Page 71 of Rebel Romeo

Was I meant to be an actor?

Somewhere in the last few weeks, I’d begun to realize that the best part of my day was when I was on stage.

With Katherine.

I stripped off my clothes and hopped in the shower, scrubbing the stench of this horrible day off of me.

I got out, toweled off, and threw on some jeans and a shirt before I realized I heard voices coming from the den.

A feminine voice.

Katherine. I glanced at my phone and muttered a curse. It was only 7:58, but she must have gotten here early.

I groaned and yanked the door open, rushing down the hall to find Katherine and Duncan standing in the open living room. Duncan’s hair was wet from practice, his duffle bag still slung over his shoulder.

From within my pocket, my phone vibrated with a phone call. I pulled it out, glancing at my mom’s picture on the screen.

I silenced her call, then slipped it back in my pocket, ignoring it as Duncan spun to face me, grinning. “Look who I found knocking on the door when I got home from practice.”

Kate’s hair was damp, and she hugged her arms into her body, clamping the strap of a canvas messenger bag against herself. Her pink polo shirt was even tighter against her body with the rainfall, and the plaid skirt she wore…

Fuck me. She looked like every college guy’s wet dream.

She gave a little shrug, and I noted the goosebumps that raced down her slick arms. “The bus was early.”

“You didn’t drive?”

She shook her head, giving me a strange look. “I don’t have a car.”

My eyes drifted closed. Of course she didn’t. She’s a freshman. 90% of freshmen didn’t bring cars because parking was so limited.

“Shit,” I muttered. “I’m sorry. I should have given you a ride.”

Duncan snorted. “Listen, Kate. You ever need a ride, you can always call me. Unlike this asshole, I don’t make my girls take the bus.” With a lick of his lips, he winked at her, then sent me a playful grin. Even though I knew Duncan wasn’t serious, the thought of him giving Kate a ride anywhere spawned a rush of jealousy.

“All right, all right. Quit hitting on my Juliet.” I smacked the back of my hand against Duncan’s chest. After unzipping the hoodie from around my torso, I slid it over Kate’s shoulders so she could warm up. It wasn’t exactly cold out, but with the rain and that goddamn short skirt, I didn’t want her to get sick.

“Your Juliet, huh?” she repeated quietly, lifting her eyes to meet mine.

We stood there, locked in each other’s gaze before I cleared my throat and stepped away. “Well, you are the Juliet to my Romeo. Aren’t you?”

Duncan crossed to the fridge, then grabbed a Diet Coke and popped the tab. “Not for nothing, but I think I could give you a run for your money as Romeo.”

I laughed and grabbed the electric tea kettle, filling it with water. “You think so?”

“Oh, I know so!”

“Sounds like a challenge.” I pulled down a tin from the cabinet above the stove, then turned to Katherine who was still standing in the entryway between the kitchen and the TV room. “Cinnamon spice or Jasmine Dragonpearl?”

“You’re making me tea?”

I nodded, then realized I didn’t even bother asking if she wanted something else. “I mean, unless you’d rather have a soda, or coffee?—”

She cut me off with a shake of her head. “Jasmine tea is perfect.”

Duncan fell to one knee dramatically in front of her. “Alas, fair maiden. I could warm up some PowerAid for you! Lest you forget who let you into this home, and who left you standing out in the rain… taking the bus to get here!”

Katherine grinned and tapped her index finger to her chin. “Hm. So, I get to choose my Romeo tonight?”

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