18. Dominic
CHAPTER 18
Dominic
PEOPLE YOU MAY KNOW
PRESENT
I can’t do another night of cold dinner, alone in that empty house. Every day I come this much closer to cutting my losses and scrapping this whole remodel thing. I’m not nearly as skilled as I thought I was, and it’s taking forever to gut and rebuild every inch of the house.
Work was stressful, so I’m treating myself to a hot meal at Sagebrush diner. I take up residence in a booth that’s seen better days while I scroll through social media, waiting for my order to be done. There’s a red notification, indicating I have an unread message. It’s the same message that’s been hanging out in my inbox since I was in the hospital. I wasn’t ready to read it then, and I’m still not ready.
Ignoring it, I keep scrolling, in search of anything else.
After Ellie broke things off with me, she blocked me on everything, including social media. At the time, it hurt, because the message was clear—I wasn’t welcome in her life anymore. The more time that passed, though, the more grateful I became. I never had to worry about depressingly looking at her happy life without me. There wasn’t a fear that I’d drink too much one night and message her, likely making a fool of myself. Now, it’s been so long, I’m not even sure she’s on social media.
My eyes slide over to the kitchen to see if they’re bagging up my food. By the looks of it, they’re not. I stare back down at my phone and curiosity gets the best of me.
Quickly, I look around, as if someone is watching me about to creep on my ex. No one seems to be paying attention, so I proceed, and type in her name. To my surprise, she’s the first to pop up in the search.
When did she unblock me?
I click her profile and get flooded with so many images at once, my eyes don’t know where to settle. Ellie with her family. Ellie and Scottie in Chicago. Ellie in a bikini on the beach holding a margarita. My gaze snags on that one a little longer than it should.
So fucking beautiful.
Growing up, she was insecure about her height, always the tallest girl in our class. She takes after Jack’s side of the family, tall and thin. My mom used to call her “flaquita” and would tease her that she needed to eat more. I had to have A LOT of talks with my mom to knock that shit off. She didn’t mean it in a negative way, it’s just common in Mexican culture to end up with a nickname that’s usually your biggest insecurity.
Everything she was insecure about, I only thought made her more attractive. I liked that she was tall, that when I held her, I could stare into her eyes. I liked the way she fit against me, as if our bodies were meant to be intertwined, every curve aligning perfectly.
The more I scroll, the more it aches to see all the life she’s lived without me. Every picture is a glimpse into a life I know nothing about. I heard through old buddies that she had moved back to Red Mountain after college, which surprised me because she was always adamant in having no interest in living in our small town. It seems even though her plans changed, her life looks anything but small. Filled with travel and adventures—everything she used to dream of. She looks happy. And I wonder if she is happy. It’s easy to look happy for a snapshot that took a second to take, when in reality your life is falling apart.
None of her posts show her with another man, which, embarrassingly, brings me a sense of relief. But then again, she’s the kind of person who erases someone completely once she’s done with them—something I know all too well. I can only imagine the trail of broken hearts she’s left behind since me.
“Order number ten,” the teenager behind the counter calls out.
I stand, still distracted by my deep dive, and accidentally collide with something soft as a cloud of warm amber embraces me.
My obstacle makes a girlish grunting sound at the same time my phone crashes to the floor. “Sorry about that,” I say before I realize who it is.
Ellie.
She stiffens and turns to me, her clear green eyes meeting mine. Then her gaze darts down, to my phone that’s facing up. She bends down to retrieve it and stares at the screen.
“Is this my?—”
I snatch the phone out of her hand, the tips of our fingers making the slightest contact, and it sends a shock up my arm. “Yep,” I quip. “You came up under People You May Know .”
Her brows raise and I know she knows I’m lying. “Sure,” she teases, smiling.
Smiling…
Shaking my head, I look at her again to confirm I’m not imagining it.
I’m not. It’s still there, and it’s aimed at me.
It’s the first genuine, full-fledged smile I’ve received from her, and fuck, was it worth the wait. I would’ve waited a lifetime for that smile if I had to.
“You caught me.” My face heats, admitting the truth.
“Order number ten!” the worker repeats.
I nod, gesturing to the counter. “That’s my order.”
She steps aside and lets me pass by, the amber smell lingering off her skin infiltrates my senses as I do.
After grabbing my food, I turn back around and expect to see the spot she was standing in empty, since she’s always trying to avoid me. Instead, I’m pleased to see she’s still right where I left her.
Our eyes connect as I walk back with my takeout bag in hand. Just seeing her—in this old familiar place—it takes me back. The past and present collide, like no time has passed while simultaneously feeling the rigidness of when our relationship severed, sending us on opposite paths. It’s a painful reality, forcing me to take a big inhale in an attempt to steady my erratic heartbeat.
