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“She’s not apologizing to you,” Perrie jumps in before Maya can stop spluttering. “You stole her boyfriend from her. She has every right to be mad.”

“It’s the bloody joint-ex-boyfriend drama,” Kim says. “I knew it. Didn’t I tell you?”

Francesca waves her off.

“I’m sure there’s just been some miscommunication,” Lauren tries.

“Oh, you’re sure, huh?” Maya asks. “And you know this because you were… there?”

“I didn’t ‘steal’ anyone,” I snap. “You can’t be serious. Grow up.”

Maya locks eyes with me and the others fall silent. This is a one-on-one battle now. The back of my neck prickles.

“Well, I mean, you did,” she says. “It was basically the definition of it, actually.”

I roll my eyes. “He moved away, he met me, he dated me. People move on, Maya. You can’t blame me for that.”

“Oh, is that what you call it? Moving on?” She sneers.

“Yes. He didn’t have feelings for you anymore. He didn’t even live anywhere near you! I don’t know how you thought—”

“Skye, he didn’t just havefeelingsfor me. He waswithme. He was myboyfriend.”

My cheeks are heating with anger, but I keep my voice even. We can work through this like rational adults, as longas I keep my temper. I’m certain of it. “You weren’t together. Youwantedto be with him, but he wanted to be with me. It sucks, but that’s just how it happens sometimes, and it was years ago, anyway. Who cares?”

Maya’s voice goes up several decibels. “Uh, no, the person who did the wrong thing doesn’t get to decide when it’s been long enough to move past it. That’smycall. And weweretogether.”

I flounder, not quite sure how to respond to this. If Jordy says they weren’t together, and Maya says they were, it all comes down to who I believe. Jordy isn’t a liar, though. I’ve known him much longer than I’ve known Maya. And, so far, she’s acted exactly as Jordy said she would. Which makes me wonder what she did to him that he won’t even go into detail over.

Which makes me furious on his behalf. My skin prickles, and my heart rate starts to pick up.

“Exactly,” Maya says into the silence. “So, can you please fuck off now?”

“Okay, it’s clear Jordy was right about you,” I say. Maya goes pale, which is quite a feat, as she’s pretty pale to start with. She has the kind of creamy, freckle-adorned skin that has no business being out in the sun on a day like today.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks.

“He warned us,” Francesca says.

“‘Us’?” Lauren echoes, raising an eyebrow.

Francesca ignores her. “Jordy said you would try to slag him off. And that you’d come after Skye. He said you’ve been doing it for years.”

“He said you lost it when he tried to break up with you,” Kim says. “And that you wouldn’t let him.”

“Well, let’s all believe Jordy, then,” Perrie says, her voice dripping with sarcasm like syrup on bread. “No man’s ever lied about something like that.”

“If you feel that way about Jordy, why are you here?” Kim asks, fuming. “He’d love to hear you think he’s a liar.”

“No, don’t tell him, please,” Perrie deadpans, examining her nails.

“I don’t think Jordy’s a liar, though,” Lauren says quietly. “Or a cheater. I’m sorry, Maya, but isn’t it possible you both thought it was something different?”

“No,” Maya says coldly.

“I don’t think Jordy’s a cheater,” Kim says firmly.

“I don’t really know Jordy.” Francesca shrugs. Kim shoots her an annoyed glance, and she quickly adds, “But he seems like one of the good ones.”