Page 28 of Romeo

“Fine,” she replies, turning to face me.There are no tears in her eyes, no anger in her expression.She’s beat down.So used to being broken that the shards have formed new edges.Scar tissue on her heart.Ragged and impenetrable.“We’re late for dinner,” she says, shifting her attention back away from me and out the window.

Chapter11

Jules

“Thank you so much, Grandpa.”With a smile, I run my fingers over the heart-shaped locket in my hand.“You didn’t have to get me anything, though.”Opening it, I smile down at the images of my parents inside.

Christmas morning was my favorite growing up, and it absolutely warms my heart that my grandfather did everything he could to make my first one back special.

He doesn’t even realize that, just by being here, it’s special.

“You deserve it and more, my fighter.”

I glance over at Odie.His expression is unreadable, but I imagine he’s not happy being at a rehab facility on Christmas morning.

Not many people would be.

“Here is yours, Odie,” Grandfather says as he offers Odie a pristinely wrapped package.

Odie forces a smile and unwraps it, revealing a custom leather-bound journal inside.“This is great, Grandpa.Thanks so much.”

“You’re welcome.You’re always writing in your other one, so I figured it was getting low on space.”He chuckles, green eyes twinkling with joy.“I want both of you to have everything you need.”

“Thank you.”I smile and take his wrinkled hand in mine.Sitting here with him makes me feel strong enough to fight these demons plaguing me.And for a moment—one beautiful, blissful moment—I feel normal.

Riley’s familyis so wonderful it makes my heart hurt.

His brother Bradyn sits beside his gorgeous wife, Kennedy, across from me.Nova, a red-headed beauty herself, sits beside Riley’s other brother, Elliot.The two women haven’t stopped smiling and talking since they arrived.

Lani is on my right, joining in on the happy conversation, while Riley sits to my left.Tucker, one of the twins, is on the other side of Riley, with Dylan sitting across from him.All while Mr.and Mrs.Hunt are at the ends of the table, the centerfold of their family.

My parents were the same way.A knot tightens in my chest, so I press the heel of my palm against it and rub.

Family was always so important to my grandfather.He was heartbroken when my mom died but so happy when my dad met Odie’s mom.I can still remember him telling me how lucky I was to have a brother.

And, for a time, I felt lucky.

But then I realized that I may have gained a brother, but I lost my mother.The woman who carried me through birth.I’d felt so guilty over being happy that I shut myself down from feeling anything.

Which didn’t help my relationship with my brother.It also didn’t help that he was struggling too, and I was the same thing to him: a sister gained through the loss of a parent.

“So, Jules, what was it like growing up alongside celebrities?”Lani’s question jerks me back to the present.

“Oh, uh, it was interesting, I guess,” I reply with a forced smile.The truth is far more sinister.Being overly sexualized from a young age.Having reporters say how ‘womanlike’ I was looking from the time I was thirteen.

I hated every minute of it.

So much so that I took what I thought was a golden opportunity to escape it but landed myself in the belly of a beast.

“Did you ever attend any of those award shows?”she asks.

“A few of them.”I turn to Mrs.Hunt.“This roast is delicious.”

“Thank you, honey.I’m so glad you’re enjoying it.”

So far, no one here has looked at me like I’m lesser than.Which has been truly nice, especially considering the fact that I imagine theyallknow about my past.About the mistakes that brought me here to this table.

“What do you like to do for fun?”Kennedy asks.

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