Page 137 of Romeo

“You don’t understand, Nash.”

“Then explain it.”

When I finally met his eyes, there wasn’t judgment waiting for me. Nash simply watched me, giving me space I wasn’t sure I wanted.

“He doesn’t know about any of it,” I said quietly. “He knows Granny adopted me. He doesn’t know I was pregnant at fifteen.”

“And you’re planning to keep it that way?”

“I don’t know.”

His expression changed, concern replacing the easy teasing from a few minutes ago. I looked away before he could say anything else.

“What if he leaves?” The words came out softer than I intended.

Nash leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“What if I tell him everything and he looks at me differently?” I asked. “What if suddenly I’m too much trouble? What if all he sees is some girl who made a mess of her life before she was old enough to drive?”

“Is that what you think you are?”

“I don’t know what I think.”

“Yes, you do.” His voice stayed quiet. “You think if he knows everything, he’ll start seeing the bad stuff instead of seeing you.”

I blinked against the sting behind my eyes.

Nash glanced at Charlie before looking back at me. “But if you never tell him, how does he get to choose?”

My chest tightened.

“He’s choosing the Fiona he knows,” Nash continued. “But you’re deciding for him which parts he gets to know.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Neither is expecting him to build something real with you while you’re hiding something this important.”

His words hurt because there wasn’t enough wrong with them for me to get angry.

Charlie shifted in my arms, his little hand tightening around my shirt. I automatically adjusted my hold until he settled again.

“He’s mine,” I whispered.

Nash didn’t say anything.

“Not legally—I know that. Frank and Claudia are his parents, and I would never take that away from them.” I brushed one curl away from Charlie’s forehead. “But I carried him. I gave birth to him. I loved him enough to know I couldn’t give him what he needed, and sometimes I still wake up wondering if I did the right thing even though I know I did.”

My throat tightened until the last words barely came out.

“And Jasper doesn’t know any of it.”

“Maybe you should let him.”

Fear moved through me so quickly that my arms tightened around Charlie. “What if he can’t handle it?”

“Then he isn’t the guy you think he is.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?” I asked, glaring at Nash.