Snapping my eyes open, I saw Cameron looking up at my cousin who was now preening like a peacock.
“Not bad yourself, kid.” My cousin, Jasper DuBois, my son’s namesake, smiled warmly, sheathing his bowie knife to shake Cameron’s hand as George stormed into my room, making a beeline for Freddie. “You can call me Romeo.”
Great. If my room wasn’t crowded enough already.
I was never getting a shower.
Freddie’s face paled as George stormed over to him. Holding up his hands, the scaredy cat quickly said, “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to talk to Josie!”
My cousin’s eyes darkened, his smile never wavering. “Want some help throwing the trash out?”
George ignored Romeo and grabbed Freddie by the scruff of the neck, forcefully escorting him from my room. Romeo fixed his gaze on Freddie as he tried unsuccessfully to get away from George.
Cameron, oblivious to the tension, beamed up at my cousin. “Romeo? That’s such a cool name! Did you know that in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo was the romantic hero?”
“Romeo and Juliet?” My cousin’s voice softened, a hint of curiosity breaking through his tough exterior. “Tell me, kid, do you know how that story ends?”
Cameron’s face lit up with excitement. “Of course! They both die.”
Romeo grimaced. “Well, that was anti-climactic.”
George returned, dusting his hands off and muttering under his breath. “What the hell did he want?”
“To talk,” I said as George walked over to me.
“Too bad. We need to talk,” George firmly said, then turned to Cameron. “Get lost, kid. The adults are talking.”
“Come on, kid.” Romeo grinned. “I need to know more about this Juliet. Is she prettier than me? Can’t have anyone stealing my thunder.”
The second Romeo and Cameron were gone, I snapped.
“I’m not talking to you, George. Go away.”
“Too bad,” the gruff man said, sitting on my bed as I unbuttoned my shirt. “My ex is in town and peddling a kid around, saying it’s mine.”
“Emily has a kid?” I asked, my hands freezing on the buttons of my shirt. “Is she sure it’s yours?”
George ran his hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration and exhaustion. “I don’t know, Josie. I haven’t seen her since Ileft Florida. But the timing fits, and she’s always had a knack for causing drama. I just wanted to give you a heads-up in case she tries to pull something.”
I sighed, my shoulders slumping as the weight of yet another problem settled on them. “Great, just what I need,” I muttered. “Well, I appreciate you letting me know, George. I’ll keep an eye out for her.”
“And, Josie.” George smirked playfully, his voice softening. “I am really sorry about earlier. Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
“I think you’ve done enough in that department. Right now, I just want a nice shower and to change my clothes.”
“Mind some company?” He stood walking over to me, wrapping his arms around me.
I hesitated, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the comfort it brought, even if I didn’t want to admit it. “George, everything is so complicated right now. Maybe we should just stay friends.”
He let out a deep sigh, pulled back slightly, and searched my eyes for any sign of hope. “If that’s what you want, Josie.”
“It is.”
In that instant, I watched the fire dim in his eyes as he took a step back. “I need to get back to the clinic. If you need me, you know where to find me.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and sadness.
“Thanks for understanding,” I whispered.