Though a soft smile is resting on her red lips, her arms are crossed over her chest—an obvious wall, nearly impenetrable. I want to bulldoze right through it and get to the place where this isn’t so hard. But I can’t—I have to climb it instead.
On approach, her arms cross tighter as she steps back—the wall not budging.
“Picking up food?” I ask, like an idiot. Why else would she be here.
She breathes a laugh. Her eyes bounce around my face and to the surrounding restaurant. “Great work, detective. Yeah, I’m picking up food.”
I shake my head and tsk, hitching a brow. “Not a detective, just a deputy.”
Her tongue rolls over her teeth, drawing my attention back to her pouty, crimson mouth as she works at holding back a playful grin. “Oh right, my mistake. Sorry, Deputy Alvarez .”
The way she said Deputy Alvarez , with a sultry little edge, stirs something in me I haven’t felt in a long while. It’s not hard to imagine her calling me that in a difference scenario—one where she’s under me, thighs spread open, pussy clenching around my cock as I fuck her so thoroughly she can’t remember anyone but me—claimed. Mine. I want it so badly, the thought alone has my zipper straining. God, I’m easy .
Swallowing, I feel my Adam’s apple bob painfully in my throat. I forgot the way she pulls at me, can put me under her spell in one look. My gaze trips up on her face—everywhere I land, I want to stay. She completely disarms me and has no idea.
I don’t know how to be around her and not be us . Ten years didn’t do shit to change that.
Now that I have my food, I have no reason to stick around, but the last thing I want is to lose out on time with her, even if it’s only seconds.
“My goodness, look at you two,” Marie, the owner of Sagebrush shouts from across the restaurant. She approaches us with quick steps, nearly bouncing, a wide smile splitting her face. “Well, if it isn’t the star quarterback and head cheerleader. You two lovebirds back together? We all got such a kick out of hearing about the arrest.”
We exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between us.
Ellie bites her lip, her fair skin noticeably flushed. “Just picking up food.” Her voice is breathy.
She seems way more affected by Marie’s nosiness than I would’ve expected.
It’s no secret Ellie and I were every small town cliché—the makings of your standard teen rom-com. Hell, we were even prom king and queen our senior year.
“So, then you’re not together?” Marie, asks, almost sounding emotional, as if she might cry.
Oh, jeez.
“We’re friends!” Ellie bursts out, looking to me with her gaze widened, silently pleading I save her.
“Yep,” I speak up. “Great friends.”
Marie frowns. “Oh. I see. Well, that’s a shame.” She turns her focus on Ellie. “You need to get him back. It’s not like you’ve dated any winners since him.”
Ellie’s eyes bug out, her face blooming even redder than it already was.
I sure as shit don’t like hearing about her dating other guys, but a surge of pride hits me knowing none have been better than me.
“Marie!” someone shouts from the back. “The fryer’s acting up again.”
She laughs, shrugging her shoulders. “Damn thing’s on its last leg.” She smiles warmly at us. “I’ll see you kids later.”
And then she’s gone, just as quickly as she popped up, leaving behind a stilted air between us.
“So,” I start. “That wasn’t awkward at all.”
Her eyes flash to mine, the redness slowly easing off her face. “Definitely not incredibly embarrassing.” She laughs lightly through her smile.
I’m not sure what’s brought on this side of her, but whatever it is, I’m here for it.
“Order number eleven!” a worker calls out.
Ellie starts to move, but then pauses and looks at me. There’s a flicker of vulnerability in her expression but it’s gone before I can decide if I imagined it or not. “That’s my order. Are you in a rush to get somewhere?”
At a loss for words, I simply shake my head .
“Okay, good. Do you mind waiting? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
I nod, wordlessly and she responds with a faint smile before continuing on to retrieve her order.
It’s been so long since she’s spoken to me with anything besides stiff conversation and animosity, I have no idea how to handle this version of her.
I watch her chitchat for a second with the boy behind the counter as she grabs the takeout bag.
“Walk me to my car,” she tells me, breezing past me and leading the way, not bothering to look back to see if I’m following.
And like the whipped man I am, I’m in step right behind her, doing a piss-poor job of staring at anything but the sway of her hips.
The parking lot is mostly vacant. Sagebrush Diner isn’t necessarily the most popular dinner spot in town, since they focus mostly on breakfast.
She lingers by her car, clutching onto the paper bag, looking almost nervous as she bites down on her plush bottom lip, averting her gaze.
I’m nervous too. So much so, the back of my neck is burning up, pulse beating rapidly beneath my skin.
We stand awkwardly, my brain in a spiral wondering what’s shifted—why she suddenly wants to talk. And why the ever-present crease in her forehead that forms every time we’ve seen each other seems to have smoothed out.
