“Good performance, Juliet.”
“Thanks. You too, Romeo.”
“Ah, Rowan…”
His knuckles brush the side of my face. I can’t help myself. I hook my arms around his neck, pulling his face down to mine. I rise up on the tips of my toes and tilt my head up to kiss him. At first, it seems like he’s going to pull away. But then his lips meet mine and he kisses me in front of everyone. The cast, the crew, his parents, and mine. The applause and chatter around us fades, and it’s just me and Eddie, the way it should be. We finally step away from each other. Embarrassment and desire stain my cheeks, but I don’t regret that kiss. Not for a second.
“Row, we’ve got to talk. Just us. Alone.”
Alone. There’s nothing I want more. “We’ve got to talk” could mean anything. Not necessarily what I want to hear. My stomach is fluttering as I analyze every look or touch from Eddie, and try to guess what it is he’s going to say.
When will we talk? When will we be alone? My parents are waiting to take me out to dinner to celebrate. Maybe tomorrow before school. Oh, God. I don’t think I can wait that long to find out what he wants to say to me.
The audience begins to disperse, and the cast goes backstage. When we’ve changed into normal clothes and wiped off the most garish of our makeup, Morgan and I leave the auditorium. My dad is holding a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Mom hugs me. “Great show, you two.” She pulls Morgan in for a quick hug as well.
I take the flowers from Dad. I wonder if he’ll say something about me and Eddie kissing. Maybe later.
“Rowan.” I turn toward the person calling my name. Morgan’s mom is striding toward me. “Honey, you were great. Just fabulous.”
“Thanks.”
Other parents come forward to congratulate me, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Eddie’s parents. Do I say something to them? Smile? Wave? I feel super uncomfortable, but I can’t just ignore them.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell my parents, and on shaking legs, I walk toward Mr. and Mrs. Velasquez.
“Wonderful show, Rowan,” Eddie’s dad says before I can say anything.
“Thank you,” I say, “but Eddie was the star.” I blush as he comes to stand beside his parents.
“You both were,” his mom says.
Carlos and Elena approach. Elena must have threatened him in advance, because Carlos is well-behaved. “Nice show,” he says.
“You were great,” Elena says, giving me a hug. “So talented!”
I thank them for their kind words, then escape back to my parents. Do Eddie’s parents blame me for their son’s arrest? If so, do they know why Eddie hit Mark? My face burns hotter, but I hold my head high. I have no control over what they think about me, so why worry about it? For tonight, I’m going to put all my thoughts aside and focus on having fun with my parents.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’m going to obsess over Eddie and whatever it is he wants to tell me. When we’re alone.
***
When my parents and I leave the restaurant, I turn on my phone. There are three texts from Eddie.
Hey Juliet
Still out with your parents?
Call me later?
A shiver goes through me, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. He wants me to call him. I text him back while praying there’s no traffic on the way home. I can’t wait to talk to him.
Be home in a few. Call you then.
I mentally urge my dad to drive faster. The moment we're inside, I go to my room. My hands are trembling as I call Eddie.
“Rowan,” he answers.
“Hey.”
“You have a good dinner?”
“Yeah.” I wish he'd skip the small talk and tell me what it is he wanted to talk to me about. Or maybe I should just be glad he's talking to me at all.
“You think you can get out of the house for a while?”
My heart stutters and then sinks. It's after eight on a Sunday night. My parents won't be too thrilled to see me leaving this late, especially with Eddie. After our kiss on stage, I suspect my dad will want to have a serious discussion about Eddie at some point. I’m not anxious to have that conversation. However, if I want to see Eddie—to be friends with him, or maybe even more, I'm going to have to talk to my parents. At eighteen and so close to graduation, I don't have to have their permission to see Eddie, but I'd like to have their blessing. I'm still living in their house, and after everything they've done to help me through the past several weeks, it would be a slap in their faces for me to defy them or to sneak around behind their backs. And I refuse to slink around in the shadows. I've had enough secrets to last me a lifetime.
“I have to talk to my parents first. It's kind of late.”
“Let me know. I'll come over and pick you up. We won't be out late.”
“Pick me up?”
“My dad said I can use his work truck.”
“Okay. I'll text you in a few.”
Both my parents are in the living room watching a baseball game. They look up when I come into the room.
“Is it okay if I leave for a while? Just an hour or so.”
“Where are you going?” Mom asks.
“To see Eddie.”
Dad sighs and I brace myself for an argument. With the remote control, he turns down the volume on the television.
“Eddie,” he says. “It was obvious the two of you are getting along again.”
“We weren’t really fighting before, Dad. Well, I was upset with him for confronting Mark, but we weren’t fighting. I just needed some time.” My cheeks flame.
“Just be careful, Row,” he says.
“Dad…”
“That’s not what I mean. I trust Eddie.” When my eyebrows rise skeptically, he says, “I do. He’s not a bad kid. He’s gone a long way toward earning my respect, especially when he was willing to put his own ass on the line to turn in those boys who were harassing you in class. And I know I shouldn’t say this, but Mark deserved what Eddie did to him. But Eddie has a lot of problems. Legal stuff. I hate to see you tied up with a guy who’s in and out of jail.”
