Page 76 of Romeo

Georgie groaned and dropped his head into his hands.

“What?”

“Nothing. Please continue telling me all about Romeo not being sexual. This is exactly the conversation every brother dreams of having.”

I smiled, then felt it fade as I looked down at my knees. “I feel like I can be myself.” I hesitated before adding the part I wasn’t sure he would understand. “He doesn’t know about Charlie.”

Georgie’s eyes widened.

“I’m not ashamed of Charlie. I meant what I said downstairs. I love that little boy with everything inside of me, and of all my nieces and nephews, he holds a special place the others can’t.” I stared at the blanket beneath my hands. “But I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being judged by my past.”

Just saying it made my chest ache.

“Romeo doesn’t do that.”

Georgie’s expression softened. “I get it, Fiona. I do.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “I just need to make sure you’re okay.”

“I am okay.”

He nodded, but the sadness in his face didn’t disappear. “But letting you go, letting you make your own choices, even when I don’t agree with them—that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks again. “I’m not going anywhere, Georgie.”

“Aren’t you?” His voice turned rough. “Because it feels like Romeo’s already taking you away from us. From me.”

“He’s not.” I tightened my fingers around his. “I’m still here. I’m still your sister. That doesn’t change just because I care about someone.”

“You care about him.”

It wasn’t a question. I could’ve denied it, and a few weeks ago, I probably would have.

“I do.”

Georgie closed his eyes and exhaled. “I don’t trust him.”

“You don’t have to. You just have to trust me.”

He stayed quiet for so long that I wondered whether he could do that. Then he finally looked at me again, and there was so much fear mixed with the love in his eyes that my anger disappeared completely.

“I’m trying,” he said. “I’m trying to trust you. But it’s hard.”

“I know.”

“If he hurts you⁠—”

“Then I’ll deal with it,” I interrupted. “And you’ll be here to help me pick up the pieces. But you have to let me make that choice, Georgie. You have to let me decide if he’s worth the risk.”

He stared at me for another long moment before giving me a slow, reluctant nod.

“Okay.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Okay?”

“I’ll try harder.” He squeezed my hand. “I’ll try to let you live your life. Even if it kills me.”

A watery laugh slipped out. “It won’t kill you.”

“You don’t know that.” A tiny smile finally appeared. “You’re my baby sister. Watching you grow up might actually kill me.”