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~*JUNE*~

I spin on my stool so fast I almost topple over.

“Where is he?” I ask, feeling my heart lurch in my chest.

“Over there,” Tyler says, pointing toward the VIP booth.

My eyes follow his finger, and the world seems to slow, the music fading into a dull roar.

Andrew and Maddie come into view, bathed in the glittering light near the VIP booth.

His back is to me, but I recognize him instantly—the slope of his shoulders, the curl of his hair.

In his arms is… Maddie.

Her fingers are tangled in his hair, and his hands grip her hips like claws.

They’re tangled together, mouths locking with a desperate, hungry intensity.

My body goes rigid, and my limbs grow heavy, every nerve turning numb all at once.

My heart skips a beat, then hammers in my chest, racing twice as fast.

The world around me moves, then blurs into shadows and the muffled thumps of music, as I stare at them, unable to tear my eyes away.

As I watch them kiss, my heart squeezes so tightly in my chest I think I’m going to have a heart attack.

I feel betrayed in every possible way.

Andrew apologized to me just a few minutes ago, and now he’s shoving his tongue down Maddie’s throat.

Does this mean he meant everything he said earlier?

That he only apologized because he pitied me… or probably took me for a fool?

No. I shake my head.

He does not get to play with me like that.

Anger surges through me, heating my body so intensely it’s a miracle I don’t burst into flames.

Before I realize it, I’m off the stool.

My legs are moving on their own, pushing through the crowd.

“Hey, wait!” Tyler calls from behind me, but I don’t look back.

I keep moving, my vision narrowing, locked on Andrew and Maddie.

A girl passes by, carrying two glasses of red wine.

Without slowing, I snatch one, feeling the cool glass press into my hand.

I weave through the crowd, until I’m right beside Andrew and Maddie.

His cologne hits me first—sharp, familiar, suffocating.

They’re lost in each other, lips glued together, completely oblivious to the world—or to me.

Maddie’s perfectly painted nails dig into his back, and every subtle movement between them twists my stomach.

And in that moment, I don’t think.

I just act.

I swing my arm and the glass of red wine sails through the air, splattering across Andrew’s face and soaking the front of his white shirt.

He jerks away from Maddie with a wet, startled sound.

“The fuck—?!” he groans.

Maddie stumbles back, her mouth open in shock as a few drops of wine speckle her dress.

Andrew scrubs at his eyes, smearing the wine as he blinks.

Then his gaze locks on me.

His face pales. “June?”

Every betrayal, every twist in my stomach, ignites into a burning fury I can’t hold back.

My fists clench tightly, pressing into my palms until they almost draw blood.

I step closer to Andrew until barely any air could pass between us.

“What the fucking hell, Andrew!” I hiss.

“What are you doing here, June?” he grumbles, more concerned with my presence than the fact I just caught him cheating.

"I just caught you cheating on me, Andrew, and that's what you ask me?" I retort.

Maddie spins toward me, her gaze flicking to the empty glass in my hand before snapping back to my face. “You psychotic bitch,” she hisses. “Why did you pour wine on us?”

I ignore her.

My eyes stay locked on Andrew’s, burning into him.

"Let me guess—you couldn’t wait, right?” I spit. “Had to come straight to the club and shove your tongue down Maddie’s throat? Was my body not good enough?” I tilt my head. “Or did you just need to see if hers still tasted the same?”

“June, it’s not what it looks like—” he sputters.

“It’s exactly what it looks like, Andrew! I’m not blind!” My voice echoes over the club's pounding music.

The area around us falls silent, conversations cut off, and all eyes turn toward us.

“Andrew, who is she and why is she screaming at you?” Maddie asks, narrowing her eyes, giving me a look that says I’m crazy.

Maybe I am.

Figuratively, at least.

But one thing is certain—Andrew is the one driving me to the brink of madness.

Andrew turns to Maddie and smiles. “She’s just a friend, Maddie, and nothing happened. You don’t have to worry yourself.”

What the…

I’m just a friend?

Bloody hell.

This has to be some kind of sick joke.

He turns back to me, jaw tight, eyes flicking with something I can’t read.

“Andre—”

Before I can finish, he grabs my arm tightly.

