by Tillie Cole
I swallowed in foreboding. Flashes of his father’s hard strike against Romeo’s face danced across my mind, and Ally’s words of warning circled in my head. They’re not good people.
But I put them aside. If Rome’s parents could just understand we wanted to be together, his life would be that much easier. I had to try, for him.
I sucked it up. “They won’t scare me off.”
Cass slapped my back supportively. “Atta girl! Stick it to the fuckin’ rich bastards!”
Ally regarded me seriously, ignoring Cass. “I sure hope that’s true, ‘cause it’ll kill Rome to lose you, girl.”
“He won’t lose me, he means too much to me.”
Ally’s lip wobbled. “Molly, please… don’t go. I’m actually begging you now.”
“No! I have to go, have to try… for him. So they can finally let all the Shelly shit go and just let us be together. It’s like a dark cloud constantly over our heads, waiting for them to strike. I know Romeo thinks about it constantly—it has to friggin’ end!” I shouted.
She nodded passively, opening her closet, and began rooting through her mass of designer clothes. “Well, if you insist on going through with this cluster fuck of a dinner, we’d better make sure you dress right at least. We wanna give them as little ammunition against you as possible.”
17
Romeo had yet to speak. He’d been scarily silent the entire journey to his parents’ place. I shifted over the seat, draping my leg over his and laid my head on his shoulder, staring up at his sombre face. He gave me a troubled smile and dropped a kiss on my hair, gripping tightly to my exposed thigh.
Ally and the girls had helped me get ready, and I was wearing a black three-quarter sleeve, tight Valentino dress that stopped just below my knees, black stiletto heels, my hair flowing loose in dark curls fixed up at the sides by ornate grips, and diamond studs in my ears. Romeo wore black slacks and a button-down white shirt. I’d never seen him so formal and he looked about as uncomfortable as I felt.
“I want you to listen to me, okay?” he announced emphatically.
I nodded and gave him my full attention.
“They will probably pick on anythin’ they can tonight, viciously. Whatever they say, don’t let it get to you. I’ll protect you. If you need to leave at any time, for whatever reason, we go—no ifs or buts. But promise me you won’t let them hurt you.” His voice held a note of desperation and his eyes were clouded with some unknown, indescribable emotion.
“I promise.”
“Then why do I have a feelin’ that I’m about to lose you?”
I couldn’t take his sorrowful look. “Pull over.”
Romeo didn’t hesitate and the wheels crunched on gravel as we pulled to an abrupt stop at the side of the road. I moved to straddle his lap, combing back his shaggy blond hair with my fingers. “You will not lose me.”
He didn’t look convinced. “I can’t, Mol. You mean so much to me. Do you know that? Do you realise how I feel about you? How much I need you? Because I do. I know I don’t say much about my feelin’s, but… but… I… I…”
“Shh… you don’t need to do this.” Love hit me like a meteorite crashing to the surface of the earth and I had to bite my lip to stop from falling apart in his arms. His eyes dropped and a stifling sadness washed over the cabin of the truck.
“Romeo, you’ve given me a reason to be happy. I haven’t been okay for such a long time. You’ve brought me back to life. Do you know that?”
“They’re not good people, baby. I know you don’t believe me, but there is no way tonight is about anythin’ other than assertin’ their power over me. It’s always about that.” His head fell to my chest. “They’re never gonna let me go, never gonna just let me be happy with you. They’ll do somethin’; they always do somethin’ to ruin my life.” His body jerked and he tried to scoot me off his knee. “We’re goin’ home. We’re not doin’ this shit.”
I braced my hands on his shoulders and pressed down with all my strength. “Yes, we are.”
Romeo’s arms locked around my waist and we just stayed still, gathering, calming, and soothing our frantic nerves. Eventually, he lifted his weary head, his stony, cocky façade almost successfully hiding the little boy lost that was simmering under the surface.
Almost.
I sloped forward, kissing him sweetly, and I basked in the scent that was all him. With a final hug, I shuffled back to my seat, and sighing, Romeo turned on the ignition. We pulled back onto the quiet country road and I laughed without humour.
