Page 67 of Bittersweet

My frown deepens. “You thought Sophia was mywife?”

“Uh-huh.” She smooths her palms on the skirt of her dress, as if wiping them free of sweat. “Guess I shouldn’t jump to conclusions,huh?”

I shake my head, taking several steps closer. “I don’tunderstand.”

“I was coming to see you, a few weeks back. I somehow got it in my head that you and I, well . . .” She glances down at her feet. When she looks up again, her eyes are glistening with tears. “Why didn’t you tell me you were adad?”

My shoulders sag in defeat. “I thought you knew. I wanted to talk to you about it, about us, but I didn’t want to scare you away. And I didn’t want to put Coco through losing someone she cared about likethat.”

Tears spill over Romy’s lashes and roll slowly down her cheeks. I cup her face, brush the saltwater from her skin with my thumbs. “Why are you here withhim?”

“I didn’t know he was your brother. I didn't even know your lastname.”

“And now that youdo?”

“Elio,I. . .”

“Well, don’t you two look cozy?” My asshole brother steps from the shadows of the long hallway and glances back and forth between the two of us. I jerk my hand away from Romy’sface.

“Marc,” Romy shrieks and steps away from me. “I was just um . . . looking for thebathroom.”

“It’s upstairs, sweet cheeks.” He studies her flushed face and glares at me. “Did Elio say something to make youcry?”

“No. He didn’t do anything,” shesays.

She’s right about that. I’ve spent the last year doing nothing where this woman isconcerned.

“Excuse me.” Romy bows her head as she brushes past me on the stairs and hurries off to the bathroom. It takes everything I have not to turn and watch her go. Instead, I eye my brother’s lecherous gaze on herass.

“I made that,” Marc says proudly, as if he had some part in hercreation.

“Then it’s kind of creepy that you’re looking at her like you want a taste.” I shrug as Marc turns his ’roid-raging gaze back on me. “Little incestual, don’t youthink?”

“I don’t know, brother. You tell me. What the hell were you doing touching my girl just now? Why is shecrying?”

“I imagine it’s because she’s here withyou.”

“Ha. You think she’d rather be here with you? Some deadbeat dad who’s grown soft around themiddle?”

“Deadbeat dad?” I brush past him. “Oh, brother, the only thing gone soft here is your brain after all the steroids you’ve fed it. Although, you do look like you’ve gained a littleextra.”

My brother scowls. I smile back and walk away because if I don’t, I’ll likely beat the shit out of him for taking mygirl.

Again.

25

Romy

Iwashmy hands in the sink and glare at my reflection. I’m a mess. My eyes are bloodshot, my nose is puffy, and my face is red. I can’t cover the redness because I left my concealer and powder in my purse downstairs and as much as I’d like to, I can’t hide out hereforever.

I open the bathroomdoor.

Marc startles me. He glowers. “What did Elio say toyou?”

“Nothing.”

He huddles close, pushing me farther into the bathroom. “You’relying.”

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