CHAPTER 213: HEART IN TWO DIRECTIONS[JUNE’S POV]

Is he flirting with me?

My throat went dry.

My palms started sweating. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, hoping he didn’t notice how hard I was blushing.

Ren did, obviously. Because his gaze followed the movement of my hand, before he looked back at me, smiling in that gentle, devastating way he always does.

"You’ve gotten even better," he said. "Your tone, your confidence, the way you dress.....it’s different. You’ve grown."

"Thanks," I managed to say, pretending to look anywhere but at his lips.

He leaned closer, scratching the back of his neck like he was nervous.

"So... uh," he chuckled, "are we still doing the talent show thing?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "The what?"

"The talent show," he repeated, smiling a bit. "After tonight’s performance, I’m pretty sure everyone’s gonna expect to hear you again. And since it’s been moved to next week..."

I blinked fast. "Oh. Yeah, maybe."

He paused.

"...you could come over to practice. If you want."

Come over?

Was he..

Wait!

Is he asking me to come over again?

My mind instantly started replaying the last time I was at his place....how close we sat, the quiet tension, how his eyes lingered on me when I laughed.

I tried to sound normal, even though my chest was tight.

I forced a shaky laugh. "I’ll... think about it. If I’m even still doing it."

He was suppose to be mad about it.

Instead, he just smiled. Then he leaned down to my level, so close I could smell his cologne.

"No pressure, Jellybean," he said, patting my head lightly.

My eyes widened. He did not just call me that.

My whole body screamed don’t react, but it was too late , I was already overheating.

What is wrong with me?

Before I could say something sarcastic or impulsive, the glass door slid open behind us.

Ian stood there.

His eyes dropped immediately to Ren’s hand still in my hair. His smile... that cocky, effortless grin faded. Just like that.

Everything in his face changed. His jaw tightened. His brows twitched.

He looked... hurt.

Wait.

Was that.....

Jealousy?

"You should come in," he said flatly. "Dom’s dad’s about to make an announcement."

Then he turned and walked away without another word.

I blinked, watching his back as he disappeared through the doorway.

"Guess that’s our cue," Ren said softly, giving me a small smile before walking ahead.

I barely nodded. My legs felt wobbly.

As soon as we walked in, I caught the nearest waiter and asked quietly, "Sorry, uh, restroom?"

He pointed down the hall.

"Thanks," I muttered, already walking fast.

The second the restroom door shut behind me, I collapsed against it.

My heart wouldn’t slow down.

It was racing....wild and embarrassing and way too obvious.

I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to calm it down. "What the hell is wrong with me," I whispered.

I gripped the sink and stared at myself in the mirror.

My reflection looked like someone who’d just done something bad, even though technically, I hadn’t.

I could still feel the ghost of Ren’s touch in my hair.

I pressed a hand to my chest, but my pulse wouldn’t calm down. It was fluttering like it wanted to escape.

Why did I care so much that Ren called me Jellybean?

Why did my stomach twist in that stupid warm way when he smiled?

And why... why, why, why did I feel that tiny, shameful spark of happiness when he said he and Jackie broke up?

I leaned over the sink and exhaled hard, my breath fogged the mirror. "You’re not supposed to be happy, June. You’re supposed to say ’I’m sorry’ and move on like a normal friend, not blush like a psychopath."

I closed my eyes and groaned. "God, I’m such a terrible person."

Still, the look on Ian’s face when he saw us.

Why did it feel like my chest was being pulled in two directions at once?

Two guys. Two different energies.

Ren with his quiet, steady pull.

Ian with his loud, messy chaos.

And me, standing somewhere in the middle like an idiot, not knowing which heartbeat belonged to who.

I dragged my fingers down my face. "This is so stupid."

But I could still hear Ren saying Jellybean, like it was something soft he wanted to keep.

And Ian calling me hot and his touch. God how he also looks at me.

I hated how both of them made my chest ache in different ways.

I let out a shaky laugh and splashed cold water on my face.

"Get it together, June," I whispered to my reflection. "It’s just a crush. Two... very confusing crushes. You can’t keep catching feelings for every emotionally unavailable man with nice hair."

I stayed in there longer than I should’ve.

Long enough for the water on my hands to dry and the music outside to change twice.

When I finally pushed the door open, too many bright lights.

Everything felt louder than before..

I took a slow breath and forced my legs to move.

Smile, June. You’re fine. Totally fine.

I really wasn’t.

Because my heart was still beating too fast.

The crowd had shifted closer toward the main hall again. Everyone was facing the front.... Dominic’s dad standing there.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please..."

Great. I’d missed the whole buildup.

I started weaving through the crowd, trying to look normal, like I hadn’t just had an emotional breakdown over two guys who probably weren’t even thinking about me right now.

And then I saw Ash.

He was standing off to the side, eyes already finding me the second I stepped out.

Of course he noticed.

He gave me that quiet look."Are you okay?" He whispered.

I forced a small smile and nodded like yeah, I’m good, totally didn’t almost cry over my own chaos.

His expression softened, but before I could even reach him, Dominic’s dad cleared his throat. "Once again, thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate my son’s twenty-first birthday. It’s a special night for him... and for the family."

People clapped politely.

I just stood there, searching for Ian.

He was near the back, pretending to talk to someone but barely listening. His jaw was tight, his hands were in his pockets. He didn’t look at me once.

My stomach dropped.

So he was upset.

I wanted to walk over, to explain that it wasn’t what it looked like, that Ren just... but what even was it? What was I supposed to say?

Hey Ian, sorry another guy touched my hair and my heart temporarily exploded like an idiot?

Yeah, no.

Dominic’s dad kept talking....something about legacy and growth and family values, but I barely heard a word.

All I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat.

And when I finally spotted Ren across the room, Ian’s eyes flicked toward him, then back to me. I knew something between all three of us had quietly, definitely shifted.