The stranger

The suite was now thick with tension wrapped in fake smiles and theatrical laughter. Larry leaned back comfortably in his chair, one arm draped around Audrey, the other resting casually on the table. Every few minutes, he and Audrey would share a flirtatious whisper, a suggestive laugh, or a lingering touch all calculated, all cruel.

It was a show, and June was the intended audience.

She sat across from them, silent, the warmth of her wine fading fast. She was shivering slightly not just from the growing cold in the air-conditioned room, but from the emotional fatigue clawing at her spine. Her fingers fidgeted subtly with the stem of her wine glass, her stomach churned, and her face, though composed, was beginning to lose the battle against her trembling composure.

Larry could see it. He knew her too well.

And he was enjoying every minute of it.

June wanted to leave. She longed to grab her purse, push her chair back, and vanish into the warm night air. But she couldn’t not like this. Not with Audrey clinging to Larry like a prized possession. Not with Larry watching her with that smug little smirk that said, You lost, and I won.

No.

If she left now, she’d carry that humiliation with her for the rest of her life.

Just as she reached for her phone, trying to find some excuse, some reason to exit gracefully

She felt a kiss on the back of her neck.

Warm. Close. Unexpected.

Her breath hitched, her eyes widened. For a second, sheer panic surged through her. She hadn’t seen anyone approach.

But before she could react, a smooth, confident voice whispered behind her ear.

“Hey baby, you didn’t tell me you’d be out this long tonight.”

June froze.

Then, slowly, she turned her head.

Standing behind her was a man. Tall, strikingly handsome, with deep-set eyes and a calm, masculine confidence. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a high-end fashion shoot charcoal slacks, a fitted white shirt slightly open at the collar, and a tailored coat casually draped over his arm.

She didn’t know him. She had never seen him before in her life.

But somehow... he knew what she needed.

June blinked, and in the brief silence that followed, acted.

She stood up slowly, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. “Hey baby,” she said, mustering all her composure as she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

And to her surprise, he kissed her back. Gently, confidently. No hesitation. No awkwardness. It was… seamless.

She hadn’t kissed anyone in so long. Not since Larry.

The moment felt surreal her lips on a stranger’s, the scent of his cologne grounding her in the moment. And when they pulled apart, her confidence came rushing back like a tide she hadn’t known she’d lost.

“Well,” she said, turning slightly toward Larry and Audrey, “I was just having dinner with my ex-husband. And look at the coincidence he brought his partner too.”

Larry’s smile wavered. His body stiffened. The moment June kissed the mystery man this Xander, whoever he was Larry’s confidence began to falter.

She could see it. And it was glorious.

The mystery man wrapped an arm gently around her waist, pulling her close with a familiarity that made the act even more believable.

Then he turned to Larry, smiling with polite charm. “Hey Larry,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Xander. June’s fiancé.”

Larry paused for a half-second just long enough for the crack to show before reaching out and shaking his hand. “Wow,” he said, forcing a chuckle. “Didn’t know June was engaged already.”

“Well, she is,” Xander said smoothly, his tone just humble enough to not sound like bragging. “I guess we kept things private for a while. But I’ve been meaning to meet you. I’ve heard so much.”

Larry turned to Audrey, grasping at his own weapon. “This is Audrey, my fiancée.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Xander said, smiling graciously.

June watched it unfold in slow motion. Larry’s eyes darted from her to Xander, from their clasped hands to the easy, relaxed way Xander moved. For once, Larry didn’t have the upper hand. His smirk had faded into something less confident. Audrey smiled, but there was a slight furrow in her brow uncertainty, maybe even a flicker of curiosity.

Then Xander turned back to June, brushing a thumb across her shoulder. “Please forgive me,” he said, still playing the part flawlessly. “I’ve barely seen her all day. I missed her like crazy. That’s why I traced her here hope you don’t mind if I steal her away?”

June almost laughed but instead she leaned into him, resting her hand gently on his chest. “I was just about to leave anyway.”

Larry opened his mouth, then closed it again.

“No, no,” he said finally, waving a hand. “We’re pretty much done with dinner.”

Xander nodded politely. Then, without missing a beat, he shrugged off his jacket and gently draped it over June’s shoulders. She hadn’t even realized how cold she was until she felt the warmth of the fabric.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

He gave her a small wink, barely perceptible.

“Shall we?” he said, offering his hand.

She took it.

As they walked out of the suite together, June didn’t look back. She didn’t have to.

She knew what Larry’s face looked like in that moment.