“What?” he asked stiffly.
“I’m the naïve Juliet Capulet, risking it all to have dinner with the Montagues.”
He rolled his eyes. “Juliet wasn’t fuckin’ foolish enough to risk that. They just ran away and got married instead—good plan. But my version of Juliet decides that meetin’ her mortal enemy will help our cause. We’ll soon see if that’s true, but I want it noted right now that I think this a fuckin’ stupid idea.”
I hated seeing him so apprehensive.
He cleared his throat. “One thing’s definitely the same though.”
“And what’s that?”
“That I feel for you what Montague felt for Juliet.” He intertwined his fingers with mine. “I’d give it all up for you too.”
I laid my head back on his shoulder, watching through the windscreen as the tired sun dropped low in the sky. I took a deep breath and smiled to myself. Nothing his parents could say or do would drive me away.
Nothing.
* * *
Romeo and I climbed up the steep stairs of the huge, sprawling white-columned plantation house still clasping each other’s hands. Mine were trembling, but Rome didn’t say anything. He just kept tight hold.
We reached the door and he turned to me. “First, you look gorgeous, baby.”
“Thank you.”
“Second, remember what I said. Don’t let them hurt you. No matter what.”
I crossed my heart with my finger and just as he went to knock, the door flew open to reveal Romeo’s ultra-glamorous fifty-something, blond bobbed-haired mother wearing a red twin set suit and pearls, clutching an extra-large whiskey, the strong smell nearly making me retch.
Her ruby-red lips curled into a cruel snarl as she stared at Romeo, completely neglecting to acknowledge my presence. “You’re late.”
Romeo stiffened. “Mother. Always a pleasure.”
Mrs. Prince grimaced in disgust. “Shame the same can’t be said for you.” She turned and, obviously well-intoxicated, stumbled on shaky feet to a tall archway on her left.
Romeo inhaled slowly, eyes closed in meditation. I could tell this kind of treatment was nothing new. His reaction said it all. When he looked down at me, I smiled reassuringly, but I had to stop gritting my teeth. I was furious.
We followed in the direction of his mother, and when we rounded the corner to a huge black and white ornate grand parlour, Mr. Prince stood next to a large coal fire awaiting our arrival, wearing a perfectly tailored grey suit. I immediately felt uneasy in his company.
Mrs. Prince joined her husband and Romeo’s father straightened, placing his hands in his pockets, almost mockingly. There was no greeting, no warm embraces, just coldness enough to make me dither from head to toe.
Mr. Prince flicked his chin at Romeo. “You kept us waiting on our invitation for dinner tonight, boy. Not acceptable.”
Romeo shifted on his feet. “I thought I might’a had practice. I didn’t, as it turned out. I got back to you as soon as I could.”
Mr. Prince looked affronted. “Well, lucky for us,” he lilted sarcastically. “I don’t know why you still waste your time with all that football nonsense anyway. We both know you won’t be going into the draft.”
My eyes fixed on Rome in surprise, but the tightening of his jaw and his lack of response were the only indicators that his father’s words had any sort of impact.
Mrs. Prince rang a bell before Romeo could respond and she gestured towards the l
uxurious bronze sofa. “Why don’t y’all sit down?” she slurred.
Rome and I moved woodenly to the couch, his hand clutching mine tightly, refusing to let go.
Within minutes, a maid dressed in traditional black-and-white monochrome attire stepped in the room.
“Four Bollinger’s,” Mrs. Prince ordered, a sharp edge to her command. The elderly maid bowed and left the room.
Mr and Mrs. Prince moved to sit opposite us on an identical sofa.
“So, Molly, isn’t it?” Mrs. Prince asked bluntly.
I nodded. “Yes.”
Her top lip curled on what appeared to be a disgusted snarl. “I hear you’re a transfer?”
“Yeah, I arrived to complete my master’s earlier this academic year.”
“And you met Rome, how?”
I turned to Romeo and smiled. He cast a glimpse at me from the corner of his eye and squeezed his hand holding mine.
“We met on the first day of classes.”
