15. Dominic
CHAPTER 15
Dominic
RECKLESS DECISIONS
17 YEARS OLD
“ Y ou’re not allowed to see that boy anymore!” Jack yells at Ellie, as if I’m not standing right beside her.
That boy.
Ellie stiffens, her fingers curling into fists at her sides, her whole body radiating pure rage. Jack has always liked me—I know that much. But right now, he’s looking at me like I’ve just stolen his daughter’s innocence and ran it through the dirt.
And he doesn’t even know the half of it. He’d likely kill me if he knew his little girl is far from innocent.
Ellie tilts her chin up, defiant. “I’m not a kid! You don’t get to tell me who I can and can’t see, you can’t control me.”
Jack’s face reddens, his jaw tight. “You are seventeen years old! You’re a goddamn kid, and you live under my roof. You think this is about control? It’s about you making reckless decisions! Tattooing a boy’s name on your wrist is not what I would define as responsible behavior. Jesus, Elyse, what were you thinking?”
I knew they would discover the tattoo, but I didn’t anticipate it being so quickly. It took them two weeks. I was hoping we could hide it for a year. Or even better—forever.
As I was saying my goodbyes to Ellie at the front door, Jack caught sight of her wrist as she hugged me, and that’s when all hell broke loose.
Ellie crosses her arms, refusing to shrink under her Dad’s stare. “I was thinking that it’s my body and my choice. And that I love Dominic. And that maybe it’s none of your freaking business.”
Leanne steps in then, her voice calmer but still strained. “Sweetheart, no one is saying you don’t love him. But this is permanent. Did you even think of what would happen if you two break up? You’re so young?—”
Ellie barks out a bitter laugh, cutting Leanne off. “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I thought you were on my side.”
I stay quiet, feeling like I’m watching a car crash in slow motion. I don’t blame them for freaking out—I get it. I knew Jack would be mad, but he’s beyond mad. I’ve never seen him so angry and it’s fucking scary.
But Ellie isn’t backing down.
Her dad looks ready to explode, hands firm on his hips, eyes locked on me now. “And you?—”
I take a step back, my body bracing for a blow.
Ellie throws up her hands, moving to stand in front of me. “Oh, for God’s sake, stop it! Stop looking at him like this is his fault. He didn’t make me do it, in fact he tried to talk me out of it. Newsflash—I didn’t get it for him—I got it for me.”
She reaches for my hand, and I hesitate for a fraction of a second, knowing walking out of here right now is only going to make this worse. But when she looks up at me, eyes blazing with determination, I know there’s no stopping her.
I sigh and thread my fingers through hers. “Ellie?—”
“No,” she cuts me off, tugging me toward the door. “I’m done with this conversation.”
Jack steps forward, but Ellie doesn’t waver. “I am NOT a little kid. You don’t get to make decisions for me, and you don’t get to keep us apart. If you’re going to try, then I don’t want to be here right now.”
With that, she yanks open the door, dragging me with her as she storms outside.
“Elyse Merideth Ledger, get back inside this house this instant!” Jack yells.
Leanne’s softer voice comes through, almost out of ear shot. “Let her go, honey, she’ll come back.”
I cast one last glance at her parents—Jack looking furious, Leanne looking worried—but there’s nothing I can say that will fix this right now.
So I do the only thing I can. I walk out with her.
Even if I know damn well, we’ll pay for this.