Chapter 2
JUNIPER
As soon as I see Sage and Rosie with their two large turquoise suitcases and mermaid skirts, I can’t help but laugh. My cousins are even more eccentric than Mia and I are, and I love them for it. I watch as they look around the small airport, searching for me.
Rosie is slightly ahead of Sage, taking charge of their exit from the airport.
Even though she’s the younger of the two, she is the leader, which she loves.
She looks beautiful with her shoulder-length black hair cascading in waves to her back, and I notice several of the males in the airport glancing their way, checking them out.
Though I’m not sure if they’re checking out their outfits or looks.
“Juniper, there you are.” Sage sees me first, her face lighting up as she gazes at me, and they both come running toward me, like we’re long-lost lovers, seeing each other for the first time in decades.
“Darling, you look stunning,” she says as she grips my shoulders and spins me around.
“Living on an island agrees with you. Your skin is positively glowing.”
“Aww, gee, thanks.” I blush, but I’m thankful for the compliment. “You guys already have beautiful tan skin, and you don’t even live in the sunshine.”
“That’s what you get when you have a mother from Guyana.” Sage beams proudly. “By the way, she and Dad send their love and say they hope to visit next year.”
“I look forward to seeing them both.”
I love their parents. Their dad is my dad’s younger brother, and he’s always been the adventurer of the family, traveling around the world, working odd jobs, and just living his best life.
My dad thought Uncle Brad would settle down when he met Auntie Fay—when they were both visiting a small fishing village in Barbados—but she was a wanderlust, just like him.
They’ve raised their growing family all over the world, and they still change destinations every few months, though Sage and Rosie emailed me to say they were thinking of settling down.
I half hope they will decide to stay in Coconut Beach, but I don’t want to pressure them in any way.
“Are you hungry? Do you want to grab some food or head back to my place to drop off the bags?”
“We’re hungry, but I was wondering if we could perhaps work for our food.” Rosie has an impish smile on her face, and I hear Sage groan loudly.
I should know better, but I don’t, and I decide to question her. “Work for your food? What do you mean? Are you trying to get a job at a restaurant?”
“No, she’s not.” Sage is rolling her eyes now, but Rosie just ignores her. “Go on. Tell Juniper what your grand idea is.”
“Grand idea?” My stomach drops as I think back to all the trouble these two got me into in the past. “What’s the idea exactly?”
“I am starting a TikTok and Instagram page that teaches people how to fish.” Rosie is so matter-of-fact that if she were anyone else, I’d think it was actually a good idea.
“But you don’t fish.” I look over at Sage. “Unless you two have started fishing and didn’t tell me.”
“We didn’t.” Sage lets out a loud yawn and stretches before pointing at her sister. “But this one thinks she’ll be some sort of natural because she read Moby-Dick for the first time and saw a couple of yacht-life videos on social media of people traveling to the Bahamas and fishing.”
“What can I say? I’m all about the water life, and the water life is all about me. Plus, haven’t we always said that we should be able to provide our own food in case of an apocalypse?”
“No, we’ve never once said that.”
“I don’t have any fishing rods or bait.” I attempt to keep a straight face. “Nor do I have any spears, if that was going to be your thing.”
“Oh.” Rosie looks disappointed. “I was really hoping to post my first video of a series tonight, where I’d teach people how to fish.”
“But you don’t know how to bloody fish yourself, sis.” Sage groans loudly. “Can we leave? I need a cold drink, some cool breeze, and some food.”
“Sure.” I grab ahold of one of the suitcases and start pulling. “We can head over to Cocktails & Chaos. They have good drinks, yummy food, including fish and chips, and I think tonight is even karaoke night.”
“So, no fishing then?” Rosie offers me her pitifully cute face, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I just don’t understand why you feel the need to create a program for teaching people how to fish.” I stare at Rosie, confusion written all over my face.
She stares back at me, and she smiles. “I am slightly embarrassed to tell you why.”
She looks over at her sister, and they both start laughing hysterically, like they have some sort of inside joke. It leaves me even more intrigued and curious.
“Why are you embarrassed to tell me? I’m your cousin. I love you. I don’t judge.”
Okay, sometimes, I judge, but I’m not going to tell them that. I do want to know what’s going on after all. Plus, I’m trying to be better about not judging people, as I think it’s one of my worst qualities. The Lord knows I’m no saint myself.
