Page 45 of Star Crossed
“Is that a poster of Bruce Lee over your bed?”
“Don’t judge me.” Jules buried her face tighter. “I know my room looks like something a teenage girl would do. We’re not exactly great at updating ’round here.”
“Actually, I was thinking that poster makes you awesome,” Romeo said, sounding genuine. “Bruce Lee’s my idol. That’s what Tino and me were doing tonight, watchingThe Chinese Connection. It’s on AMC.”
“Oh my God.” Jules lifted her head in shock. “That’s what Wyatt and I were doing!”
Romeo flashed a triumphant smile when she stayed out of hiding, as he lay sprawled out on his stomach over the big hotel bed, his ankles hooked together near the headboard. He was bare-chested, showing off tan skin, broad shoulders, and massive, muscular arms folded in front of him.
He was more beautiful than she remembered. Jules was instantly enthralled, but she still had to say, “I didn’t know you liked Bruce Lee.”
Romeo gave her a look. “I’m pretty sure it’s a requirement for all MMA enthusiasts to worship Bruce Lee.”
“Clay could give or take him.”
“Well, he’s more into wrestling and jujitsu.” Romeo shook his head sadly. “Ground and pounders. Fucking oobatz.”
Jules giggled. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you’re planning an extended stay in Garnet to learn more of both those things.”
“That’s not the reason I’m planning an extended stay to Garnet,” Romeo assured her, his beautiful gaze sharp and intense, making it obvious he was studying her. “Perfecting my wrestling and jujitsu is just the bonus. I’m coming to Garnet for you, Juliet.”
Jules’s cheeks heated, and she rested her chin on her open palm as she stared Romeo down. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for—a lie, some sort of indication this entire affair was just a dalliance for him—but all she found was the earnest sincerity she heard in his voice every night.
“I like you without makeup,” Romeo said as Jules continued to look for a reason to feed her cynicism. “You’re always the most beautiful when you’re just being you.”
Jules rolled her eyes. “You’re just trying to get me naked.”
“That is the goal,” Romeo admitted without shame. “I’m sorta wishing Clay and me hadn’t agreed to this damn publicity tour, even if the paycheck was sweet. I could be there now.”
“Clay says it’s cold where you’re at.”
“Holy shit.” Romeo shuddered. “Cold is a friggin’ understatement. I’ve been freezing my balls off for three days, and if I have to hear Tino bitch about it anymore, I’m gonna be guilty of killing my own brother. Thank God we’re outta here tomorrow. I can’t wait for California.”
“I wish I could come visit you. I love Los Angeles. Rodeo Drive is my Mecca.”
Romeo pulled a guilty face. “It’s my Mecca too. It’s a sure bet Tino and me are gonna put a serious dent in it.”
“Maybe you can take Clay and get him a real suit for once. Melody’d surely appreciate it.”
“There is no help for that guy,” Romeo said firmly. “We all went out to eat at a five-star restaurant and I shit you not, Clay wore jeans and tennis shoes.”
“Oh, I believe it,” Jules said with a laugh. “Wyatt’s the same. He owns one suit for weddings and funerals, and it’s a sad-looking suit at that. I don’t get it, ’cause it’s not like he can’t afford to dress nice.”
“How’d you come outta the same womb as that guy?”
“Past life sin,” Jules said, though she felt mildly guilty about it because she did love her brother. “He’s a pain in the ass, but it’s not totally his fault. He used to be more fun. I told you, we’re cursed.”
Romeo frowned. “Why do you think you’re cursed? You keep saying that.”
“We’re just really terrible at love,” Jules said softly. “We’re talking generations of epically bad luck here.”
“You can’t fall in love?” Romeo asked curiously.
“Oh, we can fall in love. Trust me, when a Conner falls in love it’s usually a terminal condition. Nothing cures it but death. We just can’t hold on to it. For some reason or another it just slips through our fingers and the end result isn’t pretty. My daddy used to talk to a picture of our dead mama every night before he went to bed. It was so sad. Can you imagine what it was like to leave the hospital with two newborn babies and your wife’s death certificate? I dunno how he survived Wyatt and me being toddlers all by his lonesome. My mama didn’t have any family, and he didn’t have much either. All he had was my grandfather, but really, that’s like the blind leading the blind.”
“Where’s your grandfather now?”
“He died when we were eight. Heart attack. It makes me think they dropped from broken hearts. Once they get their kids raised and their duty passed on, they just go like it’d been what they wanted all along. I worry ’bout Wyatt. I worry ’bout me too.”
