Josephine

I wipe the cloth across the bathroom mirror with a huff. It's been a long day of cleaning and tidying.

My little apartment requires a full day to deep clean. And I still need to clean my bedroom. It's messy and there are clothes everywhere.

I'm wearing the uniform I wear when cleaning. Lounge shorts that are comfortable for bucking and gliding across the floor, and a loose shirt that I've had since high school, and is now too tight on me. But it has the Jonas brothers on it from when I was obsessed with them—still am, but on a more subtle level—and I refuse to part with it.

I've put away almost all of my clothes when someone knocks on my door.

I open it and gape when I see it's Leo.

He steps forward, and we wrap our arms around each other.

"You're here." My voice comes out high pitched.

He pulls back and his hands travel from my shoulders to my nape.

"Surprise." He chuckles.

"I thought you'll stay there for another few days." I softly hit his chest. We just spoke yesterday, and he didn't tell me he's coming.

"I changed my mind." He shrugs and plants a soft kiss on my forehead before grabbing my hand. "I have some exciting news."

He sits down and I take a seat next to him and pull my feet onto the sofa.

"Tell me." I demand, smiling widely at the sight of him. It's been two weeks since I last saw him and it feels like a full month. Too long. The phone calls have been difficult with the time difference and my crazy shift times.

"You know my brother and his girlfriend were there when I arrived." He starts and I nod. "He proposed to her there."

"Aww." I grin. "That's so romantic."

"Yeah," he takes a hand through his hair. He got a haircut during the period I didn't see him, I notice. "They couldn't stop smiling the entire time."

"That's sweet."

Our eyes connect, and we hold our gazes. "How have you been?" He asks, setting a palm on my knees.

"Good." I look around my apartment. "Was busy with work and cleaning this place."

"Looks clean to me."

"Duh." I scoff. "After a thorough deep cleansing."

"If you would've waited a day to clean, I could've helped you." He offers sincerely.

"Next time, I'll call you up." I tap the palm that's on my knee and keep it there. My hand on top of his.

His eyes peer at our hands for a moment, then he turns his hand and clasps our fingers together. His fingers totally engulf mine.

"I've missed you." He whispers, his eyes staring into mine.

"I've missed you, too." Between his gray eyes, I look for any sign of what this could mean. I'm not sure if it's my mind playing tricks on me, but I swear I could see affection in his gaze.

"Do you still have a lot to do?" He gestures around the place.

"Nah, only my bedroom a little." I wave a hand in the air. "But that's not important. Tell me all you did while you were there."

For the next two hours, he tells me in boring detail all that he did. In detail because I keep asking for more specifications.

He tells me all about his Nonna and the things she had planned for them like an art class, snorkeling, jet skiing.

Suffice to say, I got jealous and I wanna go on a vacation right now. With him would be better.

I'm in the middle of telling him about a patient who we kept catching sneaking junk food in his room, when my front door flies open and several guys enter.

Three guys are unfamiliar, but two of them aren't. My twin brothers; Roman and Milan.

Of course it's Roman.

His eyes immediately latch onto us, more specifically, our hands.

He shoots the meanest glare at Leo, but Leo keeps his face neutral.

The other guys and Milan make themselves comfortable. In my apartment. They crack open the beer bottles they have with them, grab my remote and turn the TV on to some video game.

"Roman," I stand up. "What are you doing here?" I ask in a calm voice, even though it's the farthest thing I currently feel.

"What is he doing here?" He points at Leo with a snarl.

"I asked you a question."

"So what?" He gives me a look. "I texted you and you said you were alone."

I gape at him. Is he for real?

"That was over two hours ago." I say. "And you didn't answer when I asked you if you wanted to come over. I said I was cleaning and thus busy."

"I thought we talked about this." He whispers, pointing a finger to the ground.

"I thought so, too." I've grown hair on my tongue from how many times I've told them to just text me.

One text.

How difficult can that be?

We're in the twenty-first century! Sending a text should be as easy as breathing air. But no, for Roman, he only texts me to make sure if I'm home.

But he doesn't even care about that. He brings his friends over even if I'm here.

What if I was naked?

"We told you not to bring strange men to your place." Now his glare is meant for me.

Oh, so we aren't even talking about the same topic.

"No one told me anything." I defend. "And Leo isn't a strange man."

"Roman," one guy yells. "We're starting a game while you finish your talk with your...." he trails off when I shoot him a look.

Seriously?

He comes into my place uninvited and has the nerve to complain about Roman and me talking?

Am I really that insignificant? That people never listen to what I say and want.

Or am I just an inconvenience?

"I told you he's bad news." Roman glances behind my shoulder.

I follow his gaze. Leo is sitting in the same position, his hand clutching the armrest. It's subtle, but I still catch it.

I appreciate him not saying anything to Roman. I can't deal with a pissed older brother now.

"Stop saying that!" I defend. "Why didn't you tell me you were bringing—"

He cuts me off mid-sentence. "I can't deal with you right now." He side steps me. "I'll let mama handle this."

"This?" I pivot on my heels and keep my eyes on him. "This as in you barging into my apartment and bringing your sketchy friends with you?"

"I'm a law-abiding citizen." One of them mumbles.

I would've found his comment funny if I wasn't so angry right now.

"Stay out of this." I tell him and he averts his eyes.

"Josie." Roman says my name like I'm a child. "Stop whining and let us play a game or two. Then we'll be out of your hair." He gives me a placating smile.

I hate him. I hate him so much right now.

He pretends I'm not standing there and starts chatting with his buddies.

I want to scream and pull my hair out, but I somehow manage to keep my mouth shut and my hands at my side.

With one last glare at Roman and Milan because he's just as guilty as his twin brother, my eyes meet Leo.

He hasn't moved an inch. His eyes are locked on mine with an unreadable look.

I give him a tight smile I know looks fake and, as calm as possible, walk to the bathroom.

Softly closing the door and locking it, I close the lid of the toilet and sit on it with my face in my hands.

This was the most humiliating thing.

I never made a big deal out of it when they barged in unannounced.

But this is the third time that Leo witnessed it.

First was when I saw him at the diner, and we got milkshakes together. That wasn't so bad as he didn't see me almost cry out of frustration.

Then Roman saw him in my bathroom.

And this now ...

Leo saw me almost lose it.

He saw how my brothers don't listen to anything I say. To my simple requests. They don't ever take me seriously.

How is Leo supposed to when my own brothers don't?

• ••• •

A/N:

Roman never learns... 😒