Page 57 of From Rome, With Hate

“I’m… I’m trying to say,” I stammer, struggling to get my words out. I can tell Julianna isn’t used to seeing me like this. I’m usually well controlled, projecting to anyone who ever questions crossing my path that I’m not one to cross. It’s in the Montgomery DNA. But I’m different with Julianna. She’s the only good thing in my fucked-up world, and I want to make her a permanent part of it.

“Rome?”

“I’m trying to say… that I hate being with you like this, seeing you in secret, risking our reputations, only getting fleeting moments to carry with me.”

I take her hands in mine and see a life I never dreamed I’d be envisioning six months ago. A life of happiness, love, and peace, where the Montgomerys and Capuletis no longer need to live with hate.

“I know this might sound impossible. It’s hard to envision a life where we aren’t enemies. But I’m tired of pretending to hate you in public while loving you in secret. Because I love you,every second of every day. And now that you’re eighteen, we’re both in charge of our own dreams, and my dream is you. Only you. I know this won’t solve the bigger issue of how this will all work, and I know you have this dream of going to some fancy design school eventually, which I would never keep you from pursuing, but… fuck.” I drag a hand down my face, then allow the dam to break. The words spill out of me so fast. “I want to marry you.”

A sharp gasp escapes her, and her eyes spread wide like a deer caught in the headlights.

Then her panic sets in.

I’ve fucked everything up. Maybe Julianna’s love for me doesn’t outweigh all the years of torture I’ve given her. Maybe she loves me but can’t envision a life where she bears the Montgomery name. How could she?

I’m certain our ancestors are rolling in their graves right now, gathering the strength to break free and murder us in retaliation.

She still hasn’t moved, and I’m worried I’ve ruined my chances of being with her.

“Fuck, I know you probably think I’m crazy.” I shake my head, unable to look at her face any longer. “Everything we’ve been doing these past few months has happened so fast, but I understand this is ridiculous and impractical, right? I just?—”

“Rome…”

I look up, and my heart stops, not restarting until I hear her voice again.

She cups my face in her hands, tears lining her wide, bright blue eyes. They look just like the star-dotted night sky.

“I’ll marry you, Rome Montgomery,” she whispers. “I’ll marry you.”

I chuckle in disbelief, my heart exploding. I grab Julianna’s hands and hold them against my chest so she can feel how hard it’s beating.

“You scared me, Lark.”

She laughs and a tear slips through her long lashes. “You scared me.”

“Oh, fuck.” I sigh, feeling as if I could float away any moment. “We’re insane, aren’t we?”

We’re only eighteen and the odds are stacked against us, but I’m determined to make it work. I’ll find a way for us to get married without anyone knowing and then we can conquer our plan of bringing our families together once and for all, so we can stand united as husband and wife.

Our families won’t be able to keep us apart.

“Yes,” Julianna snickers. “We are insane, but that’s how I know it’s what I want. Because nothing has ever made sense with us, has it?”

I shake my head and reach for her left hand. I drag the tip of my finger over her fourth one. “I’ll buy you a ring this weekend—one worthy of this hand.” I bring it to my mouth and plant a gentle kiss there, eyeing her over our joined hands.

“You’d better be ready,” she warns, tangling my fingers with hers. “Marrying a Capuleti is never easy. Add in the fact that you’re a Montgomery…”

“I know it will be hard,” I tell her. “But we’ll figure everything out together.”

“Always.”

I grin. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I deepen my voice, pulling her to me, drawing her to stand on her toes. The branches beneath us snap and break, echoing through the dark of night.

Then I kiss my future wife before she heads back inside as if nothing has happened.

EIGHTEEN

JULIANNA