Fourteen Dominic
Fourteen
Dominic
I wanted to kiss her.
And Teagan wanted it too. I saw it in her eyes.
But then she thought about what a kiss would mean—that this living, breathing thing between us isn’t over. It never was. It’s been buried by years of anger.
I don’t want to be angry at Teagan. It takes too much brainpower, but I’m also not going to stand by and let her put all the blame on me for the failure of our relationship. I could have handled things differently, but in the moment, I thought I was doing what was best. What her father asked for.
But you didn’t ask Teagan , my inner voice reminds me.
And there’s the rub.
I can’t go back and undo what I did. I can only move forward. I’ve been hired to be the face of the Phoenix Desert Smash and that’s what I’m going to do. Teagan’s animosity or wishy-washiness can’t get in the way of that. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t want her either, or that I don’t remember how explosive we were together. I could hardly keep my hands off her; today was no different.
She was in a sexy getup of leggings as tight as a second skin, molded to her soft curves. The top wasn’t any better. As we moved on the path, she’d abandoned her sweatshirt to reveal a sports bra, which showed the swell of her fantastic cleavage. I tried to make sure my tongue wasn’t wagging like a dog ready to pounce.
I rub my hand across my face and inhale sharply. Teagan has a way of getting under my skin. I acted unaffected when she pulled away and my kiss landed on her cheek. If that’s the way she wants to play it, I’m determined to do the same in the coming months before the tournament. It will be up to Teagan to change the rules.
* * *
Instead of focusing on our interlude, I visit my mom. I haven’t swung by in over a month. However, since I’m on hiatus, I’m making a determined effort to spend quality time with her and my sisters.
After leaving the park, I take my Bentley Bentayga SUV over to the house. When I arrive, I find my mom’s Porsche Cayenne sitting outside. Once I started making millions, I told her she didn’t have to work anymore. I give her a generous allowance. However, of late, my accountant has told me she’s been asking for more. I want to ask her what’s going on. I couldn’t do that when she hosted a crowd of people, but I can now. Besides, now is a good time; Ciera and Bliss should both be at school.
Turning off the ignition, I exit the vehicle and ring the doorbell to give her a heads-up before I use my key to enter the house.
I’m barely through the corridor when Mom comes from the direction of the kitchen. Her hand flies to her chest. “Dominic? What on earth are you doing here, and so early?”
“Good morning, Mom. Didn’t you hear the doorbell?” I walk over and press a kiss to her cheek. She’s dressed casually in yoga pants and a fitted short-sleeve shirt. “I finished a run at Papago Park and thought I’d come over and have a cup of coffee with you, if you’re free?”
“For you, of course!” she replies. “I’m not due at the spa until later this afternoon.”
I’d heard about her monthly spa and salon visits. Mom is racking up quite a tab. It’s one of the things I intend to talk to her about. I follow her to the kitchen with its white cabinets, contemporary lighting and a sleek waterfall island that spans the entire length of the kitchen.
Mom goes behind the counter to a built-in espresso machine underneath a stainless-steel microwave. “What are you in the mood for? Do you want an espresso or would you like a cappuccino or latte?”
I prefer my coffee black. “An espresso, please.” I take a seat on one of the suede bar stools at the island.
“Coming right up.” She pulls out a cup from an upper cabinet, places it under the machine and, after pressing a couple of buttons, the aroma of coffee wafts through the air.
“I’m happy you’re here. You’re always welcome, of course, but you could have called,” she says, sliding the cup of espresso my way.
I purposely wanted to catch her off guard. If I’d given her notice, she might have come up with an excuse as to why I couldn’t come over. This way, she’s forced to deal with me.
“Sorry about that,” I lie. “Are you having one?”
“No, Dominic. I’d like to know why you came. Because you’re not stopping by unannounced without a reason. You’ve always been about schedules, ever since you were little.”
I take a sip, savoring the taste before diving in. She’s right. I like everything being on point, which is why I hired my assistant, Micah.
“All right then, I’ve found out about your spending. Micah and the accountant informed me you’ve racked up quite a credit bill lately, with trips to salons, spas and designer boutiques. It has to stop.”
“C’mon, Dom. You’re being unreasonable. I have expenses that aren’t much different from anyone else in the neighborhood.”
“So all of this…” I motion around the house, which she’s redecorated since the last time I was here. It cost a quarter of a million dollars; I have the receipts to prove it. “This is all to keep up with the Joneses?”
She sighs dramatically. “You have no idea what it’s like, Dominic. People are always looking at me as if I don’t belong.”
