“Um, are you okay?” He presses the back of his hand to my forehead. “Well, you’re not burning up, so you don’t have a fever.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m totally fine. I’m having fun. I’m drinking strawberry daiquiris. I’m here with my friends, and I’m here with Luke, my boyfriend, the love of my life, my?—”
“Are you sure you’re not rushing this?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying, there’s obviously a reason why you didn’t tell me, Mom, or Dad, or the grandparents. I don’t know if you told Juniper, but I know you, sis. When you’re in a relationship, you want to scream it from the rooftops, and the fact that you’ve kept this secret …” He frowns. “It’s not a good sign.”
“It’s fine, Rafe.”
“I’m just saying, you like to go fast sometimes, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“It’s not likethattime.” I press my lips together.
“I just worry about you, sis. You know that.”
“I know, and I’m grateful to you.”
“I love you, and you could have been seriously hurt that summer. You?—”
“I don’t want to talkabout it,” I say quickly. “Okay?”
“Just know, if you ever need me, I’m here for you.” He holds his hands up.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gives me a kiss on the forehead. “Well, I should be heading home soon. I’ve got an early morning tomorrow. Animals that are waiting on me.”
“You ever thought that the animals would want to see you happy too?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The animals want you to find love as well. You haven’t dated anyone in a while, unless you’re also hiding something from me.”
I feel slightly guilty about lying to my brother, but the simple fact is that he’s so honest that he will tell everyone in the family—even in Luke’s family—that we’re not really together if he knows the truth, and I just can’t have that. That will make everyone think I’m even more pathetic than I already am.
“Obviously, I date, but that’s not my priority right now. I’m trying to build my practice. Plus, I haven’t met anyone who strikes my fancy.” He looks around the bar. “It’s just the same old, same girls in Coconut Beach, and maybe my girl’s not here.”
“Really? There’s not one woman you’ve ever seen or met on the island that you think could be the one?”
“Not a one,” he says, his tone stiff.
“There you are, Mia.” Juniper races over to us. “Hey, Rafe.”
“Hey,” he says, his voice almost a grunt.
I watch as he stares at her, and there’s something in his expression that shifts slightly. There’s a curl to his lips that wasn’t there before.
“Are you having fun tonight?”
“Yeah, you know. It’s always fun at Cocktails & Chaos. Cal makes the best drinks, and I just love the music and dancing and having fun. And who knows? Maybe I’ll meet someone tonight.”
“Yeah.” The small smile has gone from his face, and he turns back to me. “Well, like I said, I’ve got to be going. I have to be at work early tomorrow. I’ll catch you girls later. Bye.”
“Bye, Rafe,” she says, then leans over at me. “Was it something I said?”
“No, he was on his way out anyway. He’s just in a bad mood—I think because of me and Luke.”
