Page 57 of Forbidden Romeo

I wrack my brain for a simple answer. “It’s complicated.”

“Just answer the goddamn question, Jack. It’s not that complicated.”

“My name is Jack Duffy, and yours is Aimee Maguire. There is nothing aboutthisthat isn’t complicated.”

I see the realization dawn on her. It’s like it’s happening in slow motion, watching her mentally piece together all the information. She staggers forward, and the door slams shut behind her, making her flinch.

“I’m sorry,” I say unnecessarily.

What am I apologizing for, the door? The deception? The decades of rivalry our families have had?

Aimee takes another step; her eyes are now glazed over entirely. Suddenly, she springs forward to strike me, and I catch her arm a fraction of a second before she’s able to land the blow. Only for her to maneuver herself expertly and attack me with her other hand. It hits me square on the neck, and I gasp out on impact.

“You’re a fucking Duffy?” she hisses at me as she tries to shake my hand from her arm.

Despite the fact I feel like I’m choking, I hold it firm. “You’re a fuckingMaguire.”

“This whole time?” Aimee tries to hit me again, but I grab her other hand and take out her legs from under her. She collapses, and I hold her arms above her head.

“Don’t make me tie you up,” I threaten her.

She sneers at me and kicks out at my crotch, and I barely dodge out of the way in time. Aimee shrieks in frustration.

“Aimee.”

“Fuck you.”

“Aimee.”

“You lied to me!” she cries out.

“You lied tome.”

Aimee collapses to the floor, her whole body shaking.

“But I wasn’t cruel about it.” She lets out a heart-wrenching sob. “You flirted with me. You hadsexwith me, Jack. You… you won me stupid prizes on the boardwalk. You made me think you might actually like me.”

Slowly, I let go of her hands. Her pain affects me more than I would ever admit to anyone.

Idid this to her.

Icaused this.

Whatever happens next, I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive myself for this moment.

I kneel down next to her, watching helplessly as her body shakes with her sobs.

“Please… Aimee…” I say softly. “I didn’t know. You have to believe me.”

She looks up at me skeptically. “How could you not know?”

“I was looking for Roisin, not—”

She suddenly lurches forward to try and hit me again. “Stay away from my sister. She has nothing to do with this!”

Again, she narrowly misses my face with her swipe, and I grab hold of her wrists in my hand.

“Okay, okay. I know that now,” I say, trying to calm her down. “I’m not going to hurt Roisin, and I’m not going to hurt you.”

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