“Seriously, Mom?” I ask incredulously. “Have you forgotten how hard it was for me to break into tennis as a Black man?” I motion down to my dark chocolate skin. “The stares, the whispers I endured to get to where I am. I’m beloved now, but that’s only because I had to earn it.”
“Of course I remember,” she replies. “I was right there with you, making sure they saw how good my son was. I busted my ass to ensure you got all the training and practices you needed, had the best coaches. Is it so much to ask to enjoy the fruits of the labor I helped you achieve?”
Why does she do this? Turn it all back on me. I know what she sacrificed. The late nights, the double shifts to ensure food was on the table for me and my siblings.
“No, it’s not too much to ask, Mom,” I say, “but I have done right by you all these years. As soon as I made my first million, I bought you, not me , a house. So you, Justice, Ciera and Bliss could have a home.”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts. You won’t make me feel bad. I’ve supported you since I went professional. You haven’t had to work. I pay the mortgage on this house, Ciera and Bliss’s private school fees, and you have a very generous allowance for personal expenses, but they are out of control. I can’t let it continue. I won’t be pro for much longer.”
Mom frowns. “What do you mean, are you retiring? You can’t! You still have several more years in you. Serena Williams played until she was nearly forty.”
“I’m not Serena, Mom, and I’ll choose when I’m ready to walk away.”
“I know, baby.” Mom’s voice softens. “I’m saying, don’t give up so soon.”
“I’m not, but I would be lying if I told you I’m completely fulfilled with tennis. I’m proud of my achievements and records, that I broke boundaries and allowed others to come behind me…”
“But you need something more?”
“Maybe.” I hadn’t intended on sharing my thoughts about leaving tennis with anyone, much less my mom. I feared she would push me to stay because she doesn’t want to give up the lifestyle she’s grown accustomed to.
“Is there, uh, a problem financially…?” Mom leaves the sentence dangling.
Just when I think she’s on my side and wants what’s best for me and how I feel emotionally, she brings this back to money. I want the mom I had growing up, who was a fearless protector. “No, Mom. I’m not running out of money. I’ve invested well and I’ve diversified, but that’s beside the point. I’m not being unreasonable asking you to curb your spending. You need to live within your means. My team knows I will not pay for anything beyond what you’re allotted each month. So you can stop asking.”
Her face mars into rage. “You would do that? You would leave me hanging when I have bills to be paid?”
“Yes,” I respond, finishing the rest of my espresso and setting the cup on the table. “You have everything you need. You’ve got this house, three cars, both Ciera and Bliss have their own vehicles, not to mention the vacation house in the Caribbean.”
“It’s where I take the girls on spring break. Are you going to stop supporting your sisters too? We’re in the last half of Ciera’s senior year, she’s going to have expenses from graduation pics, yearbooks, prom dresses, a school ring and more.”
I point my finger at her and rise to my feet. “Don’t you dare! You know I have always taken care of my sisters.”
Mom has the good grace to lower her head in shame, but when she glances up, there are tears shimmering in her brown eyes. I was wondering when the waterworks would turn on.
“I don’t know why you’re so angry with me, Dom. I’ve been a good mother. I’ve always been there for you. I show up to all your matches when the girls’ schedules permit.”
She does. Many times I’ve looked up to see Mom in the stands cheering me on. I walk over to her and pull her into my arms. I kiss the top of her head. She always gets me in knots. I love her, but I don’t want Ciera to get into these bad habits either.
I lean back so I can peer down at her. “You know I love you, right? And I’ve appreciated all your hard work and support all these years, but you know as well as I do that money doesn’t grow on trees. There’s not an endless supply.”
She sniffs and nods. “Fine.”
“You’ll agree to stay within budget?”
“You have the purse strings,” she responds, stepping away from me.
“Mom…”
“It’s okay, I’ll review my expenses and dial them back.”
“Thank you.”
“Was that the only reason you came?” she asked, glancing up at me.
It was, but now I feel bad, as if I’ve mortally offended her. “No. How about I take you to breakfast?”
Her face brightens. “I would love that.”
I know Mom isn’t perfect, but she’s all I’ve got. I never knew my father. He was out of the picture before I was born, and she raised me by herself with blood, sweat and tears. I take care of her because it’s a privilege to do so. Life has afforded me opportunities I never had growing up. Yet in the back of my mind, there’s still a niggle of discontent.
A feeling of wanting more.
Something that brings me purpose.
I’m hoping this time away from tennis competition brings me peace and the space to discover what comes next. But is that possible when the woman I’ve never been able to forget has resurfaced, when the passion between us hasn’t been extinguished?
I don’t know, but I suspect I’m about to find out.