“It’s real.”
“I don’t want it.I don’t want you.”
Mercutio took that moment to bound in from outside, through the sunroom, and into the kitchen.Chad gasped, dropping down to hold Mercutio back, to block the dog from Romeo.He looked horror struck, terrified as Mercutio struggled free and crashed into Romeo’s legs.
“Don’t hurt him!”
“Like I would.”
Romeo crouched down, and fussed Mercutio who licked long stripes up his face.Mercutio’s tail moved in a fast blur, and he yipped and yapped as he greeted Romeo.
“Enough with the tongue,” Romeo said sternly.“Sit.”
Mercutio did.
Chad watched with wide eyes.
“Good boy,” Romeo said, scratching Mercutio’s head.“I’ve missed you too.”
“I...I want you to leave.”
“Chad—”
“Please, I just...”he shook his head.“I don’t want this.”He gestured wildly to Romeo.“Whatever this is, whatever it was, I don’t want it, not anymore.”
“You can’t remember, that’s all—"
“Then I don’t want to!”
Romeo got to his feet.“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.I don’t want anything to do with this, to do with you,please,” his brow tightened in pain again.“If you care about me, leave me be, let me go.”
Let him go.
Inconceivable.
But Chad had made it complicated.
If you care about me.
Romeo clutched the back of his neck.He squeezed hard, fighting with himself.
If you care about me, leave me be, let me go.
“Please,” Chad begged.“Let me go.”
Romeo turned around and left the house.