“Let’s go talk somewhere else,” he says, dragging me to a corner before I can protest.

The moment we get there, I yank my hand free. “Let go of me!”

He exhales sharply and takes a step back, his fingers running through his hair as if he’s trying to wrestle with his own thoughts.

“What was that just now, huh?” I scowl, narrowing my eyes. “I’m just a friend? Seriously?”

“Let’s not do this here, June,” he mutters.

“Like hell we are!” I snap.

The people around begin to stare at us but I don’t care.

Andrew looks around, then stares back at me. “Calm your voice down. People can hear you.”

“I don’t fucking care!”

He ruffles his hair and lets out a loud sigh.

Gritting my teeth, I step closer. “Why the hell were you cheating on me?”

“It was a mistake, June, I didn’t mean to,” he says quickly, trying to sound casual.

“A mistake?” I fake a laugh. “You’re really full of shit, aren’t you?”

He presses his lips together, then opens his mouth only to close it again, staring at me as if the words refuse to form.

The silence stretches between us before he finally speaks. “Let’s just put this behind us and pretend it never happened.” He steps closer and strokes my arm. “You love me, right? So, you’ll do that for me, won’t you?”

Feeling repulsed by his touch, I step back, keeping a distance between us. “Do you even hear yourself? Pretend it never happened? How is that supposed to work?”

He sighs. “You’re just overthinking this.”

“I’m overthinking?”

“Yes, you are”

 “Oh, really?” I scoff. “Then explain it to me. Why the fuck were you kissing Maddie? Give me a logical reason, so I don’t overthink it.”

He opens his mouth, hesitates, then avoids my eyes. “It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated?” I fire back. “The hell, Andrew? Are you fucking kidding me right now? You apologized to me just a few hours ago, saying you never meant what you said about still being in love with Maddie and using me… and now you’re locking lips with her?”

He runs a hand over his face. “Okay. If it’s an apology you want, June… I’m sorry,” he says quickly.

 “Fuck you and your apology, Andrew. I don’t need it!” I snap.

"Look, relax, okay? There's no need to be dramatic. We'll talk about this once you've calmed down. Just go home and wait for me there."

Go home?

My blood boils.

After everything, he expects me to turn around and leave without getting an explanation, like some trained dog obeying his every command.

“If you think I’m going home without an explanation, you’re joking,” I snap.

“I have no explanation to give you, June. I didn’t do anything that warrants one,” he mutters.

I run my hands through my hair, trying my best to calm myself before I actually lose it.

My jaw tightens. “You’re truly something else. You cheat on me, and you have the guts to say that!”

Andrew’s eyes dart away for a split second, then he meets mine with a flicker of something I can’t place.

“Oh, come on, June… don’t act like a fucking saint, like you’ve never cheated on me before.”

I feel my world crash around me, my stomach turning to a puddle at my feet.

“How dare you accuse me of cheating? I’ve been nothing but faithful to you! And what do I get in return? You cheat on me with your ex and then have the audacity to gaslight me!”

I bite my lip until it hurts, swallowing back the lump rising in my throat.

My voice cracks as I force the words out. “Be honest with me, Andrew. Did you… ever love me?"

He stares at me, silent, his expression completely blank.

Closing my eyes, I count to thirty, waiting for him to give me an answer—but he doesn't.

His silence is all the answer I need.

My chest heaves as I press my lips together, forcing back the tears threatening to fall.

Opening my eyes, I glare at him.

“You know what?” I spit. “Tyler was right about you. You’re such a selfish asshole, and I should’ve broken up with your pathetic ass a long time ago.”

He opens his mouth, but I cut him off before he can speak.

“You want Maddie? Fine. You can have her. We are done.”

He freezes, his eyes doubling in size. “What… what do you mean we’re done?”

“It’s over between us, Andrew.”

He shakes his head stubbornly. “It’s not over until I say it’s over.”

I scoff, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Well, newsflash, asshole—I’m breaking up with you.”

A waiter passes with a tray of filled wine glasses.

Without thinking, I snatch one, pour it over Andrew’s shirt, and brush past him, leaving him drenched and stunned.

And just like that, my first love of three years is over.