Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Trey knew from Dominic’s descriptions of his family that he was going to love them.
The thing that really surprised Trey was how much he loved them and how quickly.
After a fun taco dinner and the simple domesticity of doing dishes with Dominic, the family settled in the den to watch reruns of Family Feud on GSN.
“Starr always gets the number-one answers on Fast Money,” Roxy had warned him.
He’d believed her, but after Starr proved Roxy right during the first episode, his respect for the autistic teenager increased exponentially.
At first glance, one could tell she wasn’t quite the same as her brother and sister—racial issue aside, since Roxy was clearly Hispanic and Starr was white—but she also wasn’t what Trey thought of when he heard the word autistic.
She was aware, involved, and very well spoken.
And he kind of melted every time Dominic called her “Starr in the sky.”
Zelda Bounds was the kind of mother Trey had always wanted.
Attentive, affectionate, and she clearly doted on her kids.
Trey’s mom gave him a hug on holidays and his birthday, but he couldn’t remember a time she looked at him with the kind of pride that Zelda turned on her children.
Adopted or not, she clearly loved them as much as if she’d given birth to them.
And Roxy was the spitfire that Dominic had described to him. All snark and sass, and Trey was doubly grateful that she was recovering from last week’s ordeal.
Another episode started at seven, and immediately after Steve Harvey asked the first question, the front door squeaked open.
Trey’s pulse jumped. Somehow the idea of meeting Dominic’s father was way more intimidating than abruptly meeting his mom.
He scooted a few inches over on the couch so he wasn’t halfway in Dominic’s lap.
Dominic snickered. “He’s not scary, I swear,” he whispered.
“Oh my God, you’re nervous about meeting our dad?” Roxy asked. She was occupying the far end of the couch. Starr had her own rocking chair near the opposite wall by the TV, and Zelda had already gotten up to greet her husband.
Starr said something that probably coincided with the television. She had no time for their drama while her show was on.
Trey stuck his tongue out at Roxy, who found that funny enough to laugh so hard she started coughing.
He watched the den archway, worried about what Mr. Bounds would think of the skinny white boy who’d fallen for his son.
Even Dominic stopped paying attention to the show and stared at the arch, as though the passage of time was cause for concern.
They’d reached the first commercial break before a broad-shouldered, suited man filled that space.
He smiled warmly at them all, but even Trey saw something off about the expression.
Something strained.
“Hey, Dad,” Dominic said.
“Your mother says we have a guest,” Mr. Bounds said. He strode forward, and Trey leapt to his feet. “Robert Bounds.”
“Trey Cooper.” Trey shook his hand, putting every bit of power he had into his grip. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“Don’t worry about ‘sir,’ just call me Bob.”
He didn’t think he could do that, but he nodded anyway. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you, young man.”
“Dad, what’s going on?” Dominic asked. “You look tense.” He tilted his head, and then his entire face went blank. Scary blank and kind of pale. “Did you hear something? It’s time again, isn’t it?”
Trey glanced between father and son, completely lost in the conversation, but neither of them looked happy. Even Roxy was paying attention. Only Starr seemed oblivious to the conversation.
“I did hear from Mr. Bell,” Mr. Bounds said. “It’s why I was late getting home tonight. I stopped by his office to confirm it.”
Dominic’s face was transformed by a kind of fear that Trey had never seen on a human being before. “But we sent the victim statement letter, like every year.”
Mr. Bounds seemed to shrink a little bit. “I’m so sorry.”
Roxy wrapped her arms around her middle, but Trey’s attention was laser-focused on the trembling wreck that had taken his boyfriend’s place.
He had no idea what was going on, or what they were talking about specifically, but he’d seen enough cop shows to make a guess that someone was getting out of prison.
Someone who’d hurt this family that Trey had fallen in love with.
“Where’s Mom?” Dominic asked.
“Kitchen.”
He was off like a rocket, Mr. Bounds following behind him.
Trey didn’t know what to do. Follow and intrude on a family crisis?
Wait and see? His chest ached with uncertainty, and with the very real need to go to Dominic and comfort him.
To do anything to get that icy fear to go away and leave him in peace.
“This isn’t fucking fair,” Roxy said, fire in her voice. Rage blazed in her dark eyes when she looked up at him. Rage that tempered briefly. “He hasn’t told you, has he?”
Trey could only shake his head.
