The figure stops at the door.
Extends a young hand.
Knocks three times.
Folds the umbrella.
Bows her blond head.
Steps inside.
Jennifer Reynolds.
American assistant to one James Redmond.
Not seeking shelter from the rain but walking in like she owns the place.
Or knows the owners very, very well.
CHAPTER 36
ROMEO
THE CAPULET HOUSE was lit from within and—even though there’d been a death—it was clear life was inside.
Several catering trucks lined the curb, workers in windbreakers ducking in a side door with trays of food. Mourners took fast steps from their cars to the front door, and slipped inside and out of the rain, folding up umbrellas as they did so.
Anything he, Romeo Montague, did here today would make a scene.
Sober, sane Romeo would never have shown up here on a day like today.
But today, he was neither sober nor sane.
They’d never let him in the front door. They’d buried their son. The face of the enemy wouldn’t be welcome.
But he didn’t want the front door anyway. He wanted to see Juliet on her balcony, like she’d talked about. She’d once revealed she longed for him to find her there, and call to her.
He’d always said how crazy that would be.
From now on, he’d give her anything she wanted. He’d run away with her if that’s what it took. Nothing seemed crazy now.
But what if she wasn’t up there? She could have been downstairs with her family. He only wanted to see her. They could escape tonight if they wanted.
He texted her phone: Come to your balcony. I need to see you. A.V.O.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
He dropped the moped by the curb, not caring that it clattered against the ground as if to announce a drunk idiot was outside.
Running through puddles, so soaking wet that he was sure he’d never dry, he slipped down the side street where he knew Juliet’s balcony was.
There was almost no light in her room, but she would come. He knew she’d come. She probably hated being down there with the funeral-goers. He could only imagine how sad she must be. He’d do whatever he could to make it better.
“Juliet,” he called, slipping in the muddy flower beds, falling to his knees and pulling himself back up. The mud was heavy and cold on his clothes. He was still wobbly from all the drinking and the horrible ride here. “Juliet,” he tried again, louder this time. He couldn’t even hear himself over the rain.
“Juliet!” he screamed raggedly up at the balcony. “Juliet! I need to see you!”
He saw figures in the rain, coming toward him. Big figures. Security? He didn’t know or care.
Where was she?
He looked up at the balcony. He just needed to get up there. He’d break in if he had to.
A tree, shiny with rain, glistened next to the balcony. The branches rasped against the brick house as the wind pelted rain horizontally across the atmosphere.
“Hey,” one of the figures called. Romeo couldn’t see through the rain, which kept growing worse.
He’d climb the tree, up to her balcony.
If that didn’t prove he’d do anything for her, nothing would.
CHAPTER 37
JULIET
SHE HEARD FOOTSTEPS behind her.
She looked grimly at the sky, her teeth chattering and her cheeks half frozen as the cold rain continued its assault.
Maybe someone was coming to kill her, as they had Henri.
Maybe she’d let them.
What did she have to lose anymore?
A hand grabbed her shoulder. She didn’t flinch.
She turned and there in black was Jim. The Grim Reaper of something. Maybe the part of her she wished dead.
He opened his mouth to speak.
She didn’t want to hear anything.
She stood, rainwater dripping from the hem of her skirt, her hair wet against her cheeks.
She grabbed him.
She pushed him against a stone, water rushing down the engraved name on its front.
She pressed her lips to his, hungry and wanting to obliterate him, obliterate everything.
They sank down into the mud, clutching each other. Maybe they’d be absorbed by the earth. Or maybe they’d be washed away, right off the face of it.
“Does it mean nothing?” she murmured into his open mouth.
He didn’t answer.
Because she already knew.
He instantly gave himself up to her, like he’d been fighting his body’s wants and then, with her lips on his, had relented.
He clutched her to him greedily and lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around him.
Jim peeled her sodden blouse down, kissing her shoulders, breathing her in.
“Are you sure?” Jim said, but he was still holding her tightly against him, still sighing heavily as she put her lips to his neck, just below his ear.
“Yes,” she said. That throaty, deep voice, like she was drunk on shadows. Like she wasn’t herself. Like she couldn’t find herself even if she tried.
Right now, that was exactly what she wanted.
EPILOGUE
I TOLD YOU I loved that doomed kind of love.
Who knew it could be this doomed?
People think Shakespeare said love is a many-splendored thing. But that was some other guy.
Shakespeare said it is merely a madness.
So where does the pendulum swing now?
Love, it turns out, is whatever it feels like being. It can be the grand gesture or the bad decision.
