Page 163 of Romeo

I hated my own brain.

“Fiona.”

Georgie’s voice caught me before the next thought could finish. I looked at him; his arms were folded across his chest, but the usual irritation that appeared whenever Romeo’s name entered a conversation wasn’t there tonight.

“You okay?”

“I said I’m fine.”

He didn’t challenge me, and that somehow made it worse.

Every sound in the clubhouse disappeared beneath the vibration of my phone when it buzzed in my hand. I nearly dropped it trying to unlock the screen.

Jasper: I’m alive.

My knees weakened so quickly I caught the back of a chair. My breath hitched as I stared at the two words until my eyes blurred.

I’m alive.

Relief came first, hard enough to hurt, followed almost immediately by anger so sharp I wanted to throw something.

Me: That’s all you have to say?

His answer came immediately.

Jasper: Right now.

I hated those words. They left too much space for everything he wasn’t telling me.

Me: I’ve been going crazy waiting to hear from you.

Jasper: I’m sorry, Cher.

My eyes burned.

Me: Are you hurt?

Jasper: Nothing serious.

I actually laughed, though there wasn’t anything funny in it.

Me: That phrase means nothing when you say it.

Jasper: I’m standing.

I stared at the screen. Standing? As if that was supposed to ease my fear.

Me: That’s your standard?

Jasper: Tonight.

The anger drained out of me almost as fast as it had built. Whatever had happened, he believed being on his feet was enough to count as a good outcome.

I wasn’t sure I agreed.

Me: I thought you were dead.

I didn’t regret sending it. He needed to know how I felt. How scared I was. How much I cared about him being okay.