Page 22 of Alive At Night

Just as I began searching which route we wanted to take to the stadium, Juniper finally emerged from the bathroom. “Okay, I’m ready.”

I wasn’t. I definitely hadn’t been ready for the moment when I glanced up from my phone to see Juniper looking like a completely different person, drowning in my jersey. It appeared like she tried to tuck it into the leggings—which fit, by the way—but the jersey was too long and fell around her hips.

She’d tied her hair up in a high ponytail that bounced when she walked toward me.

“That looks…” I cleared my throat. “Uh, good on you.”

“Wow, don’t sound so convincing,” she drawled, but there was a thread of nervousness there. And for some reason, I felt the need to make it disappear. I wasn’t used to a nervous Juniper, and I didn’t like it. It put me on edge, too.

“Noah will like it,” I said briskly while walking to the door. “Now, come on. Let’s go.”

Juniper nodded as she steeled herself.

“Let’s go.”

eleven years ago

“Have you ever changed a flat tire?” Gemma hissed.

“Of course not.”

“Then do you really think it’s a good idea to try to learn in the middle of the night while you’re naked at the beach?”

I propped a hand on my hip.

“It’s not my fault someone stole our clothes while we were swimming. What do you suggest?”

Gemma looked down, and the slight movement was so guilty that I immediately knew what she was about to say.

I groaned. “No way, Gems. That’s an even worse idea.”

“I didn’t even say anything!” Gemma cried in her defense.

“He’ll be pissed, and you know who he’ll be pissed at.”

“Oh, just ignore him.”

She said those words like it was the easiest thing to do.

But it was impossible to ignore Gemma’s broody brother. He didn’t like me, and if he came to get us right now, it would be another reminder of that.

“We’re naked and stranded, Junes,” Gemma pleaded.

“No,” I insisted. “We’re not calling Julian.”

We called Julian.

CHAPTERSIX

juniper

JULIAN NOT KEEPING HIS hands off me was the last problem I expected to have tonight.

After I felt his fingers grip my hip for the third time, I glared at him over my shoulder.

“What is yourproblem?”

“Would you—” He pushed me to the side. “Would you look where you’re fucking going?”

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