Chapter 24
her and me
DOMINIC
November
I turn the key with a sigh, and the engine of my Tahoe goes silent. The back seat is filled with two duffels and a bunch of miscellaneous stuff, and the trunk is full of boxes. Sitting here now, looking at the building in front of me, I feel both hopeful and relieved.
A new place. A fresh start. After two weeks in hell, it’s a fucking blessing.
I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white as Monica’s words replay in my head.
Remi texted the photo she took to Matt, who was helping Monica prep for Mia’s birthday dinner when it came through.
Monica was livid, and she’s been a raging bitch ever since, treating her daughter as if she committed a crime against humanity while I’m getting the silent treatment.
She’s always been hard on Mia, but now? Fuck, I’d do anything to switch places with her.
The passenger door slams shut, bringing me back to reality. I jump out and close my door, then join Matt at the trunk. He grabs a few boxes and steps aside, letting me do the same.
“Thank you for helping me,” I tell him again as we head to the stairs to my third-floor apartment.
He scoffs, adjusting his grip on the boxes. “What are friends for?”
The simple response eases my nerves. Things are still strained between us, but I have hope we’ll find our way back to the friendship we’ve had our whole lives.
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows over the balcony walkway as I stop in front of the door marked number 17 and set down my boxes so I can dig out the key.
Matt walks in first, scanning the space as he moves deeper. It’s not much—a single bedroom, a tiny kitchen, a bathroom, and a little balcony—but it’s clean, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of light. I’m so fucking happy I have this place.
We put the boxes on the floor near the couch then go back for another load. When we’ve brought all my stuff in, Matt rocks on his heels, avoiding my gaze for a moment. Eventually, he sighs and says, “You really think this is gonna make it easier?”
I slip my hands into my pockets. “What do you mean?”
“You moving out.” He holds out an arm, gesturing to the apartment. “You think this is gonna change how my mom feels? You think this will be enough to keep her from harassing Mia?”
I clench my jaw. “It should make it easier for both of us, because even though we’ve given her no reason to fixate on it, it seems like your mother’s main concern is hearing us fuck.”
Flinching, Matt rubs a hand down his face. “Don’t talk about sex and my sister in the same sentence.”
“Sorry. This whole situation is ridiculous.”
“More like a fucking nightmare.” He takes a deep breath. “Mom’s not gonna let this go.”
My gut twists. “I know.”
Silence stretches between us, weighed down by the tension that has plagued the whole family for the last two weeks.
“I get that you’re pissed about us sneaking around,” I say, “but I care about her. A lot. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
I don’t dare say I love her. Not yet. When I’m ready to say those words, she will be the first to know.
He dips his chin. “Now that I know, I see the way you look at her. I didn’t think it was possible for you to look like a pathetic little puppy, but you’ve proved me wrong.” He chuckles, though he sobers quickly. “But if you hurt her—”
“Never,” I state firmly.
He tilts his head, inspecting me like I’m under a magnifying glass. Then, he nods, his lips twitching. “Good. Do you need help unpacking?”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
We get to work, my mind and heart easing a bit. Despite the mess we’re living in, this situation proved one thing—we’re all going to get through this.
Because Mia and I are end game.
Mia:
I’ll be at your place in thirty. And I’m staying the night, idc what she thinks
The text came in as I was leaving the shop. I stuck around after business hours to work on the bike Miles and I started building.
I’ve just showered and thrown on a pair of sweats and a tee when there’s a knock at the door.
I open it, and the moment our eyes lock, a piece of me that’s been missing since her birthday clicks into its place, making the picture whole.
She’s in light blue jeans, a black hoodie, and white sneakers.
Her hair is down, and her face is free of makeup.
She steps inside wearing a bright smile, and I close the door. She stops in the middle of the room and turns in a slow circle, looking over my place with quiet interest. When she completes her inspection, she winds her hands around my torso and gazes up at me.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I kiss the tip of her nose.
She inhales deeply. “I still can’t believe you really did it. I thought it’d take you a while to find a place.”
“Dad helped me. He has a lot of connections in town.”
“Allan is the best.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t think I would’ve survived the last two weeks without his support. He’s the only person who can stop her rants.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. Then, I go for it, because I refuse to keep secrets from her. “Remi came to the shop today.”
Mia stills in my arms, her muscles tensing.
“She came to apologize. Took her sweet time, of course, but still… She said she overreacted, and she didn’t want to hurt anyone.”
“And?” she asks, her voice small. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her we’re done for good.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I told her I’m with you, that you’re my girl.”
For a beat, we just stare at each other. Then, she’s on me, hugging me tightly, kissing my lips, my cheeks, my jaw. Every touch is full of tenderness, full of yearning.
“I love it when you call me your girl,” she whispers.
“Because you are.” I pull her to my chest, holding her close, resting my chin on top of her head, exhaling.
“There’s something else, something I should’ve told you before.
” I lick my lips. “But the secret isn’t just mine.
I warned Remi today that I was going to tell you about it.
She wasn’t thrilled, but she didn’t fight me on it. ”
“Okay.”
I grab Mia’s hand and guide her to the couch, where I sit and face her. The space is dimly lit, but it’s suitable for the story I’m about to tell.
“Remi was pregnant,” I say, my voice low and gruff.
