June finishes fussing with her chargers, then crosses to me. She gently lifts my ankle.
“I’m taking these off,” she murmurs.
I don’t fight her. She slides off my shoes and sets them aside, then lifts the edge of the comforter and folds it over me like I’m something that needs protection.
My throat tightens. A tear spills. “Thank you,” I whisper.
She places my shoes by the nightstand, then sits cross-legged on her bed across from mine, facing me.
After a beat, she says, “Did I ever tell you my mom passed away last year?”
I blink and push up slightly, then wipe at my eyes. “No. Oh my God… June, I’m so sorry.”
She nods, a sad little smile tugging at her lips. “She fought cancer for years. She was… the strongest woman you could imagine. I was relieved when she wasn’t in pain anymore but losing her still sucked.”
My chest squeezes. “That’s… that’s awful.”
“It was.” Her voice doesn’t shake. “But she taught me something. Well, she taught me a lot of somethings, but one thing I keep hearing her say lately is:give people grace.”
I sit up fully, pulling the blanket around me, listening.
“When we were kids and me and my siblings fought, God, May and I used togo at it, my mom would say, ‘Juney girl, that sister of yours loves you more than she even knows. Give her grace.’”
My eyes sting again.
“And when kids made fun of me in school, saying I was too chubby to be a cheerleader? She’d say, ‘People who hurt other people usually don’t feel very loved themselves. Give them grace.’”
June exhales, slow and thoughtful. “So now when someone messes up? When they disappoint me or hurt me? I try to remember… sometimes people screw up not because they don’t care, but because life hasn’t been graceful to them, and they don’t know how to express anything right.”
Her words split me open.
If there’s one thing I know about Rogue Gallagher, it’s that life hasn’t handed him softness. And feelings still look foreign on him, like a language he’s only just learning.
“I’m just—” My voice breaks. “I’m so hurt. And confused. I don’t know what to do.”
June nods, eyes warm. “I don’t usually defend men. Most don’t deserve it. But he’s been wrecked this week. Every time he came to the office asking if you were there… if you’d seen the way he looked? Like the floor fell out from under him every time I said no. Even Coach Gaz asked if he’s sick, he’s been so off.”
I swallow, hard.
“He cares about you, Cat. Like… deeply. And I think you owe it to yourself to let him explain. When you’re ready.”
A shaky breath leaves me. “It was so hard sitting next to him today,” I admit. “I’m glad he slept most of the flight. If not, it would’ve been unbearable.”
June snorts. “Girl, please. Awkward is me and Luca. He kissed me on Saturday and then acted likenothing happenedall week. And then I had to sit next to him for six hours pretending I wasn’t thinking about it.”
My jaw drops.
“Oh my God, and Marianna had sex with Thiago, and I haven’t even asked her because I’ve been living in heartbreak cave.”
June grins. “From what I hear? It was life changing.”
I choke-laugh through my tears. “Of course it was.”
She stands, stretching. “I’m gonna run to the little store downstairs, grab snacks for our little getaway. Want anything?”
I sniffle. “…Nerds Clusters please.”
“You got it.”
