shift uneasily against the bar.

I study his expression because I want to know how serious he is. I can feel my blood pressure rising at his words.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m going to ask her to marry me or anything.” He grins. “But I wouldn’t mind asking her on a date, especially as?—”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” He places his rag down and leans toward me, his eyes lighting up. “Does she have a guy?”

“Not that I know of, but … she’s …” My voice trails off because I don’t know what to say.

I don’t want to hurt his feelings. Preston is a good guy, but Juniper is Juniper, and I’m her best friend’s brother, and I have a responsibility to ensure she doesn’t get herself into trouble. She, like Mia, often seems to think with her heart instead of her head, and I don’t want to see her making her life complicated with Preston.

“She what?” Preston looks over to the stage, where Juniper is screaming about summer loving and doing a little dance. “She’s cute and fun, and she always makes me laugh. Unlike my ex.”

“Your ex was a bitch.” I laugh loudly. “Anyone would be better than her.”

“I didn’t know she’d take me for thousands of dollars.” He sighs. “I’m done with women from out of town. I only want to date local girls now, and Juniper is at the top of my list. She’s stunning.”

“It’s a no, Preston.” I press my lips together. “You’ll have to find someone else.”

“It’s a no?” He looks surprised by my statement. Then his eyes narrow, and his lips twitch. “Ah shit. How did I not see it?”

“See what?” I sound far too defensive.