Val runs into the room, spots us, and then rushes over. He throws his arms around Roman’s neck and torso and then bodily yanks him away from me, shoving him back and then stepping between us. “Stop it!!Fuck!” he barks, whirling toward Roman. “Thefuckis going on?!”
“I’m going to fucking murder your brother!” Roman snarls, trying to shove past Val. “That’swhat!”
“ROME! STOP!”
Evelina’s scream pierces through the room, startling all of us.
My heart drops when I see the flecks of dried blood on her cheek and the bandage around her head.
“Roman, dude,chill,” my brother hisses, planting his hands on his boyfriend’s heaving chest. “They’re both adults, and they're capable of making their own?—”
“Youknew?”
Shit.
Val swallows, locking his eyes with Roman’s. “Easy, Wreckage.”
“Roman,listen,” Evelina says, gingerly starting to get out of her hospital bed.
She jolts as all three of us yell at her to stay the fuck put.
Roman’s eyes lance into her as he stabs his finger wildly in my direction. “Evie, you’rewiththis motherfucker?! This goddamnpsychopath?!”
“Hey,” Val snarls, poking Roman’s chest. “That’s my brother. Dial it back, man.”
“He’s been fucking around withmylittle sister!” Roman roars back.
“Who is a grown-ass woman!!” Evelina yells from behind him. Her eyes burn into her brother's. “And capable of making her own decisions!”
Roman is still shaking with fury. “They’re going to discharge you soon, Eves. I’ll take you home, and we’ll talk there?—”
“No need,” I growl.
Roman whirls on me. “Excuse me?!”
“Rome?”
He turns to her when Evelina gives him a crooked, wry smile. “He’s who I’ve been staying with,” she says quietly. “And when they discharge me, I’d like to go back to his place with him.” Her eyes slide past him to me, and a small smile creeps over her face.
I can’t help but grin back.
This girl…
“What?” Roman seethes. “No, Evie. We’re goinghome, and that’s final."
Her mouth purses and she slowly shakes her head. “No, Rome, we're not,” she says. “I love you, and I always will. But I’m going to his place tonight.”
Roman’s face is pure fury as he turns to glare malevolently at me.
I have all sorts of thoughts about taunting him. But I keep quiet, for her sake.
“You gotta let it go, Wreckage,” Val says gently, putting a tattooed hand on Roman’s chest. “She’s made her choice.”
Roman glares at him. “Whose fucking side are you on, anyway?” he snaps.
Val jabs a finger at him. “There are nosideshere, motherfucker,” he growls. “Just a bunch of humans with complex emotions.” He jabs Roman in the chest again. “And if you keep going like this,” he says quietly, “you’ll lose her.”
Roman’s jaw clenches.
