Page 25 of His Juliet

I vaguely noticed Romeo nudging me until my back was against a building and he was in front of me, blocking out the world. His hand cupped my face, his warmth breaking through some of my panic.

“What’s wrong?” His brow was furrowed.

My words were caught in my throat. If he weren’t here, I would have turned back around and gone home and closed the bookstore today. I had one safe route to the shop, and this deviation was enough to trigger my panic. But Romeo was here, and I had to tell him something.

“I…I have…”

“Shh,” he said, pressing his body tighter to mine. “Take your time. There’s no rush. Just take a breath and tell me when you’re ready.”

I matched my breathing with his, my chest rising and falling in the same rhythm until I no longer felt like I was going to pass out.

I kept my eyes on his chest as I spoke. “I have agoraphobia.”

His fingers played with my hair. “I’ve heard of that, but I don’t know much about it. Will you tell me about it?”

“I get panic attacks when I’m outside my home. I have a few places that are safe, like the bagel shop, and I have one route to the bookstore that I take.”

My words were jumbled and I was too much of a coward to look at Romeo. I was sure all I’d see there was judgement and confusion.

He gently cradled my face with both hands. “So the detour is an issue because it’s off your normal route?” He gently tilted my face until I reluctantly met his gaze. My eyes watered at the kindness I found there. “Is that the problem?” he prompted.

“Yeah,” I croaked.

“Okay. Do you want to go home or do you want to try the detour? If we do the detour, I won’t leave your side. I’ll keep you safe.”

Everything inside me was screaming to turn around and go home, lock myself in my apartment, and hide under my covers. But a tiny part of me urged me to be brave. I didn’t want to be trapped in my routine anymore. I used to be able to walk around the city without panicking. Maybe I could do it with Romeo at my side.

“If we try the detour and I freak out?—”

“We’ll turn right back around, promise.” He ran his fingers through my hair, his touch soothing.

“I’m sorry I’m so weird,” I whispered.

His grip on my hair tightened. “Don’t speak badly about yourself.”

Our eyes locked and for a moment, the entire world melted away and all I could think about was his closeness and how good his body felt against mine.

Friends friends friendsI chanted to my brain.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try,” I said.

Romeo gathered me to his chest, squeezing me into a tight hug. I could have sworn he smelled my hair, but then he pulled away. He kept his arm around me, though, and we turned to the street. Immediately, my breathing sped up.

“What book are you reading right now?” Romeo asked as we took a few steps.

“Umm, what?” The world spun, but his firm hold kept me upright.

“You’re reading something, right?”

We turned down the street, going the opposite way as usual.

“I don’t know. I’m in a bit of a reading slump. I started a new one last night. It’s an alien romance.”

I’d thought reading about aliens would distract me from my constant thoughts of my dark-haired Italian, but the alien guy kept cracking jokes that reminded me of Romeo.

“Alien romance? What the fuck is that?” The walk light turned green and Romeo half-dragged me across the street. A tall man crossing the opposite way bumped into me while texting, and I let out a distressed noise.

“You’re okay,” Romeo said, scowling at the man. “We’re almost there.”

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