Page 136 of Romeo

“He’s getting big.”

“Too big.” I smoothed my hand over his dark curls. “Frank says he’s already outgrowing his clothes.”

“Kids do that.”

“I know.”

It should’ve been an ordinary conversation. Charlie growing. Frank and Claudia constantly needing new clothes for him. The sort of thing we’d probably say about every child in the family over the years.

Still, my eyes stayed on his sleeping face a little too long.

Charlie had changed so much since the first time I held him.

So had I.

The music shifted to something slower while a burst of laughter rose near the bar. Somewhere behind us, glass shattered and someone yelled that it wasn’t their fault. Nobody sounded particularly concerned.

Nash leaned farther into his chair. “So, what’s going on with Romeo?”

My attention snapped back to him. “What?”

“Fiona.” The way he said my name was so different from Jasper, but the look on his face was almost identical.

Heat crept up my neck. “Things are fine.”

“Fine.” He made a face. “That’s a terrible answer.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Bullshit. He drove across the country to surprise you at graduation, and now you’re sitting at your own party looking like somebody stole your puppy.”

“It’s your party too. I’m not the only one who graduated.” He gave me that look again, the one that said you know what I mean. “He had to leave. Club business.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

I looked down at Charlie again, tracing one finger lightly over his cheek. “I’m okay with it.”

Nash didn’t answer right away.

“Have you told him about Charlie?”

My hand stopped.

For several seconds, I couldn’t make myself look up. Charlie slept on, completely unaware that one quiet question had turned the room around us into little more than noise.

“Fiona.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

I shifted Charlie slightly against me, though he hadn’t moved. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s the truth.”