Page 7 of Romeo

His jaw tightened. “She told you?”

“Enough.”

“Who are you to her?”

That question was considerably more complicated than he knew.

“Someone who doesn’t like seeing her hurt.”

“She’s just⁠—”

I caught the front of his shirt before he finished whatever stupid sentence had been about to leave his mouth and backed him against the lockers.

The metal rattled.

His eyes widened.

“Choose your next words carefully, son.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Good choice.”

I released his shirt but didn’t step away.

“You’re going to stay away from her.”

His fear shifted toward annoyance. Teenage pride making a last stand.

“You can’t tell me who I can talk to.”

“No. But I can explain what happens if you decide hurting her twice sounds like a good idea.”

His eyes went to my cut again.

I leaned closer and lowered my voice so only he could hear me.

“If Fiona wants to speak to you, that’s her decision. You don’t bother her. You don’t ask her out again. You don’t make some bullshit apology because you think it earns you another chance. You leave her alone unless she decides otherwise.”

Joseph swallowed.

“And you don’t tell her I was here.”

“Why?”

“Because she told me not to beat you up.”

His eyes widened.

I smiled.

“I’m trying very hard to respect her wishes.”

That seemed to get his attention better than anything else I’d said.

“I won’t bother her.”

“Good.”