“Dad, we’re just friends.”
He gives me a don’t bullshit me look.
“We’re not back together.” Yet, I hope silently.
“Just be careful, Row. Don’t rush in to anything, okay?”
I nod.
“Be home before ten,” Mom says. “I’ll wait up.”
I go into the kitchen and text Eddie. I drink a soda while I wait for him. When my phone buzzes, I jump out of my chair while looking at my phone.
I’m here.
Be right there, I text back.
“Bye,” I call out as I rush past my parents to the door.
Suddenly, I find it hard to breathe. Eddie’s standing next to his truck. He opens the passenger side door as I approach.
“So, where are we going?” I ask once he’s inside the truck.
“Let’s go to the park,” he says. “Do you mind?”
“That’s fine.”
He drives past the park in our neighborhood and after a couple of turns, I know where we’re going. I look out the passenger side window, smiling in the darkness. He stops at the park—the park where we first talked, just the two of us. Is this a romantic gesture? I hope so. We get out of the truck and walk toward the picnic tables.
“Thanks for coming,” he says. He sits down on a bench and pats the seat next to him. I sit beside him. “Your dad didn’t give you a hard time?”
“Not really. What about yours?”
“My dad doesn’t really understand why I’d want to perform in a play, especially in period costume.” He laughs. “But my mom was really proud, and my dad tried to be. Carlos made fun of me of course.”
“You two are okay?” I ask, referring to their almost-fight a few days ago.
“We’re fine. He’s an asshole, but no more than usual.”
Silence falls between us. Not exactly uncomfortable, but one of anticipation.
“About that kiss,” he says, looking at me.
Oh, God. Is he going to tell me it was a mistake? That he shouldn't have kissed me back and that he doesn’t feel that way about me anymore?
“Was that just you getting caught up in a Juliet moment?”
“No.” I swallow past a lump of fear that's lodged in my throat. “That was me getting caught up in a Rowan moment.”
“Good, because I've missed you. And I really want us to try again.”
“So do I. You have no idea how much.”
“Well, if that kiss was any indication...” He pulls me close and kisses me the way he used to, and it’s like the last several weeks had never happened. I melt into him, my body fitting against his perfectly, like we’re made to be together. His hands are at my neck, holding my head in place while he kisses me forever. God, I’ve missed him. His touch. The safety of his arms.
I don’t belong to Eddie, but a piece of my heart does. And any holding back on my part won’t be because I’m too damaged to love. It will be because I’m young and have all the time in the world to make decisions that could affect the rest of my life.
“I love you, Row,” Eddie says, brushing his lips against mine.
“I love you too.”
Love. It’s a driving force in all our lives. Romeo and Juliet were willing to sacrifice everything for love. They were willing to abandon their families and risk their own lives, all for someone they’d just met at a party. I’m not Juliet and Eddie isn’t Romeo. Our love is built on a more solid foundation than a crumbly balcony and some flowery words. Eddie and I are two ordinary people who together, make the world seem a little more extraordinary.
We’re lucky. Eddie and I still have challenges to face—some together, and some on our own—but we also have some pretty amazing families and friends to help us overcome them. And now, we have each other.
THE END
A Note from the author:
According to statistics, one out of three women will be victims of sexual assault sometime during their lifetime. Many of these crimes go unreported. Some women never tell anyone, not even a close friend or family member.
If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. It is NEVER your fault. Please confide in someone: a family member, friend, counselor, clergyman, or member of law enforcement.
If you need help finding someone to talk to, here is a list of resources:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline:
https://www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-hotline
Teen Health and Wellness:
http://www.teenhealthandwellness.com/static/hotlines#Rape
Find the number for your State’s coalition against rape here:
http://www.rapeis.org/support.html
Many cities have local hotlines and crisis centers as well.
Remember, it is never too late to seek help. It’s never too late to talk about it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you, Maegan Provan, for another incredible book cover. You are so talented!
Thank you, Meltem Y.K., for your encouragement, support, and help with editing. This book would never have been whipped into shape if it wasn’t for you!
Thank you to my online family: Juliet B Madison, Michel Prince, Susan Toy, Joleene Naylor, and many others.
Finally, thank you to my husband and kids. I don’t know where I’d be without you. Love you guys!
About the Author:
Tricia Drammeh lives in New Hampshire with her family. When she isn't writing, she can be found devouring books, chasing cats, and consuming vast amounts of coffee. You can learn more by visiting her website: http://www.triciadrammeh.com/
Books by Tricia Drammeh:
Young Adult Paranormal:
The Séance (Dark Summons Series)
Spellbound (Spellbringers: Book One)
Firebound (Spellbringers: Book Two)
Unbound (Spellbringers: Book Three)
Contemporary:
The Fifth Circle
Better Than Perfect
Sweet Sorrow
Table of Contents
Front Matter
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
A Note from the Author
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Table of Contents
Front Matter
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
A Note from the Author
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Sweet Sorrow Page 20
