Page 43 of Romeo

Me: That was surprisingly simple

Jasper: Disappointed?

Was I?

Not even a little.

That realization was probably more important than his answer.

Me: Curious

Jasper: That’s more interesting.

“So?” Melanie asked. “What’s he saying?”

I locked my phone. “He suggested I tell people my brothers are violent.”

Melanie laughed. “Is he wrong?”

“Georgie’s protective. That’s different.”

“Protective is one word for it.” Melanie stood, grabbing her tray. “Come on. We’ve got five minutes before the bell.”

I followed her toward the trash cans as I thought about what Jasper said. He didn’t have a girlfriend. That was all he’d actually told me. Anything I attached to it after that belonged to me, not him. Unfortunately, my imagination had plenty of suggestions that made the rest of the day pass without me retaining much of it.

Mrs. Patterson talked about The Great Gatsby. I took notes.

History happened. I took more notes.

If anyone had asked me what either teacher said, I would’ve been screwed.

The only thing in my head was one stupid word.

No.

Jasper didn’t have a girlfriend.

I opened my locker and switched books, trying not to think about what that admission changed.

Technically, it changed absolutely nothing.

He was still in Nebraska. I was still in Virginia. He was still thirty-one. I was still eighteen.

And we were still...

Friends.

I shut my locker harder than necessary.

“You okay?”

I looked up to find Nash standing beside me.

“Yeah. Fine.”

“You sure? You’ve been weird all day.”

“I’m not weird.”