Alive At Night (Wildflower Series Book 1)

“Julian.”

I froze when someone hissed my name, swinging my head toward the door leading to Gemma’s room. It was a mistake moving that quickly. The hallway spun around me, but I could still make out her face.

It was my little flower bouquet. And she was scowling at me. It was a little bit cute. She looked at me that way a lot. Maybe that was why it felt so oddly comforting. I loved how her lips drew together like that, and her jaw ticked, and eyes narrowed.

But then her face shifted—contorted. Swam, too, as I watched her expression change. It blossomed in slow motion like a time lapse.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m great, Rosie. Especially now that you’re here.”

I was sure she thought I meant that sarcastically, but damn, she really was a sight for sore eyes. Even if I hated to admit it.

Juni stepped out of Gemma’s room, closing the door behind her until it shut with a nearly inaudible click. “What are you doing in the hallway?”

I couldn’t tell her I’d stumbled up the stairs, but I also couldn’t find any other words. So I just shrugged.

Her lips quirked—I could tell even in the darkness.

I was very good at paying attention to the things that mouth of hers did.

“Was that loud thump I heard just now you falling over?”

“Absolutely not.” I cleared my throat. “Have you seen my coordination, Daisy? It’s superior.”

“Superior is not how I would describe it,” she said dryly. Her eyes rolled up, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

“I’ll have to prove you wrong about that.”

Shit, did I say that part aloud? I couldn’t tell, at least not by looking at Juni’s expression. It was still poised on the precipice between amused and irritated. And maybe a touch—a tiny, itty-bitty touch—of concern.

Concern? No, that must be the alcohol talking.

“You’re drunk. You’re not gonna remember a lick of your eighteenth birthday, Julian.”

A smile tugged at my lips as I glanced over at her again.

“You sure about that, Juniper?”

She froze, eyes widening.

My brows furrowed. “What?”

She licked her lips before talking. “You said my name.”

My smile broadened annoyingly. I hated not being in control of my facial features like this.

“Don’t get used to it. You’ll always be Daisy to me.”