Chapter 43 Dominic
Dominic
Six months later
The heat from the sun bleeds into my skin as I walk the path through the cemetery, looking for the beloved mass of black curls that will lead me to my angel.
She insisted on visiting Eric’s grave today, for the first time in four years, and I pretended to forget the flowers we bought for him just so they could have some time alone.
When I find her, she’s kneeling in front of his headstone, talking quietly. I slow my steps, not wanting to make her feel embarrassed or silly for having the same kind of one-sided conversations I have with him when I come out here on my own.
“Anyway, I just want you to know that I miss you so much.” Her fingers brush across the granite, tracing over each letter in his name.
“We should have had a lot more time together, and I’m sorry I wasted so much of it being afraid.
I promise I don’t do that anymore. I always try to choose love over fear, and I think you’d be proud of me for that. ”
She raises her hand to wipe away a fresh tear, and I’m hit, like I always am, with an endless swell of pride at the sight of my ring entangled with the ones Eric gave her.
It’s not traditional by any means, but it’s right.
A perfect encapsulation of my love for her blended with his.
Two things that shouldn’t be able to exist together, but somehow do.
“He would be.”
Sloane jumps up and scowls at me. She’s trying to look upset about me sneaking up on her, but all I see is the tender love shining in her eyes as she walks over.
“Jesus, Dom!” Her tiny fist collides with my chest. “You don’t sneak up on a woman in the cemetery.”
“Sorry, angel.” I hold out the flowers to her, and her expression lets me know she’s not buying my apology or my excuse about forgetting the flowers. “Did you have a good talk?”
She leans down and places them in the built-in vase in Eric’s headstone. When she’s done, I hold out my hand to help her up, and she takes it, letting me pull her into my side.
“Yes.”
I press a kiss to the top of her head. “Good. He’d be so proud of you, baby. I think he would be most proud of the work you’ve done to forgive yourself and find the happiness you deserve.”
“I think so too,” she says quietly, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank you for saying it though. It makes it easier to believe.”
“Anytime, beautiful.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket, signaling an incoming text message, at the exact moment Sloane’s does.
We both sigh and pull them out, knowing the simultaneous notifications can only be coming from the group chat Mal started after we told her and Mama—who swore she knew something was going on with us—that we were getting married.
I unlock my phone and sure enough, there are multiple messages from her on the screen.
Mallory: This venue is perfect! You guys need to book it TODAY!
Mallory: Ugh. Nic, you didn’t have to send Chris. He doesn’t know anything about wedding venues.
Mallory: Are you guys on the way because if I have to spend another minute alone with this man, you’re going to be short a best man and maid of honor.
I roll my eyes and put my phone away while Sloane laughs and types out a response. Those two are the most confusing couple on earth. One minute they’re flirting and doing a shit job of hiding the fact they’re sleeping together, and the next Mal is acting like she wants to kill him.
I just hope they can get it together for the ceremony, because I don’t want my wedding to turn into a crime scene.
Sloane puts her phone away and grabs my hand, leading me down the path and back toward the car.
“Let’s get going before we have to postpone this wedding to help Mal beat a murder charge.”
“You sure you don’t want to elope?”
The sound of her laughter echoes around me, but it’s the smile she turns on me that stops my heart. I remember the days I used to pray for her smiles, and now I hope I never get used to her looking at me this way.
With the entire world in her eyes.
With love shimmering in dapples of gold.
With shadows and flames and the promise of a lifetime filled with the best kind of trouble.
The End