“Will.” I stopped every attempt at an excuse, maybe because the noise started to blend together, and I couldn’t hear a word.
“June, listen—”
“No, you listen. It’s over between us, but I can’t hate you. I tried, but I can’t. And I can’t understand why.”
William stared at me with his forehead creased before lowering his gaze. “Maybe you’re not in love with me.”
“Yeah, but the truth is that I wasn’t completely honest with you, Will.”
“What do you mean?”
I took a gulp of my drink, as if it could give me the courage to keep talking.
“I wanted to tell you at the party that it’d be better to end it. So, as much as I couldn’t bear that kiss, I can’t hate you. I was always planning on ending it. And besides, I made out with Tiff.”
“Why, June? Any girl would’ve taken advantage of my mistake to make me pay or hate me. Why do you always have to be so nice?” His words rolled over me, just like I could feel his breath on my neck. We were so close that I could smell the cherry on his breath.
“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, almost stunned.
“No, but your behavior makes it even harder to stay away from you.”
“Will, you and me, it doesn’t make sense. You’re still hung up on her, and I—”
“You wanted to break up with me, fine. But I was the asshole, June. You made out with Tiff as part of a game, but I never told you about Ari, and I also made out with her. You’d never do that.”
You think so?
In theory, no; June White wouldn’t have done that. She would’ve locked herself in her house for the rest of her life after a similar disappointment. And instead, in reality, I didn’t know what I would be capable of doing right then.
“I don’t want to end up not talking anymore. Let’s just do this if we both want it, let’s just be friends.”
I nodded at Will’s sensible proposal. I didn’t want more drama, and if William needed a friend, I wanted to be there for him.
“And let’s have fun tonight, okay?” he added, pointing to the bar. “I’m gonna get two mojitos, then we’ll dance.”
I saw him flash a sincere smile, and I almost regretted my next words. “Nonalcoholic for both of us, Will.”
“You too?” He scowled.
“Yeah, I don’t know what was in that.” I pointed at the drink I was holding. “But it was strong.”
I stayed still in my little corner and was overcome by a sense of relief. I had been terrified that things with Will would end tragically, maybe with a fight or a broken heart. It hadn’t been like that, and I couldn’t help but be grateful. I smiled, until a bigger guy got closer to me than he should have.
The second one in one night?
He said something I didn’t understand, one of the usual great lines likeToo beautiful to be alone . . .
“If you stop mumbling maybe I’ll understand you,” I answered in my usual sharp way.
But he didn’t seem to want to hear what I had to say. His eyes were glued to my cleavage without a shred of restraint.
“Look, blondie—”
“I don’t think she wants to talk to you.” William had just come back holding two glasses.
“Says who? A child like you?” spat the guy.
“Calm down, I can defend myself,” I retorted, annoyed by Will’s excessively protective behavior.
