“Romeo laughed harder. "Lady doctors?""Wyatt calls 'em that." Jules giggled. "Poor fella, stuck with me for a twin. He's been hearing 'bout hormones and period problems since he was fourteen. He's got to have some defense mechanism against all of it.""I think he has hormone problems," Romeo said with a frown. "He was definitely menstruating yesterday.”

“Cocky.""I won't deny it. Which is why this is weird for me," Romeo's voice lowered as he leaned into her. His warm breath fanned against her neck, making Jules shiver as he said, "You're so beautiful you make me feel humble. Being with you scares me, and I'm not real sure what to do about it.”

“There's something wrong with that boy." Clay sounded mystified. "He's talented, ain't no one gonna argue that, but yeah... something."Sweaty, tired, and sore, Romeo sat on the mat in the massive martial arts center Clay owned with Jules and Wyatt. While trying to catch his breath, he watched Tino move to the beat of his own drummer as he worked out using a punching bag. With white headphones in his ears, his brother bounced and danced and kicked at that stuffed sack of beans, and for the life of him, Romeo couldn't tell if he was trying to hurt the thing or date it.”

“Romeo found himself walking up to the window. He placed his palm against the cool glass, and after a few seconds Tino’s hand pressed against the other side. They stood there for a few seconds until Romeo felt his eyes getting watery and he turned away.”

“He can’t keep it in his pants for a few months?” “He’s twenty-two and full-blooded Italian,” Romeo reminded Clay, thinking it was obvious. “No, he can’t.”

“That's like the tenth time you've looked at your reflection in the past five minutes." Chuito narrowed dark eyes at her as he leaned forward from his seat in the back and contemplated Jules. "Do you have a crush on me?"...Chuito got out of the car, studying Jules fussing with her outfit. "I was joking, but now you got me scared. You're not really after me, are you?"Jules rolled her eyes. "No.""Thank God. That'd be like doing it with my mother.”

“Please don’t make me let go yet, Romeo. I’m not ready.”