“Well this is a fine fucking way to find out.”
He didn’t comment on the profanity, especially in front of Starr.
Starr was rocking harder in her chair, probably sensing the negative emotions around her, while still engrossed in her game show.
Trey thought back to the vague comments between father and son, and then Dominic’s sudden need to see his mother.
“Is it your mom?” he asked. “Did someone hurt her?”
The idea of anyone hurting that kind, loving woman made him want to take a baseball bat to their head.
Roxy blinked hard. “No. Someone hurt Dom.”
Something oily and black slithered through Trey’s gut.
Snippets of conversation came back. Not playing his violin for an audience for six years.
Being so worried about Trey’s anal virginity.
Flashes of anger. His intense reaction to Roxy’s attack the week before.
Trey’s knees gave out and he landed hard on the edge of the sofa, head swirling, stomach rolling.
Roxy curled up next to him, so he hugged her.
He didn’t know what else to do. He held her while she shook.
A few hot tears splashed his neck. Trey wanted to ask questions, to rage at the sky, to know who’d hurt Dominic and find out how many ways Trey could make him pay.
He was totally out to sea, needing to play a particular tune but having no idea how the music went.
No clue as the lyrics he needed to sing to make this okay for the Bounds family.
To make it okay for Dominic.
“Mom took it the hardest,” Roxy whispered. “Dom’s probably trying to make it better for her.”
Something inside Trey revolted at that idea.
He gently tugged out of Roxy’s grasp and walked through the den and dining room, into the kitchen.
Dominic and his mom sat at the breakfast nook, heads bent close together, hands clasped.
Mr. Bounds stood off to the side like a silent bodyguard, his face as sad as Trey had ever seen a grown man’s.
Sad for the pain his family was going through and helpless to fix it.
They didn’t notice Trey at first—not until Dom glanced up and right at him, as though sensing he was close by.
Dom’s eyes were wet, his cheeks dry. The fear was gone, replaced by something difficult to discern.
Not quite anger, but definitely not acceptance.
Dom whispered something to his mom, then stood and started forward.
Trey swept him into his arms, holding Dominic tight against his chest, their hearts thumping wildly together.
He didn’t know what demons Dominic was facing down, but he wouldn’t let Dominic do it alone.
Dominic pressed his face into Trey’s neck, arms cinching tighter around Trey’s waist, hands bunching in the back of his T-shirt.
“I’m with you.” Trey closed his eyes and tried to be strong for his boyfriend. “Anything you need.”
Dominic’s entire body shuddered.
At some point Trey clued in to the fact that they were alone in the kitchen.
He hadn’t meant to drive Dominic’s parents away, but he was insanely grateful for them leaving.
He imagined they were well schooled in whatever had happened to Dominic, and if Dominic decided to tell Trey, it might be easier without them around.
He rubbed circles on Dominic’s back, aware of the slowly easing tension in his muscles. He clung to Trey a little more loosely, less desperately. Eventually he raised his head and rested his chin on Trey’s shoulder.
“You must think we’re all nuts,” Dominic said. His voice was paper-thin and rough. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I kind of feel like I’m intruding.”
“No. Glad you’re here.”
“What can I do?”
“This helps.” Dominic released a long, shuddering breath. “You’ve gotta have a thousand questions.”
“Roxy said someone hurt you.” Trey bit back a surge of rage. “Is it safe to say this person is being released from prison? That’s the news your dad got today?”
“Yeah. That’s the news.”
“I’m so sorry, babe.”
Dominic tore away from him so quickly Trey nearly fell over.
He righted himself quickly, concerned by the way Dominic moved to put the kitchen island between them.
He stood hunched over, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his shorts.
Trey examined his words, uncertain what had put this new distance between them, when moments ago Dominic needed him simply to stand.
“This is why I don’t tell anyone,” Dominic told the counter. “I fucking hate pity.”
“What?” Oh hell. “Dom, I didn’t mean I’m sorry you were hurt, not like you think. I mean I’m sorry the fucker who hurt you is getting out of jail. I hate that you’re going through this.”
Uncertain brown eyes met his. “Oh. Thanks.”
Trey wanted to ask so many things. What was the person’s name? When did it happen? What happened? How can I hurt this person for you? Can we go to bed so I can hold you until the demons are gone?
“Roxy tell you anything else?” Dominic asked after an awkward moment of silence.