Chapter 50
A few weeks later, I’m putting the finishing touches on a scene between my two main characters, waiting for Dom to pick me up. It’s Hazel’s third birthday party tonight. Isla and Benny invited us both to come celebrate with the rest of their friends at a beachfront barbeque. I’m excited to see Dom’s group of friends again. They’ve started to feel like real friends to me too over the last couple weeks.
Just as I close my laptop, there’s a knock at the back window. I glance up to see Rex standing outside.
I shove myself away from the table and slide the door open, already annoyed.
“Dom is picking me up any minute,” I tell him. “Where’s Juju?”
“Working. I was just hoping we could talk.” He looks annoyed at the mention of Dom’s name. “Alone.”
“Honestly, Rex, there’s nothing left to talk about. You’re with Juju now, and I’m more than happy with Dom. Unless you’re wanting cat custody of Toby back in New York, which you’re very much not allowed to have, then we don’t have anything left to say.”
“You haven’t returned any of my texts lately.” He has the audacity to look hurt.
“Why would I? And I never pegged you for a cheater, so you better stop whatever this is you’re trying to do before you become one.” He’s sent me three more texts telling me that he misses me. I haven’t replied to a single one. “Emotional cheating is still cheating, so knock it off.”
“Can we just find a time to talk then?” He sounds a bit desperate.
“No, Rex. I’m not interested in talking anymore. Sorry.”
He looks like I’ve just slapped him across the face.
“Hey there, guys!” We both spin around toward Dom, who’s walking into my front door.
“Hey, man,” Rex says when he reaches the lanai. Then he gives Dom a firm hand-slap, handshake bro-thing. “I hear you’re taking my girl out tonight.”
My girl? What the fuck, Rex?
Dom clears his throat, frowning, as an awkward silence follows. “I don’t think there’s anything about Liv that could be considered yours anymore, Rex. No offense.” He sounds calmer than I feel.
I laugh louder than I should to break the tension Rex has just created. I want to say, Oh fuck off, Rex, but I’m smart enough to keep the tension low. Dom has a long fuse, but it seems to be running out when it comes to my ex.
I punch him on the arm. “I think the whole world knows I’m not your girl anymore. Most specifically this guy here.”
I smile at Dom. He rocks back on his heels and pushes his lips together, staring down at the deck. Rex narrows his eyes at me, but I turn to Dom.
“You ready?” I ask him. “I know I am.”
“I’m so ready.” Dom smiles coolly at Rex. He wraps an arm around my shoulder, leading me away, and shuts the sliding door behind us.
From the look on Dom’s face, it occurs to me that he got exactly what he said all guys want at the very beginning. If this was a duel between Rex and him for my affection, Dom has clearly won.
When we get in the car, he turns to me after starting the engine. “You can stay at my place from now on. Or, if you’re not ready for that, I’m putting you in one of my hotels. There’s no reason for you to be back at this rental with him anymore.”
I let this new information sink in. “You own hotels too?” Despite Abby’s pleas, I never read more about him on the internet, knowing everything I needed to know would come out naturally, like this. But it doesn’t slow the shock I feel knowing this guy also owns the hotel chains on the island too.
“I just didn’t think you’d want to be stuck in a hotel room for weeks at a time. But if you’re more comfortable with that, instead of staying with me, then I’m happy to—”
I lean over and smother his lips with mine, stopping any more words from coming out.
“I don’t mind going back and forth, keeping things at the townhouse, but I’m at your place practically every night anyway, at least until Quinton and Selma get here for their vacation. I’ll go back to the rental when they arrive. I don’t care if it’s only a night or two before I fly back to New York by that point. I can handle myself with Rex. I’m just sick of looking up to see him staring at me through that window every time he’s around.”
“I should just kick him out of that place right now. Fucking asshole.”
Dom looks genuinely pissed for the first time since that drunk guy at Cliff’s tried taking a video of me, like he can’t stand to think of me around Rex for one more second.
“You really don’t need to worry about me with Rex.” I hold his hand tighter. “Trust me. Even before you came into the picture, I was so done with him.”
He studies my face. “Just let me kick him out so you’re rid of him for good.”
I imagine Rex getting kicked to the curb, trying to find a last-minute flight back to New York, where he doesn’t even have an apartment to go back to, as far as I know.
I purse my lips. “It’s fine.”
He laughs, finally giving in. “Fine. I get it. Let’s just have a good time tonight celebrating my goddaughter.”
I point to the almost-life-size pink unicorn stuffy in the backseat. “Is that what you’re giving Hazel?” I already know the answer. “I can’t wait to watch her face — and Isla’s — when you walk into the party with that thing.”
“That and a matching pony ride down the beach for the birthday girl. I asked the stable company to dress their cutest pony up to match the stuffed unicorn, with a fake pink horn and everything. Isla and Benny are going to die when they see it. There will be a photographer there to capture it for them.” He breaks into a grin.
“I never pegged you for such a softy.” I squeeze his hand. Then I kiss him with everything I have left in me. And I’m thrilled to not have to go back to that rental, next to my ex, alone — at least for a while.