Page 27 of Forbidden Romeo

At that moment, I did love her. I loved her so much that my next breath didn’t matter. And so I drank the poison.

It was only when my Juliet fell on top of me, dagger in her heart that I relaxed. With a deep inhalation of her sweet rose scent, I felt myself come back. Return to Holden. Holden who’s holding Katherine. Holden, the senator’s son. Holden who lost his mother less than a month ago.

With her upstage hand, hidden by our bodies, Katherine’s hand found mine and gave a gentle squeeze.

Sudden, thunderous applause made me flinch and when I opened my eyes, I was met with near darkness and Katherine’s face hovering inches over mine, her draping hair shrouding us like a cloak.

“Come on, Holden,” she whispered, tugging me to sit up. “We’ve got to take our bows.”

I crawled off the bench, realizing the curtain had closed.

Our show was over.

Remy and Julie were gone and in their place, Katherine led me off the stage, her hand clutching mine.

After the rest of the cast had taken their bows, Katherine and I walked out, still holding hands, taking center stage. This feeling was ethereal; I was so stunned, I almost forgot to take my bow until Katherine nudged me forward. I bent at the waist, catching a glimpse of Duncan and my friends standing up midway down the audience. They were shouting like they’re in the stands at a football game.

And in the row behind them, my father stood. Face stoic.

But clapping.

And I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but it looked like there was a sheen of moisture shining in his eyes.

But when I stood up and gestured to Katherine to step forward and take her bow, a dark look clouded his expression. And while she was still mid-curtsey, he turned out of the row and walked down the aisle of the theater, leaving very pointedly during Katherine’s big moment.

Dick.

Afterwards, out in the lobby, I sought Katherine out in the crowd, looking for her glossy blonde hair. Instead, I found my friends. Duncan and my teammates rushed at me, shouting their congratulations with the same vigor they’d show for a keg party.

They all crowded around me, slapping me on the back and ruffling my hair, acting so rowdy that my classmates and people around us gave us disapproving looks.

Duncan flipped one of them off as Ross handed me a flask.

I pushed it away with a shake of my head. “Not tonight.”

If there was ever a night I needed to keep sharp, it was tonight.

Ross snorted and took a swig himself. “The show’s fucking over, douchebag.”

“Hey,” Duncan snapped. “Chill the fuck out. If he doesn’t want a drink tonight, what the fuck does it matter to you?”

Beside me, Nate hugged his parents and threw me a sneer over his shoulder.

Right back at you, asshole.

I had no doubt he thought I wasn’t good enough for Katherine.

Well, that made two of us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Katherine across the lobby, talking to an older man in a tailored suit.

I’d never been a jealous guy.

But seeing the way this man leaned into her.

Smiling.

Eyes bright.