“She heard men are interested in women who like to fish,” Sage says, giggling like she’s not in on the plan, but I know them both well enough to know that she’s definitely in on it as well. “In particular, rich men.”
“What?” I stare at them as I smile in amusement. They never cease to amaze me with their antics. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a thing,” Rosie says. “Rich men like self-sufficient women. Rich men like women who are up for an adventure, and I am up for an adventure.”
“Is this your way of telling me that you’re looking for a rich man?”
“What gave it away?” They both start laughing before Rosie continues, “I mean, obviously, we’re not gold diggers. We’re not going to be like prostitutes or escorts or anything, but if we just happen to fall in love with a rich man who wants to spoil us silly, who are we to say no?”
I stare at both of them. “This is for real?”
“I mean, it’s not for fake.” Rosie giggles. “But never let it be said that we won’t also give broke guys a chance.”
“Yeah”—Sage lets out a long-suffering sigh that can be heard around the island—“I think our history shows that we’ve given many broke men a chance.”
“I feel you.” I laugh. “Hate to say it, but we won’t be going fishing right now. I am not much of a fisher myself, and I have no equipment, and I don’t think any one of us wants to buy some right now either.” I do not have the money to waste on rods and bait.
“It’s fine. Let’s go to Cocktails & Chaos. I’d love to see Preston again. He’s such a cutie.” Rosie’s eyes light up as she thinks of the handsome bartender who works at the bar.
I seem to recall him flirting with her the last time they were in town, and I’m sure she’s remembering that as well.
“He’s cute, he’s single, but he’s certainly not rich. Especially after his ex took him for as much money as she could get her grubby hands on.”
“Ooh?” Rosie and Sage both look at me with curious eyes, and I know I shouldn’t gossip, but I can’t help myself.
“He was dating this lady from New York. She was even friends with me and Mia for a bit, but she ended up being a con artist and a user. She had issues because her ex cheated on her, but it turned out, she had slept with his best friend and stolen money from him as well. None of us realized she was looking for another man to take advantage of, and, well, let’s just say, she fooled all of us, until the truth came out. ”
“Oh shit.” Sage looks shocked. “Poor Preston. What about you and Mia? Did she steal from you as well?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it. However, Mia and I are glad she left Coconut Beach and moved on. She was a bad egg. But, yeah, Preston was really burned by her.”
“Does that mean he’s single and ready to mingle? Or he’s still crying into his pillow?” Rosie licks her lips slowly. “I can help make him all better.”
“Rosie, Preston is not only my bartender, but he is also my friend. I think the world of him, and I don’t think he needs another woman playing games and breaking his heart.”
“Would I ever break anyone’s heart?” Rosie says as she spins around, her hands in the air before she clutches her heart dramatically.
We all start laughing and head out of the airport toward my car. I’m so excited my cousins are in town, but I have a feeling the upcoming weeks will be filled with drama.
“Welcome to Cocktails & Chaos,” Preston shouts out as soon as we enter the bar, but then he looks up, and a wide smile crosses his face. “Juniper. So good to see you and your friends.”
“These are my cousins, Rosie and Sage. You met them before, but not sure if you remember them.”
“Oh, yes, I remember them. How are you girls doing?” He offers them a wide smile and ushers us toward the bar.
I can already see him grabbing three glasses to make us some specialty cocktails. That’s why I love Preston.
“Hey there, Preston.” Rosie sashays up to the front. “How are you tonight?”
“Well, but maybe not as well as you appear to be doing.” He cocks his head to the side. “You’re looking even more beautiful than I remember.”
“What can I say? I’m here in Coconut Beach, my absolute favorite island in the world.” She beams. “And I get to hang out with my sister and my favorite cousin in the world.”
“What do you want from me, hon?” I burst out laughing and give her a discerning look. I’m smart enough to know that when someone is being that effusive, they usually want something.
“What, I can’t shower you with compliments?”
“You can, but I feel like another ask or wish is coming.”
“Not at all. I’ve missed you. Sage has as well. Anyway, first round’s on me. Is your friend Mia coming? I would love to talk to her.”
“Talk to her about what?”
“She wants to ask her about how she got a billionaire,” Sage adds.