Cutting into the silence, I clear my throat reflexively. “How’s your car doing? I meant to ask you about it last time I saw you.”
When she showed up at my house and I fucked everything up like an idiot.
She looks at the car but doesn’t look at me. “Fine. It needed a jump like you said. Ethan took care of it and then I had the battery replaced after I left your place. The guy at the shop said my battery was too new to die. Said it was probably a manufacturing error.” The corner of her lip lifts slightly. “Got the taillight fixed too,” she adds, dropping her chin and playfully rolling her eyes.
At least it seems she’s let go of some of the anger from the arrest.
I hate thinking of her having to shoulder the responsibilities I’d gladly take off her hands if I could. If she were mine, she’d never have to worry about shit like her car breaking down. When we were together, that’s who I tried to be for her—someone she could rely on. I even had to give her a lesson in pumping gas before college started because she’d never done it.
While I’m glad she has brothers and a dad who step up and help when she needs it, it doesn’t stop the jolt of jealousy that takes hold of me. I want to be that for her, and I can’t.
“So,” she begins. “I’ve been doing some thinking…” My breath freezes in my lungs. There are so many things that could be on the other side of that statement, most I’m sure aren’t in my favor. “I owe you an apology,” she finishes.
For an extended moment, I don’t know what to say. Of all the things I was expecting, it definitely wasn’t that. I rake a hand through my hair—something to preoccupy the hand closest to her, the one that wants to touch her. “An apology?”
She sighs through a smile. “Yeah. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I haven’t been the most welcoming person toward you.”
I smother a grin. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
Her head falls back, a soft giggle escaping her lips. The sound of it sends a tingle down my spine.
I’m suddenly aware of how closely we’re standing, like we both inched together without realizing it. Her eyes round, coming to the same conclusion and she rears a step back.
Coughing, she turns her head to focus on a squawking bird across the parking lot. Anything to not have to continue looking at me. Her smile has fallen, replaced with something wistful.
“Like I was saying, I’ve been a total bitch since you came back and that’s not fair. We have a lot of history, but it’s no excuse to treat you the way I have been.”
I have no idea what to say so I keep quiet.
“I was hoping we could try to be friends, like we used to be, before…you know.”
Before we fell in love . I finish silently for her.
Her eyes swivel down as her throat works down a swallow, the delicate curve of her neck straining.
“I’d like that,” I say quietly.
I’m an honest man, but in this moment, I know I’m lying. I don’t want to be her friend—I want to be so much more. I always wanted to be more.
“I have to ask, where is this coming from? You’ve been close to biting my head off every time we’ve run into each other.”
She laughs. “I’m not planning to leave Red Mountain, and by the looks of it, you don’t have plans to leave anytime soon. It’s a small town, and we used to be great friends. Plus, it’s more exhausting avoiding you than it is to just suck it up and move past this awkward shit.” She pauses for a moment, a knowing smirk on her lips. “And you paid for my fee, so I’m feeling a little more inclined to be nice.”
I chuckle. “There it is, the real truth. Least I could do.” I give her a teasing smile and she rewards me with one of her own.
I’m still working out a way to make things up to her, but taking care of her fee was a start.
Her smile fades and her eyes regard me carefully. “I’m sorry about your dad.” Her breath shakes for a moment before she exhales fully. “I—I wish I had known. I would’ve gone to the funeral, paid my respects. He was a good man, and he was always good to me.”
My jaw tightens as my tongue rolls across my teeth to keep from doing something stupid like cry. I’ve done a tremendous job of keeping my emotions at bay, but Ellie has a way of dragging it all up too the surface, even if she doesn’t intend to.
“Thanks,” I rasp, my voice husky despite myself. “He always liked you—loved you, actually.” Because he did. He never stopped talking about Ellie, making sure I never forgot about her. Not that I ever could, but I could tell it hurt him to lose her, and I think he hoped we’d find our way back to each other.
Her glassy, green eyes meet mine, a rare flicker of emotion passing through them.
Fuck, I want to hold her. But I think if I did, my emotions would break loose. It would be too much for me—everything I want, but nothing I can have.
She steps forward and then quickly steps back, shaking her head as she does.
I think she wants what I want. And she’s fighting it.
A little seed of hope starts to take root.
After a brief moment, she smiles a soft smile, but her gaze looks brighter—at least brighter than its been when I’m on the other end of them. We’re quiet for a stretch before she speaks.
“What did you get?” her eyes are fixed on my bag.
“Pancake special. You?”
“Pancake special,” she breathes a laugh before biting her bottom lip to keep her smile from fully breaking free.
The same orders we’ve always gotten. I guess that’s something that’s never changed about me or Ellie—we both like breakfast for dinner.