**XAVIER’S POV**
Juniper blinked again, putting the water away from her lips. With one final glance at us, she turned around and strode away, leaving without saying another word.
I wonder what’s going on in her head at the moment. Juniper has always been unpredictable; at least she didn’t make a scene.
“Woah, that was… awkward…” Sarah chuckled, turning to me, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“How can you find this humorous?” I asked, shaking my head.
Sarah’s grin widened. “Well, someone has to lighten the mood. Besides, Juniper’s dramatic exits are just perfect.” She chuckled again, walking over to pick up her clothes from the floor.
I sighed, rubbing my temples… I have a lot of explaining to do, or else Juniper will… well, I don’t know what she would do. She was hard to read.
“You should go to bed now…” I said, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around her, my fingers sliding down her arm.
She smiled and leaned in, hooking her hand around my neck. “How about you take me to bed yourself?” she purred, brushing her nose against mine, her warm breath sending flutters across my face, teasing my skin.
I groaned, my resolve melting away as I planted a gentle kiss on her lips. “I can’t right now; I have Juniper to deal with,” I replied, pulling away. “We’ve had enough fun for one night.”
She pouted, her lower lip jutting out. “Fine, you owe me one,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
After drying her hair, she quickly donned her clothes, flashing me a warm smile. “Sleep tight.”
After Sarah headed to her room, I made a beeline to the living room in search of Juniper. There was no sign of her anywhere around the room, or perhaps she had gone to sleep…
“Doubt that!” I muttered, shaking my head. “Not Juniper, after what she just saw.”
Her expression had been a mix of surprise and disbelief. I couldn’t blame her. Walking in on Sarah and me like that… it was awkward, to say the least.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. This was exactly what I wanted to avoid: anyone running into Sarah and me in that exposed state. The thought of William was already a headache… but Juniper was someone like a volcano that could erupt without warning.
“Juniper, where are you?” I called out, keeping my voice low to avoid waking up mother.
“Over here,” a sharp, raspy voice replied from the shadows.
I sighed, following the sound to the patio door. Time to do some damage control.
I found Juniper seated on the couch, casually sipping a glass of her drink. When she sensed my presence, she tilted her head, gazing at me with a blank expression.
I sat beside her, getting straight to my point. “Juniper, about what you saw earlier…” I began, but she cut me off with a chuckle.
“Xavier, you really surprise me. I didn’t know you could be such a dick,” she said, her voice laced with amusement.
“Are you making fun of me?” My eyes narrowed at her as I kept my expression stern.
“You think?” She snapped, another chuckle tearing from her throat. “Come on, Xavier, this is way out of character for you. Like, what? Sarah, or whatever her name is, she… she is too young for you. To be precise, you’re more than twice her age…”
After her rambling, she dropped the glass as if it wasn’t enough to fill her appetite. She then grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the table, gulping a mouthful of liquor.
Recognizing the bottle briefly distracted me from our main conversation.
“Where did you find that?” I asked, snatching the whiskey from her hand.
“Give it back…” She snatched it back from me, flashing me a stern look. “Don’t interrupt my enjoyment again. And this…” She pointed to the bottle with her lips pursed in mischief. “I found it in a hidden spot in your kitchen… thanks for sharing.” She sniggered, taking a large sip.
I shook my head, leaning back on the couch as I gazed out at the night view. “About Sarah and me…” I began, returning to our discussion. “Our relationship is kind of…”
“Oh please, don’t bore me with your tedious explanation…” she waved dismissively and took a large chug of her drink.
Is she drunk?
I leaned in closer, catching a full glimpse of her face. Her eyes fluttered as a weak smile spread across her face.
I exhaled roughly, sitting back on the couch, disbelief etching my features. So I have been wasting my time with a drunkard all this while?
She still had this habit of drinking?
I glanced at her, gulping the whole bottle empty, feeling a mix of exasperation and mostly empathy.
Juniper had taken up the habit of drinking ever since she was abandoned by her husband, leaving her to bear the weight and responsibility of taking care of their two young kids on her own.
The loneliness and stress had taken a toll on her, and alcohol became her coping mechanism. As time passed, her drinking had escalated, worrying our family and friends. Despite her efforts to stay strong, the pain of abandonment still lingered. Back then, I watched as my vibrant, independent sister slowly unraveled. I did all I could to assist her; sometimes she declined, but when the pressure hit her again, she recoiled, taking my proposed support. For all these years, she has taken on a fierce facade, an angry mask that made her seem fearless, strong, and strict, but inwardly she was the innocent and sweet woman I remembered from my childhood.
“Juniper, when are you gonna stop drinking…” I said, my voice low and soft as I gently pulled the bottle from her.
“It’s none of your business, Xavier,” she spat, stamping her foot against mine as she grasped the bottle back.
I flinched and backed away. Unwilling to continue in the futile tussle, I sat back watching her tilt the empty bottle, straining for any drop to fall out.
She grumbled, shaking the bottle, her face twisted in displeasure as if willing for the bottle to be filled again with whiskey.
“Hey, it’s empty…” I informed her, which she very much didn’t need. She was only frustrated.
“I know…” She interjected, flashing me a look of disapproval. “Don’t you have any more? I only found this one in that hidden spot… where are you hiding the rest?”
“It’s finished, Juniper; that’s the last bottle I have,” I replied, finally able to successfully take the empty bottle from her. “Go to bed; it’s late.”
She let out a silent sigh and lay flat on the couch, resting her legs on my thigh as her eyes fluttered closed.
“Goodnight…” she said, her voice barely audible as she slowly drifted off.
Thinking she had fallen asleep, I tried taking her legs off me, but her eyes immediately snapped open, making me lean back on the couch, showing my palm in surrender.
“Don’t you dare…” she spat, her face stern before closing her eyes shut again.
“Now I’m trapped…” I whispered in frustration, and Juniper’s gentle breathing was my only response.