After that sudden attention, the stares had vanished, replaced by the party’s chaos.
The music swallowed the room again, like nothing had ever happened.
But Ren didn’t go back to the pool.
No. He walked toward . With her. His hand were wrapped around hers.
My eyes went straight to their hands. The way his thumb brushed over her knuckles so casually, like he wanted eveyone to know.
And then...God, no, she waved at .
"Renny."
RENNY.
Did she just call him Renny?
My stomach flipped so hard I thought I was gonna puke on the floor.
And then, like he was stabbing in my heart, Ren actually laughed.
"Is this the June you told about?" she asked, leaning into him like she already owned him.
He told her about . He actually told her about .
My chest tightened, I could barely breathe.
"Yes," he said, grinning. "That’s her."
Her smile was sweet. "He said you two are working on music together. That you’re so talented."
Talented. Cute little complint for the girl who just watched him make out with soone else. Aweso. Love that for .
She kept smiling like she didn’t just ruin my entire life.
And then Ren turned back to .
"So... what’s happening between you and Ian?"
My hands started shaking. Literally shaking.
Like, why was he asking that? Why did he care? Why was his voice so casual when mine was about to crack into a million pieces?
I couldn’t even answer. My throat wouldn’t let .
And then.... Soone slipped their hand over mine.
I blinked, turned, and there he was. Ian.
He had that annoying smirk.
"I’m trying to chase her," Ian said, loud enough for everyone to hear. His smirk dangerous. "But she doesn’t want ."
And then, he laughed. Like this was the funniest thing ever.
But his hand didn’t let go of mine.
And suddenly... I couldn’t breathe for a whole different reason.
Ren tightened his grip on the girl’s hand, and my stomach dropped when he smiled.
"June, this is Jackie," he said. "My girlfriend."
Girlfriend.
Like an actual stab to the chest.
Jackie leaned into him all soft and glossy. Her full curly hair we’re bouncing on her shoulders.
"Nice to et you, June." She said, her smile was actually too sweet. "You’re really cute. Why don’t you want our Ian? You’re lucky he’s chasing you."
My breath caught.
Excuse ?
"What’s that supposed to an?" I asked before I could stop myself
She giggled. "Honestly though... you don’t really seem like Ian’s type. I always thought he only went for model types....you know?" She shrugged. "But..." she tilted her head, smiling too sweet, "you’ve got a cute thing going on. It’s beautiful."
My throat went dry.
Before I could even find words, Ian’s hand tightened on mine.
His smirk didn’t drop, but his voice lowered just for , warm against my ear.
"Don’t pout, June. You look sad. And I’m not letting Jackie bulldoze you. I know how she acts."
He smiled. But the glint in his eyes told this wasn’t charity.
Ian’s grin widened like he was enjoying the whole thing way too much. "Matter of fact, she’s lowering her standards just being seen with ."
I blinked at him. "What?!"
He didn’t stop. He leaned closer to , and stared into my eyes. "Right, babe? You literally said it this morning when I kissed you at my place. You said I wasn’t good enough for you."
I froze. My mouth opened, but no sound ca out.
Why was Ian making everything worse? Why would he say that out loud? Why was he telling them lies?
That definitely happened, but the other way round.
Jackie’s eyes went wide. Ren’s smile faltered for a second, but I saw it. That flicker. He hid it with a laugh, but it was there.
"Wow," Ren said slowly, glancing between us."I didn’t realize there was... sothing going on, between you two."
My heart slamd so hard .
Ian just smirked wider. "There’s definitely sothing," he said. His thumb brushed over my knuckles. "I’m still waiting for her to say yes."
And the way he said it... my hands couldn’t stop shaking.
My chest felt like it was splitting in two.
"I’m so happy for you," Jackie smiled, "right, Renny?"
Ren didn’t say anything, he just nodded.
"She made choke on my drink when she walked in," Ian said, smirking. His gaze dragged down my body, stopping at my bikini top. "Especially dressed like that. God, June... you’re hot."
My breath caught. Heat rushed up my neck.
Did he just call hot?
