Star-Crossed(85)

“What’s wrong with you?” Alaine asked.

Jules rolled her eyes. “There ain’t nothing wrong with me, but Wyatt thinks I look sick.”

Alaine tilted her head to study Jules with a critical eye. “Ya look fine to me.”

“He’s paranoid.”

“She’s got circles under eyes,” Wyatt said as if that explained it.

“Maybe you aren’t getting enough sleep?” Chuito suggested drily. “Too many late nights.”

“Okay, I’m gonna head out,” Jules said before Chuito’s teasing got bad enough to make Wyatt suspicious. “I’ll call y’all for your orders once I get closer to Hal’s.” She pulled out her phone once she got outside to text Romeo, unable to resist jumping on the small gap in her schedule.

 Birthday quickie?





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She got into her car, waiting for Romeo’s response, and she wasn’t disappointed.

Her phone buzzed before she could put the key in the ignition.

 My place?

Jules texted him back and then made a beeline for the doctor’s, if for no other reason than to shut Wyatt up and keep him pacified on their birthday. She walked into the office, finding that life was continuing to smile on her when the place was completely empty.

“Hey, Jules,” said the nurse, Sara. “You sick?”

“There might be something going on with my hormones.” Jules leaned against the counter and tilted her head to speak through the window. “I made an appointment up in Mercy, but I thought maybe Dr. Philips could draw blood, make sure I ain’t dying or anything. Just kinda a precaution.”

“Yeah, sure,” Sara said as she jumped up from behind the desk. “Just lemme go get him.”

Once Jules quickly explained her symptoms, Dr. Philip’s wanted to do a full workup, but the promise of meeting Romeo had Jules talking him down to a few vials of blood with the assurance that she’d come back if she got worse.

Then she ran out the door, texting Wyatt on the way to her car.

 Doctor busy. Hour wait.

Wyatt texted her back while she was on her way to Romeo’s house.

 Not hungry yet. Get it done.

Jules smiled. That was exactly the response she was hoping for. If they’d all been hungry, the guilt would’ve made the small interlude stressful. Now she had an hour to spend with Romeo on her birthday when that had previously been impossible as she had plans to spend the whole day with Wyatt.

She was surprised to see the Ferrari in the driveway when she pulled up, because she’d assumed Tino would’ve taken it to give them some privacy. Feeling a bit thrown 220



off, she rang the doorbell to the lake house, half expecting Tino to come bounding to the door with a knowing smile and too much energy to be normal.

Instead Romeo opened the door. He stood there bare-chested and barefoot in a pair of jeans and gave her a broad smile. “Happy birthday, baby.” Jules beamed. “Thank you.”

“Come on in.” He pushed the door open wider. “Seeing you is a nice surprise. I thought you were spending today with Wyatt.”

“I found a break in the storm.”

Jules walked in, and Romeo closed the door behind her and then promptly forced her against the wood, kissing her. She opened to his passion, letting his tongue thrust in and explore for a few minutes before she started fighting the haze and pushed at his shoulder.

Breathless, she asked, “Isn’t Tino here?”

“What?” Romeo was fighting for breath too, his muscular chest rising and falling as he looked down at her. “Oh no, he and Nova took off.” Jules pulled back. “Nova’s here?”

“Yeah, he stopped by last night.” Romeo ran a hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead as he took another deep breath. “Unexpected visit. He’s staying for a couple days.”

“Are you okay?” Jules reached up and ran a finger over the crease between his eyes. She considered his face, seeing dark circles under his eyes. “You look tired.”

“I gotta headache,” he said with a wince. “We stayed up late. The night’s wearing on me today.”

“I’m sorry.” Jules heard the exhaustion in his voice and wondered if perhaps their sneaking around was wearing on both of them. “We don’t have to—”

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“Are you kidding?” Romeo wrapped his big arms around her and hugged her before she could finish the sentence. “I’m happy you’re here. I needed it. Needed you.” He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply as he said, “I love you so much, Juliet.” Romeo’s hug was tighter than usual, almost as if he was clinging to her, and she rubbed his back soothingly. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He pulled back while still holding her and gave her a wan smile. “I am now.”