Romeo smiled and leaned forwards, pressing a tender kiss to my head. “Best damn day of my life.”
“Well, isn’t that… sweet?” Mrs. Prince said, insincerity coating each word.
Romeo and I snapped our attention back to his parents, whose matching scowls showed they were not impressed by our little show of affection.
The elderly maid re-entered the room, breaking the awkward moment, carrying our drinks, and proceeded to hand us each a glass. I quickly took a sip when no toast was made and Mrs. Prince finished hers in one long swig, topping up her scotch from the large bottle in front of her on the table.
“So, Molly, I suppose you’re aware of Romeo’s plans after college?” Mrs. Prince asked.
“With football?” I answered, slightly confused by the strange tone in her voice.
Romeo’s parents laughed loudly with patronising expressions.
“Absolutely not! We’re talking about his duty to take over the family business,” Mr. Prince lashed out coldly.
“Daddy,” Romeo warned.
“She needs to know, Rome,” he responded with a sneer. I could see he was building up to something. “She needs to know that you won’t have time to continue your player lifestyle.”
“Leave it!” Romeo snapped, this time with much more force. “I won’t do this with you tonight.”
Mr. Prince’s face deepened to a scarlet flush at Romeo’s reprimand and the tension became stifling as father and son stared each other down.
I cleared my throat. “May I use your bathroom, please?” I needed some space, needed to take a moment to calm down and brace myself for the rest of the night.
Romeo fixed me with a worried look, breaking his glare at his father. “I’ll show you where it is, baby.”
We stood and headed out of the room without looking back, leaving his parents muttering to each other on the couch.
As we entered the expansive hallway, I froze mid-step.
“Unbelievable!” Romeo spat, his free hand clenching into a fist.
Shelly was entering the house, wearing a tight black dress, skyscraper heels and a cunning grin on her face.
Romeo tensed. “What the fuck are you doin’ here?”
Shelly gave a small wave and stopped right before us. “Romeo, darlin’. Your momma invited me to see you tonight.”
My stomach dropped and disappointment took hold of me. They had set us up.
Romeo and I watched as Shelly sauntered through the parlour into the welcoming arms of the Princes, then all three of them turned their attention onto us.
Romeo’s mother stood proudly behind Shelly with a cruel smirk on her overly Botoxed face, all fake pleasantries now completely gone.
Romeo stepped forward, his taught muscles bunching under his shirt. “How dare you do this to us!”
“Do what? Shelly is family and Molly needed to be informed of a few things that may affect your little… relationship,” Mr. Prince said with a calm voice.
Romeo recoiled. “Don’t start this shit again, and while you’re at it, treat Molly with some fuckin’ respect!”
Mr. Prince exaggerated a regal bow towards me, a derisive smile on his lips. “Your Majesty, how is the queen?” Shelly and Romeo’s mother laughed at his actions, and my scalp prickled in humiliation.
“You invited us here for dinner, to meet her, why?” Hurt laced every note in Romeo’s voice. “Was it all bullshit? Was your plan to rip on her the minute she walked through the damn door?”
Mr. Prince snarled. “Why the hell would we want to meet a gold-diggin’ whore, let alone entertain her at dinner? She probably struggles to even use cutlery she’s so friggin’ poor. Shel’s told us a lot about your girlfriend.”
I didn’t flinch, trying to seem unaffected. I wasn’t sure if it was working.
Mr. Prince laughed at my silence. “Tonight was an intervention. We had to get you to bring your new titbit before us somehow. A dinner invite seemed best. So, now you’re here and we have your attention. You’ll do as instructed and end this charade. Immediately. Send your little British slut on her way… preferably back across the Atlantic.”
Romeo stumbled. “You invited us here to break us up? Christ, this is extreme, even for you!”
His mother laughed and her fully replenished amber drink splashed over the edge of her glass. “Molly here needs to know that her scheming won’t work.” She met my gaze. “Leave him alone. You have no idea who you’re taking on, do you? Shelly is engaged to Rome and some trailer-trash nothing will not get in the way of that. It’s been arranged for years.” Her cold eyes were beyond scary. “I always get what I want, darlin’. You just remember that.”
