Page 72 of Rebel Romeo

Duncan jumped to his feet and puffed his chest out. “I think that’s only fair.”

She pointed a finger at me, then swung it around to Duncan. “But I only get to pick between you two?”

I laughed as the water began boiling. My best friend was the best kind of idiot.

“Don’t forget,” Duncan said while rushing back over to the front door. He opened and shut it three times as a display of his ‘chivalry.’ “Who let you in? And who left you to stand out in the rain?”

With a shake of my head, I poured the boiling water into the mug, allowing it to steep while I grabbed a bag of popcorn and tossed it into the microwave.

Katherine pressed her lips together and sighed an exaggeratedly thoughtful hm. “He’s got a point there, Holden.”

“Oh, does he?” I asked, handing her the piping hot mug. “Are you hungry?” I added as an afterthought.

She shook her head. “Not really.”

I studied her for a quick moment before I went to the fridge and pulled out a few blocks of cheese. You weren’t a Dorsey if you didn’t always have the components for a potential charcuterie board on hand. One of those weird things my mom taught me in the fleeting moments of sobriety.

The thought of my Mom launched a pang of guilt in my chest. I really did need to answer her calls and talk to her… eventually. I just didn’t know what to say yet.

Pushing thoughts of my mother out of my head, I rummaged around the drawers in the fridge. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any super fancy cheese, so cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack would have to do. Along with some salami and almonds and honey.

I ignored Katherine’s little huff, but when I stole a glance at her, she was smiling. “I said I wasn’t hungry.”

“You said ‘not really.’ Besides, what makes you think this is for you? You’re not the only stomach in this house.”

Duncan groaned as footsteps clomped across the house. “Hello? This Romeo’s getting bored. Are you going to make a choice or not?”

“How about this?” I asked. “If you can recite even one damn line Romeo says in the whole show, I’ll give it to you. You can be her Romeo.”

It wasn’t much of a challenge. I’d sat next to Duncan through a semester of Classic Lit, and he literally slept through every class.

He took a long sip of his Coke before clearing his throat dramatically and pressing a palm to his chest. “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo!”

“That’s Juliet’s line,” Katherine said through a giggle that was more than a little adorable.

I hated how much I noticed the sexy curve of her hip as she leaned against the kitchen island.

“Yeah,” Duncan said. “Well, so what? Aren’t you doing a contemporary version of the show? Do the classic lines even matter?”

I grinned and spooned some raw honey onto the cheese board. “He’s only arguing that because he can’t remember shit about Shakespeare.”

“Well, Juliet?” Duncan opened his arms. “Which Romeo is it going to be?”

Shyly, she hid her smile behind her hand. “I can’t have a Romeo who doesn’t know the lines. I have to go with Holden.”

Duncan clutched his heart in over-the-top pain. “You’ve gutted me, Juliet! A plague on both your houses!”

I snicker. “That’s Mercutio, asshole.”

“The best friend who dies?” he asks.

Katherine nods. “Some argue it’s the best role in the whole show.”

“Heh. I guess that’s fitting, huh?” He gave us a playful grin to let us know he was teasing. Then with a wave, he hitched his duffle bag higher on his shoulder. “Enjoy your stupid movie night.”

“You don’t want to stay and watch with us?” Kate asked, innocently enough.

Duncan snorted and pulled his phone from his pocket. Typing something with both thumbs, he talked without looking up. “Watch Shakespeare? Hell no. I’m going to shower and change clothes, then I’ve got a date. I’ll be out of your hair all night.”

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