Seventeen | Jo
Seventeen
Jo
I was finishing dinner when I heard Dom’s truck pull up outside. I took the steaks out of the oven and stabbed a knife into one right as Dom knocked on the door. I didn’t bother pulling the knife out as I stormed over, flung it open, and stared at him.
He lowered his head and worked his jaw back and forth as if it were as hard for him to be there as it was for me to have him there. While I’d missed having him around, I was still so furious with him for lying to me that I’d been loosely plotting his demise since the moment Keith left.
“I’m so sorry,” he said softly, lifting his eyes to meet mine as golden specks sparkled at me.
“Sorry doesn’t mean shit.”
“I know. But I am, Jo. I’m so fucking sorry, and I feel terrible for hurting you.”
“I highly doubt that, but I’m sure you will soon enough,” I replied, stepping back and holding the door open.
The corners of his lips curled slightly as he tried to ward off a smile, but I ignored it as I slammed the door shut. A satisfied smirk crossed my face as I noticed him flinch in response.
He set his bag down in the corner of the living room, so it was out of the way, but I couldn’t help the hurt that washed over me when he didn’t take it to the bedroom.
I was still so pissed off at him, but I was starting to get even more pissed off with myself for actually wanting him to share the bedroom with me.
“Dinner will be ready in a few minutes,” I announced, not bothering to watch what he was doing because I didn’t trust my heart not to betray me with him in such close proximity.
The last thing I needed was my heart and vagina trying to open for this man who blatantly kept things from me.
“Is there anything I can help with?” he offered after taking his coat off and hanging it by the door.
“No.”
I side-eyed him before returning my attention to the potatoes that were still baking in the oven. I opened the door and poked at one, confirming it was done by how soft it was. I pulled them out and set them on the counter before getting the salad out of the fridge.
Dom ignored me when I said I didn’t need help and took it upon himself to get plates and silverware for us, placing them on the table as I finished everything else.
As I turned to tell him to get his food, he was right there, invading my space.
His arms wrapped around me, and my hands instinctively pressed against his chest.
“I’m sorry, Jo,” he whispered, the emotion in his eyes conveying his sentiment.
My blood was still boiling, but this time, I wasn’t sure if it was because I was still pissed off about what he had done, or if it was because he thought he had the right to hold me in his arms again.
I shoved away from him and reached behind me, pulling the knife out of the steak before pointing it at him.
“You don’t get to come in here, hugging on me like we are okay,” I growled as I tried not to let my hand shake. “You fucking lied to me, Dom.”
He swallowed hard, forcing his Adam’s apple to bob.
“I know,” he said, letting his shoulders fall as he stared at me and ignored the knife pointed at his chest. “I was told that I couldn’t tell you what was happening.
When you asked about me having contact with Tray, I had to say no.
But I have never willingly contacted him since I left, Jo.
If it weren’t for my sister getting mixed up with his guys, I would have walked away and never looked back. ”
“I trusted you,” I sneered, hating the way my voice cracked as tears dotted the corners of my eyes.
He nodded, his face falling as he watched me.
“I let you in, Dom. I let you have access to me that I never let anyone have. And you turned around and betrayed that!”
“I never meant to hurt you, Jo. My only intention was to keep you safe.”
“You’re using me as a pawn with my ex-husband!!”
His head fell forward as I turned away from him, refusing to let him see me cry. I set the knife down on the counter beside me and tried to get myself together. I wasn’t going to let him see me like this, knowing how weak I had become because of him.
“You can stay here until the storm clears,” I announced, turning to face him. “After that, you’re on your own.”
I grabbed the plate with the steaks and put them on the plates he’d set out before grabbing the baked potatoes and dropping one on his plate. I sat down and ignored him while I ate dinner, not having the energy to continue yelling at him.