He wasn’t even done. His thumb brushed lazy circles over my knuckles.
Was Ian just putting on a show for Ren? Was he lying through his teeth? Or... was there so dangerous, twisted truth in the way he looked at like that?
And why...God, why, did it feel so good to let him do it?
Jackie leaned into Ren harder, but Ren’s eyes were on .
And Ian, smug bastard that he is, leaned even closer until his lips brushed my cheek. He kissed .....just the lightest peck, but my entire body froze.
Holy shit?!
Now, he’s overdoing it.
ssing with , with Ren, with everything.
"I’m not stopping," he smiled . "I’m gonna keep chasing you ’til you lt. ’Cause one look at you, Jellybean, and I’m gone."
My heart stopped.
Jellybean?
Did he just call Jellybean?
That was Ren’s na for . His private thing. His... ours.
My head snapped toward Ren instantly.
He wasn’t smiling anymore. Not really. His lips were curved, but it was tight, like he was holding it together. His jaw flexed.
"How do you know that?" He chuckled. "I see she told you about it."
Ian’s arm slipped his around my neck.
"That’s my nickna for for her," he said.
My stomach flipped, my breath stuttered.
I glared at him, my eyes widened.
No, no, no.
That lie.
My eyes widened, staring at him, silently screaming... I never told him, Ren. I never did.
But Ren wouldn’t look away. I could feel was the fire of his gaze burning through . The twitch of his fingers when he clench them into fists. The vein in his forehead standing out just barely.
He was angry.
Jealous.
How did Ian know? Did Ren think I told him? That I handed that little secret over to another guy like it ant nothing?
My brain was still short-circuiting from that kiss on the cheek, from that lie about Jellybean, until Jackie tilted her head at Ren.
"Wow... Renny, they already have nicknas? That’s cute."
Nicknas. My chest cracked.
Ren’s eyes hadn’t left . His jaw was tight, his smile was the fakest thing I’d ever seen him wear.
Nope. I couldn’t do this.
Before Ian could open his cocky mouth again, I grabbed his wrist and yanked him away.
"Thanks, guys. We’ll get going now," I blurted, my voice way too high. Inside, I was seconds away from tearing up in front of everyone.
I dragged Ian out of the pool deck, practically sprinting.
My stomach twisted, my heart racing so hard it hurt.
Ian just ruined everything I’ve worked for for years. The crush, the daydreams, the hope Ren might actually see that way.
And now? What if Ian just made him hate ? What if Ren thought I was in on it, thought I gave Ian the right to call that?
The panic choked .
Still, I couldn’t help it. I glanced back one last ti.
Ren’s gaze was already on .
And yeah, he smiled. That soft, effortless Ren smile that once could’ve lit up my whole world.
But his eyes?
His eyes said sothing else.
Sothing that made my chest collapse all over again.
I didn’t stop dragging Ian until we were clear of the pool deck. The music muffled, as we passed through sweaty bodies and the beer pong crew.
My grip on his wrist was so tight.
I shoved him back against the wall. Back in that hallway.
"What the hell was that back there?" My voice cracked.
He only leaned against the wall, that stupid smirk plastered on his face. His eyes dragged down my body....slow, shaless, before snapping back up to et mine.
I narrowed my eyes. "Do you ever stop? You keep checking out like I’m so kind of food you’re dying to taste."
Ian’s lips curved into that slow, dangerous smirk. His eyes dragged over .
"Maybe I am," he murmured. "Problem is, June... you look too sweet not to crave. The more I look at you, the hungrier I get."
My breath hitched.
He leaned closer, I could feel the heat radiating off him.
"Careful, June. Keep tempting like that, and I won’t be able to stop."
I scoffed, tilting my chin up at him.
"Dream on, Han. No matter how hard you try, you’re never getting a taste of ."
His smirk deepened like I’d just fed him exactly what he wanted.
"See, that’s where you’re wrong," Ian said, his voice dropped low, enough to make my stomach flip. He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath tickle my neck. "You don’t know half as well as you think. Because when I want sothing..."
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