“I’m not engaged to her and never will be! Screw your fuckin’ fortune; I want nothin’ to do with it!”
Romeo clutched my hand and pulled me towards the door. I watched his mother storm towards us and as Romeo swerved to see what had caught my attention, she raised her hand and smacked the back across his face, the crack of skin-on-skin contact causing me to cry out and cover my mouth.
“You insolent child! You dare speak to us like that after everything we’ve given you? You’re the worst thing that ever happened to this damn family, you ungrateful piece of shit! You never get anything right, do you? Always screwing things up, and bringing that into our lives is the worst to date,” she shrilled, pointing her finger extremely close to my face.
“Take that back,” Romeo said through gritted teeth as he protectively blocked me with his broad body.
Mrs. Prince brought her red manicured hands to her mouth and snorted. “Or what, Romeo? You gonna hit me, your momma? You gonna hit a girl?”
“Enough!” Romeo’s father barked, silencing the room. He walked forward and put his hand around Romeo’s shirt collar, dragging him close. Romeo just let him do it, adopting a blank look in his eyes.
“You ever speak to your momma like that again and I will end you. I won’t discuss this any further. Quit fuckin’ the girl and get on board with what’s happening. Your one fuckin’ purpose in this life is to do as we say and do your duty as a Prince! So do it! And stop being such a pig-headed asshole!” His voice was deep and sinister, demanding Romeo’s complete obedience.
Mr. Prince threw Romeo back towards me and I had to brace myself to stop him knocking me down to the floor. Romeo righted himself and put his hands on my face, checking that I was okay. I wasn’t. I don’t think anyone would’ve been after getting attacked in such an abhorrent way. He saw my pain reflecting back at him and with a moan, he wrapped me securely in his embrace.
His worst nightmare had just come true.
Romeo faced his parents. “I’m through with y’all. I choose Molly. I choose to not be in this fucked-up life anymore. Jesus Christ! What more can you do to me?! You’re the worst fuckin’ people I’ve ever known. I’m your only son and you can’t stand me.” He stepped slightly forward, imploring his parents to listen. “Have you ever even loved me? Ever just once felt anythin’ for me?”
Mr and
Mrs. Prince looked at each other and cracked up, their cackles echoing around the grand room. I was convinced I’d just witnessed the personification of pure evil.
His father stepped forward. “How can anyone love you? How can anyone love a stone in their shoe? You’re just one giant disappointment. But you will do your duty to this family, regardless. We’ll find a way to make you see reason, you mark my words.”
Shelly shuffled on the chaise longue, unable to hide her discomfort at the whole scene. At least she didn’t seem as vindictive as his parents, more like a clueless pawn in their scheme.
Romeo took my hand and I almost cried out loud at the constriction of his fingers around mine. “We’re leavin’. The biggest disappointment of your life is out for good.”
Romeo yanked me with him and I risked a look back over my shoulder and saw the unbridled rage on his parents’ faces.
“Come back here, boy! This is not the end!” Mr. Prince screamed. Romeo didn’t stop, and I had a feeling we’d just fanned a very dangerous flame.
We burst through the doors and Romeo pulled me to the truck. He opened the door and practically threw me in, and I watched as he vaulted in beside me and spun his wheels down the driveway.
Droplets of water splashed on my pale hands that were braced on my thighs, and when I lifted my shaking hand, I found tears mixed with black mascara were pouring freely from my eyes. Romeo radiated tension. He never once looked at me as I slowly sank into desperation in the soft black leather upholstery.
“Romeo…” I whispered.
“Not now. God! Just…be quiet…” he snapped as his eyes crinkled in pain.
I flinched and curled myself against the window and away from his anger.
He’d warned me; Ally had warned me. I didn’t listen, had ignored the truth. I had witnessed his father attack him, but I never imagined that Romeo had lived with that. Endured years of cruelty and violence like that.
My shoulder pressed hard against the metal car door as Romeo made a sharp right and I noticed we were heading to the creek. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to forget the whole night and figure out what the hell to do next.