It can be a disaster, natural or human-made.
And, it seems, star-crossed lovers can come in threes. Destiny is cruel.
If Juliet learns Romeo’s love was true, does it matter, given the circumstances?
If Romeo finally lets himself lose control for love, does it matter, if he doesn’t survive the night?
Can they even have a moment, or will they be consumed by the flood, or the fire of passion?
Oh, and Jim. It seems what happens next will turn on him, doesn’t it?
Tout est possible.…
You want to know more of what’s next, do you? (Of course you do; I’m very good at this.)
Threats of death and deception aside (and I pass no judgments on which is worse), there’s the small matter of a magazine.
Maintenant. A June issue. On the thin side. Usually not cause for much hubbub.
But in the layout featuring the model Gabrielle spreading her plumage all over Petite Asie, there just so happens to be something in the background that’s causing waves:
Look closely and it appears to be none other than a Capulet (Juliet) and a Montague (Romeo) with fingertips touching.
Is it beneath me to say, Oh, snap? (Yes, that’s more dated than calling me a bard.)
It appears, perhaps, that a certain couple forgot that all the world’s a stage. And even when you think you’re hidden, well, no.
Possibly it won’t matter, with Juliet in the graveyard and Romeo potentially heading to one.
Maybe it’s not them.
And the Templars are just a myth?
And James Redmond will “to be, not to be” and decide hostile takeovers aren’t very nice?
And the course of true love runs smooth?
Alas … so many maybes.
Actually (and perhaps most surprising), that’s all I can say for now.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank: Christy Ottaviano for her time, commitment, and vision; Fonda Snyder for her guardianship, care, and support; Jessica Anderson for keeping us on task and forward moving; Liz Dresner for her amazing artistry; Starr Baer for her careful attention and insight; Lauren Festa and Amanda Mustafic for being excited about our book and getting it in front of readers who will, we hope, love it.
Larry would als
o like to thank Victoria Lewis and Alex Cabral for enabling him to function.
We also thank our families, friends, and readers everywhere, without whom this book wouldn’t be possible.
A SNEAK PEAK FROM BOOK 2 OF THE ROMEO, JULIET AND JIM SERIES
THE HOTEL LEMIEUX had seen this kind of thing before. The walls had witnessed countless rendezvous, many of them best left behind with the threadbare sheets. Juliet knocked lightly on the door, seeing as it swung into the room that it had been left open for her. She hated the waiting and the secrecy. Or maybe she loved it, the way her pulse quickened when she saw his face. Whatever misgivings she had about subterfuge melted as he kissed her.
“Jim, I’ve missed you,” Juliet said, using her foot to shut the door between them and the rest of the world. The lock clicked, and they were alone.
WE KNOW WE say Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All) … but will there be any survivors?
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Larry Schwarz is the producer and creator of many popular television series, including Kappa Mikey, Speed Racer: The Next Generation, Teen Nick’s Alien Dawn, and the Netflix original Teen Toon. He lives in New York City.
Visit him online at larrysband.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Iva-Marie Palmer is the author of The End of the World as We Know It. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Visit her online at ivamariepalmer.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1: Juliet
Chapter 2: Romeo
Chapter 3: Juliet
Narrator
Chapter 4: Romeo
Chapter 5: Juliet
Chapter 6: Juliet
Chapter 7: Romeo
Chapter 8: Juliet
Chapter 9: Jim
Chapter 10: Juliet
Chapter 11: Juliet
Chapter 12: Romeo
Chapter 13: Juliet
Chapter 14: Romeo
Chapter 15: Juliet
Chapter 16: Jim
Chapter 17: Romeo
Chapter 18: Romeo and Juliet, Together and Apart
Chapter 19: Romeo
Chapter 20: Jim
Chapter 21: Juliet
Chapter 22: Jim
Chapter 23: Juliet
Chapter 24: Jim
Chapter 25: Juliet
Chapter 26: Jim
Chapter 27: Romeo
Chapter 28: Jim
Chapter 29: Juliet
Chapter 30: Romeo
Chapter 31: Juliet
Chapter 32: Jim
Chapter 33: Romeo
Chapter 34: Jim
Chapter 35: Romeo
Narrator
Chapter 36: Romeo
Chapter 37: Juliet
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Teaser
About the Authors
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer
Henry Holt and Company
Publishers since 1866
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Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
First hardcover edition 2017
eBook edition June 2017
eISBN 9781250109484
Romeo, Juliet & Jim Page 20
