I watch Mia breathe in and out, and then she starts giggling.
“Thanks, Wendy. I feel better now. That was literally crazy. Absolutely crazy.” She turns to me, and her brown eyes are sparkling as she shifts closer to me. “Also, why are Andi and your brother not walking around together? Why is she just going around, saying hello to people by herself? That’s so weird.”
“I know,” Juniper says. “If I were getting married and this was my engagement party, my hands would not be off of my fiancé. I mean, if I ever have a fiancé.”
“You’ll have a fiancé,” Mia says, touching her friend softly on the arm. “I mean, hopefully, we’ll both have fiancés soon.”
“Hopefully not before you and I officially break up.” I give her a look, and she just smiles.
I know Mia wants to be in love. She’s talked about it her entire life, but sometimes, I wonder if she’s more in love with the idea of it than actually experiencing it.
“So, Wendy, is Carter here tonight?” I look around at the thinning crowds.
The DJ is still pumping music outside of Cocktails & Chaos, and people are dancing and drinking under the twinkling lights, but I don’t recognize most of the people.
“I don’t know. I definitely invited him.” She smiles at me. “Thank you for saying that was okay.”
“Of course. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine—and the family’s. When Mia asked me if it was okay, I knew it wouldn’t be an issue. So, is he a close friend of yours? I’d love to meet him.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say he’s my friend.” She blushes a bright red and shifts nervously in the sand. “He’s just a very well-paying guest, and God knows we need them at the bed & breakfast..” She lets out a low groan. “We’re one summer away from having to shut down.”
“I’m more than happy to go over the numbers with you if you would like me to.”
“Oh, I got it. But thank you. I may notbe as successful as you, but I know a thing or two about business.” She smiles graciously, and I nod, hoping she didn’t think I was overstepping.
“I know, and you’re doing a great job. Mia has told me all about the advice that you and Josie have given her over the years for the bookstore, and I know that’s been really well appreciated.”
“It really has,” Mia says, reaching out to grab Wendy by the arm. “You are such a good businesswoman.”
“Please tell Grandma Gale that.” Wendy moans loudly. “She wants to spend every penny that we have, and when I tell her we need to be saving and paying off bills, she just makes comments like, ‘Don’t worry; the earth will provide.’ And I’m like, ‘No, Grandma, the earth is not going to provide if we can’t pay our mortgage.’”
“I feel that,” Juniper says excitedly. “The earth hasn’t provided me millions, nor has it provided me with a man.”
“I’m sure it will,” Mia says, looking around and tapping her feet in time to the music.
I wonder if I should ask her to dance, if that’s what our families expect, even though everyone knows I hate dancing.
“Oh shit, I think Rafe is coming.” She quickly turns her face. “No one look around.”
“Oh.” Juniper stills. “Where is he?” Her tone sounds slightly excited as she turns her head, and I wonder what that’s about.
Is it the heat, or is she blushing?
“Please, everyone, no one look in his direction. I really do not want to speak to?—”
“Hey, Meow-Meow,” Rafe says in his jovial tone as he joins us. “There you are.”
“Oh, hi, bro.” She turns to him with a fake smile. “I didn’t see you there.”
“We just made eye contact about twenty seconds ago, but you didn’t see me?” He scoffs, his blue eyes laughing as he stares at his sister.
Rafe never has put up with her bullshit, much to her chagrin.
“Well, you know how it is. My contacts are kind of dry.”
“Luke, so good to see you again.” His voice doesn’t sound like it’s so good, but I know it’s my turn to put on a good show.
“You too. How’s the vet practice going? How are the animals?”
