“You’re not gonna say anything?” My voice broke, hoarse and raw. “Christ, June, do you even get what you’ve done to me?”
Her fingers trembled against my chest, still pressed where I’d put them.
“I love you.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them, jagged and desperate.
Her eyes widened, but she still didn’t speak.
“I love you, and you don’t even—” My laugh was bitter, ugly. “God, you can’t even give meanything. Not a word. Not a sign you feel it too.”
Tears burned my eyes, and I didn’t care anymore.
“You’re the only thing that’s felt real in years. And I hate that you can make me feel like this — like I’m begging for scraps — when I’d give you everything.”
Her face crumpled — eyes squeezed shut, teeth digging into her lip like she was holding back the words I was begging for.
And that made it worse.
Because she wanted to say something.
But shestilldidn’t.
I stepped back like the space between us might stop the ache in my chest. “It’s pathetic, isn’t it?” I laughed again, hollow. “How easy it is for you to ruin me.”
I let go of her hand.
“Forget it.” My voice was rough, final. “You don’t have to say anything. I get it.” Another step backwards. I felt tears on my cheek. “I’ll handle everything. It can be over Juniper.”
I thought — for asplitsecond, maybe she was crying too. It was too much — I turned toward the door.
Her hand twitched—just an inch, like she almost reached for me. Her lips parted, a strangledpleasecaught in her throat.
But nothing came out.
The door opened, and the cool night air rushed in.
I didn’t look back.
Because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave.
CHAPTER 44
The door shut behind him.
The sound was final, echoing the feeling of something shattering inside my chest.
I stayed exactly where I was — hand still half-raised like maybe, maybe, I could’ve grabbed him if I’d just moved faster.
But I hadn’t.
My fingers curled into my palm, nails digging crescent moons into my skin.
I couldn’t evencry.
I just stood there, staring at the door, hoping that if I stared hard enough, maybe it would open again. Maybe he’d come back.
But he didn’t.