Her expression softens, full of sadness and understanding, like even though I haven’t told her the story, she sees the whole picture. She threads her fingers with mine and squeezes, silently encouraging me.
“For a long time, I liked her well enough, and I felt good around her. She was there for me when I was at my worst, after the accident, after my dreams died.” I exhale sharply.
“But she’s always been overly dramatic, and we argued all the time.
We were on and off constantly, but even when we weren’t dating, we were together a lot.
She got pregnant at the end of our junior year.
After my accident. I—I didn’t know how I felt, because my life was shit.
Nothing really made sense, and I had no idea what to do or where to go.
Before I could come to terms with it, she miscarried. She was three months along.”
Mia’s lips wobble, and her eyes go glassy, but she remains silent, letting me speak.
“It was something about abnormal hormone levels. My daughter’s heart just stopped beating.
” I hang my head low. “After that, I felt like I owed her. She’d put up with so much of my bullshit; she’d supported me through everything, and then to suffer a loss like that… It felt like I couldn’t walk away.”
She moves closer to me. “But you did.”
“Not soon enough. I should’ve handled it differently.”
“You’re not a bad person, Dom. Your guilt made you stay, and she tapped into that wound.
She exploited it. I can’t imagine the pain she suffered after losing the baby, but that didn’t give her the right to manipulate you.
Hearing no and refusing to accept it no matter how many times you’ve been told is a form of harassment. ”
My throat constricts as I look at the girl in front of me. I’ve never opened up about this, not even to Matt or my dad. Remi asked me not to, so I kept it all to myself, stuffing away my emotions until they tangled into a knot so tight, I didn’t think I’d ever break free. Until Mia.
Her words are soothing, but they don’t change who I am. I’m not a good person—not to Miles, who suffered because of my selfishness, and definitely not to Remi. I was a coward, unable to find the guts to end the relationship, even knowing it was hurting Remi and me more.
The situation we’re in now, the tension hurting our family…it’s my fault. If Remi wasn’t in my life anymore, that photo wouldn’t exist. Mia and I could’ve had time to prepare our family and break the news on our terms.
I am at fault, but Mia is still here, holding my hands, comforting me and lifting the weight off my shoulders. Without flinching, without backtracking. Strong and wild, confident and vulnerable… This girl is perfect. Perfect for me.
I move closer and cup her face, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “You’re so different. The way I feel about you? I’ve never felt like this before…” My voice cracks on the last word.
“I know,” she whispers, pressing her lips to mine.
And then, I’m losing myself in her again.
We kiss, slow and gentle, our tongues exploring. There’s no urgency, no jealousy, no dominance. It’s just me and her.
I stand from the couch and pull her to her feet. Our mouths fuse once more, and we stumble to my bed. When my legs hit the edge of the mattress, I fall backward onto my ass. She grins, biting her bottom lip.
Heart thundering, I unbutton her jeans and slowly push them down. She takes off her hoodie, revealing a simple, light blue T-shirt that does nothing to hide her peaked nipples.
Fuck. She’s not wearing a bra.
“Come here,” I tell her quietly.
She steps between my legs, and I place a kiss on her hip, then her stomach, just above her belly button.
A soft moan escapes her as I skim my fingers over the waistband of her panties.
She places her hands on my shoulders, her finger tracing the tattoos on my right arm, the ones that cover the scars from the accident.
“Why a raven?” she whispers.
“For me, it represents transformation,” I croak. “Change. It hides my scars, putting an end to my past and marking a new beginning. A rebirth.” I push down her panties, and she steps out of them. “There are also—”
“Engines and road signs. And the number fifteen.”
I pull her onto my lap so she’s straddling me. “You’re way too attentive.”
“Only when it comes to you,” she says.
With a hand at the back of her neck, I guide her in for another kiss. Though our movements are still unhurried, a new kind of passion ignites, the kind that stays with a person forever.
She helps me roll the condom down my shaft then tosses her T-shirt to the floor. She’s a work of art. Every inch of her—her tits, her pebbled nipples, her full mouth—is perfection.
Hoisting her up, I palm her ass and lower her down onto my cock with deliberate slowness. She drops her head back, eyes fluttering shut, and moans. I don’t look away, memorizing every detail of her face.
Mia rides me slowly, arms wrapped around my shoulders. Her breath is shaky, mingling with mine.
Gripping her hips, I guide her, and when I’m buried to the hilt, I groan, because fuck—the way we fit each other is out of this world.
It’s inevitable.
Me and her.
Her and me.
Nothing else matters as long as I have her in my arms.
“I’m so close…” she whispers, breathless.
She picks up the pace, rotating her hips.
My fingers dig into the flesh of her ass, and my eyes roll back. “Fuck, baby…” The words escape me automatically, and she instantly does it again. And again. And again.
Her forehead is sweaty, her soft moans and gasps filling the space around us, mixing with my groans. She wraps her arms around me tighter and presses her forehead to mine. Her orgasm hits her first, her back bowing, her channel spasming around me, my name spilling from her lips.
I thrust deep, letting my release wash over me, and clutch her to me as overwhelming pleasure crashes through me.
As we come down, we lie entwined with one another, catching our breath. I can’t help but smile, because this night isn’t over.
There will be more orgasms.
There’s so much I want to give her.
If only she could stay forever.