Page 98 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

“Nothing. She only made a remark about my attire and then left with Fiona. It was Maya who…” June licks her lower lip. “She was the one who noticed I went somewhere with you, and she assumed we hooked up.”

“Are you happy now, dumbass?” Ryan punches Lachy’s arm.

“Hey! I didn’t think anyone was paying attention,” Lachy complains.

“It wasn’t Lachy’s fault. I was jealous he was talking to Maya’s friend,” June replies. “She was flirting with him.”

I keep staring at June’s profile, hating to see her looking so down. “What else did Maya say?”

She shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“June…” Ryan leans forward, sticking his head between our seats. “Don’t keep things from us. Whatever she said clearly upset you.”

She sighs loudly. “She said she wouldn’t tell anyone about Lachy and me, but she warned me to stay away from Banksy. She probably thinks I want to sleep with all the players.”

“Bloody hell. It’s all my fault. I’ll talk to her and?—”

“And say what? That you’re betraying your best friend?” June’s voice rises in pitch. “Absolutely not.”

“I can’t let her think those horrible things about you, lass.”

“And do you think I want her thinking you’re a dick?” June retorts. “Besides, I don’t know if she’ll keep our secret, and Wendy already suspects I hooked up with Ryan the other day in the locker room. It’s over.”

My stomach sinks. “What do you mean, it’s over?”

She peels her eyes off the road for a second and looks at me. “The secrecy is over. I can’t live my life like this. I’m done being afraid of what people will think.”

“Are you saying you want to be open about our relationship?” Ryan asks, hope lacing his tone.

“Yes. Even though it scares the hell out of me... I do.”

Relief washes over me. Hell, I thought she was going to break up with us. I was already prepared to grovel. “If you weren’t driving, I’d fucking kiss you.”

She smiles. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Because we can’t control ourselves, we start celebrating June’s decision as soon as we leave the car. Getting to the elevator takes forever, and by the time we reach our floor, the front of June’s dress is fully open.

Ryan and Lachy keep June sandwiched between them while I get out my key to open the door. But when I walk in, I step on something that’s not the rug.

Frowning, I turn on the lights and spot the manila envelope with my name typed on the front in big block letters.

“What the hell.” I bend over to pick it up.

“What is it?” June comes closer.

“I have no idea. It only has my name on it, not the sender’s.”

“It doesn’t have postage either.” Ryan points out. “It was dropped off by hand.”

My stomach ties into knots. Mysterious packages are never a good thing. Our address isn’t listed, so whoever came over is either a friend, or someone with bad intentions.

“Maybe you shouldn’t open it. What if it has anthrax inside or something?” June pipes up.

I clench my jaw as suspicion nags at me. “I don’t think there’s anything chemical inside.”

Lachy pulls June away from me. “Stay back just in case, lass.”

I glower at him. “Really?”

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