Page 61 of Romeo

I’ll have my own private army.

By the time I’ve set the knife down, Riley is already cracking more eggs into the bowl, and I check the biscuits again, so grateful that I went ahead and made the full recipe so there will be plenty.

All of the noise soothes the nerves that I’ve had since I woke this morning—it helps drown out the voices in my head.The ones that tell me I have no business going to this funeral because I was such a disappointment.

Dressedin my black dress and a pair of black heels, I walk into the funeral home alongside Riley.All of the other four Hunt brothers walk just behind us.Since Romeo is a service animal, he’s beside Riley, his sharp ears perked forward as he studies everything around us.

“Welcome,” an older woman in a dark gray suit greets.Her eyes are wide, hungry gaze appreciatively scanning over all of the men with me.“Well, you certainly have brought an army with you, haven’t you, Ms.Landers?”

“Something like that,” I reply, not at all surprised she recognized me.After all, there’s a large photograph of me, my grandfather, and Odie front and center.

“Right.Well.This way, please.”She starts walking, but I remain where I am.

How did I think I was strong enough to do this?

I’m not strong enough to do this.I know that I’m not.So why am I here?

My feet are rooted in the spot, and breathing feels impossible, thanks to the lump in my throat.I don’t see Odie anywhere, and as I look around, I’m surprised to realize that I don’t recognize most of these people.

Was I really that out of the loop?That afraid to leave the house that I didn’t know anyone my grandfather was friends with?

Riley’s fingers thread through mine, and the contact steadies me.

“I’m right here, okay?”he says.

I nod because I’m fairly certain, if I start talking, only tears will come.

With his quiet strength beside me, I manage to put one foot in front of the other until I’m standing in a small room with rows of crimson-colored pews.Ahead, on a wooden stage, is a flower-covered coffin.

The dark wood gleams beneath soft lights above.

A picture of my grandfather stands beside the coffin, a black-and-white from his early acting days.

“I’ll be right out here if you need anything,” the woman says.

“Actually, I’d like to talk to you about security,” Bradyn says.His voice might as well be a million miles away, though, becauseallI can see is that coffin.This is real.

It’s all real.

He’s gone.

My grandfather is never coming back.

“Come on, let’s take a seat, okay?”Riley guides me toward the left side of the room and sits beside me.Romeo lies down at my feet.

“I don’t know if I can do this.”My shoulders begin to shake, and Riley releases my hand to wrap an arm around me.It doesn’t feel stifling, not like most contact does.Instead, when he touches me, it’s as though some of his strength seeps into me, helping me be stronger too.

“You can,” he replies, no doubt in his tone.“You can do this,” he replies.“And you don’t have to do it alone.”

Somehow,I made it through the service.Through the lovely people saying lovely things about my grandfather.Odie spoke, but I was not invited to come up.Something I can’t say I’m upset about since I’m fairly certain no words would have come out even if I were asked to speak.

As I watch the strongest man I’ve ever known get lowered into the ground, I do what I can to keep myself together so I can leave this place and never come back.He’s being buried right beside where my mom, dad, and Odie’s mom are all buried.All of our tragic moments in one place.

Odie steps up in front of me, and Riley stiffens.I’ve felt his anger anytime my brother came into view, and it’s no exception now.Though this is the first time Odie has bothered trying to talk to me.

“Jules, can I speak to you?”

“Of course.What do you want to talk about?”

---