Everything okay?
Rodriguez seriously are you okay?
Before I can respond, the security guard comes back. “We have to call the police. It’s hotel policy. They’ll want statements from both of you.”
They make us wait in separate corners of the lobby for what feels like forever but is probably only ten minutes before the cops show up.
My head is pounding. My ribs hurt with every breath. My knuckles are bleeding onto my pants.
I ruined everything. Got in a fight on her sister’s wedding day because I couldn’t control myself.
There’s no way I can explain this to her over text right now.
The cop pulls out a notepad and clicks his pen.
“Alright. Let’s start with your name.”
21
JULIETTE
The music is suddenly tooloud and someone turns it down.
One of the officers clears his throat. He looks at his notepad. “Ma’am, we have Romeo downstairs who’s being detained. He gave your name as an emergency contact.”
I blink. “I’m sorry, who?”
“Romeo. He’s being held following an altercation in the hotel bar.”
“I don’t know anyone named Romeo.”
The cop raises his eyebrow and checks his notes again. “Romeo Rodriguez?”
The room goes completely silent.
“I’m sorry… ” I say slowly. “Did you say Romeo?”
“Yes ma’am. Romeo Rodriguez. He says he’s your boyfriend and that you’re the maid of honor at this wedding.”
“ROMEO?!” Olivia’s voice cracks and I turn. She’s got both hands clamped over her mouth. Her eyes are huge and already tearing up.
I turn back to the officer because this can’t be real. “He told you his name was Romeo.” I can hear the disbelief in my own voice.
“Yes ma’am. Is there a problem?”
“ROMEO AND JULIETTE!” Olivia shrieks.
Then she’s laughing. Doubled over, can’t breathe, tears streaming down her face laughing.
My mom makes a sound, half laugh, half gasp. She looks at me, then at Olivia, and then she’s laughing too.
“Oh my god,” Emma gasps. “Oh my GOD.”
“His name is ROMEO?” Lauren is wheezing. “You’ve been dating a guy named ROMEO?”
My mouth won’t form words. My brain has stopped processing language entirely.
“I didn’t know,” I finally manage.
