68. Angry

                                    

                                          
Josephine 
"Do you know when you're getting deployed again?" My brother, Roman, asks Leo. Even though he's not the eldest, he still is stricter than any of my other brothers. Especially with me.
Leo's fingers clasp together and his leg bounces up and down a little. "No."
Roman laughs a sardonic laugh. "No?" He looks around at my other brothers, who all don't know if they should stop whatever he's about to say or not. "Well, that's comforting to know."
My mama invited Leo over for dinner. Said she wanted the entire family present. I didn't want to go at first because I know Roman will say a snarky comment to my boyfriend, but Leo insisted it'd be rude if we declined. 
During dinner, Roman was surprisingly polite. Only talking when spoken to. His glares directed towards Leo weren't so polite, though, but at least he wasn't being mean. 
Now though, he's smirking at my boyfriend like he has the upper hand. I don't know what his problem is with Leo. He did nothing to him. When I asked mama, she told me he's just being my brother and looking out for me. But there's nothing to look out for. Leo is perfect and has done nothing to hurt me. He only makes me the happiest in the world. 
Leo's profile is passive and some would think he's calm and that this is not stressing him out, but I know better. He doesn't like talking about the army and Roman has figured that out, so he brings it up when he can. If one thing, Roman is perceptive. 
"So what will happen when you eventually go back? With Jo." He clarifies quickly.
"I don't know. Whatever she wants." Leo answers curtly. 
"So you'll break up with her?" 
Everyone is silent as they listen to the conversation. We're all sitting outside in the garden, waiting for the dessert to get out of the oven.
Leo doesn't answer straight away and his leg bounces harder. A nervous tick of his that I don't see very often. But not surprisingly, only when my brothers—Roman—are present. 
"I'll never break up with her. But if she wants to, I'll respect her decision."
"So what you're saying is that you will not fight for her." He leans back in his seat and puts a leg on top of his knee, acting all smug. 
"Of course I'll fight for her. But I'll never force her to stay in a relationship with me if she doesn't want to." 
"Okay, that's enough." I give Roman a glare, but he doesn't even spare me a glance.
"Okay then. Say she stays with you while you're deployed. What is Jo supposed to do while you're away?"
"I'm not sure I understand your question." Leo says, though I know he's lying. 
I look at my mother to shut him up, but even when she whispers his name in warning, he doesn't stop.
"I mean, is she supposed to live her life wondering every day when you'll die?"
My eyes widen. "Roman!"
"What? I'm only looking out for you." He raises his hands in the air. 
"Well, don't." His excuse is always that he's doing this for me, or he's looking out for me. And I'm slowly starting to get sick of it. He can still look out for me and be respectful to my boyfriend. 
"I understand you wanting the best for your little sister," Leo says. "But she knew I'm in the army before we started dating. So she knows what she's doing." Leo's voice has a quiver to it that only I can hear. Roman's words are getting to him.