Chapter Eight
Evie:
The streetlights blur through my windshield as I drive towards my mom’s house for our regular Wednesday night dinner together, but my mind isn’t on the road.
It’s still back in Dominic’s bed where I’d been only a few hours ago, tangled in sheets that smell like him, lost in the feeling of him claiming me completely.
I still feel him. His touch, his scent, the way his voice rasped my name like I belong to him.
Because I do.
And that’s the part that scares me.
It was too much, too fast. Only twenty-four hours after I’d met him, I’d been in his bed, begging him to take my virginity and knock me up. Surely they are not the actions of a sane person? It shouldn’t matter how much my heart wants him. That is still reckless behavior.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, my stomach twisting. I don’t regret what happened. Not even for a second. But I am afraid of what it means. Of what happens next.
I’ve never let anyone get this close before. Never given anyone the power to hurt me. But with Dominic, I gave him everything with barely a second thought.
I think of my mom. Of the way my dad had walked away and never looked back. My mom had loved him so much, and for what? To be left behind? To be forced to pick up the pieces of a heart that no one bothered to protect?
The idea of ending up like that terrifies me.
I sigh as I pull onto her street, forcing myself to shake off the heaviness in my chest. I had considered canceling my plans tonight, considering the fact I’ve spent the last couple of hours sobbing.
But after the whirlwind that I’ve been swept up in over the last couple of days, I need something like this.
It’s our routine. It feels normal. Safe.
So I park in front of her house and step out of my car, wrapping my arms around myself to keep the evening chill at bay. The sky is streaked with the last remnants of sunset, the air crisp and cool. I take a steadying breath as I walk up the porch steps and ring the doorbell.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see it.
A sleek black car parked a few yards down the street.
My heart stutters.
Dominic.
I don’t even have to check the license plate to know it’s him.
He’s following me.
And instead of fear or irritation, a strange warmth spreads through me.
He’s here. Watching over me.
Even though I told him I need space, he still can’t bring himself to be far away.
I should be unnerved by it, but I’m not. It’s possessive and obsessive and completely Dominic. And, to my surprise, I like it.
The porch light flicks on, and my mom opens the door with a bright smile. “Evie! Come in, sweetie.”
I step inside, forcing myself to forget about the man sitting in his car outside. My mom kisses my cheek, then shuts the door behind me, leading me towards the kitchen.
The table is already set - salmon, roasted vegetables, and an open bottle of white wine. I slide into my usual chair, inhaling the familiar scent of home.
But even as I try to settle in, my mind keeps drifting back to the car outside. To Dominic.
To what it means that he’s here.
“So, what’s new with you, Evie?” Mom asks as she pours me a glass of wine.
I hesitate.
I’ve never been one to talk about guys with my mom. I’ve never had anyone worth mentioning before.
But now?
I take a slow sip of my wine. “I’ve met someone,” I tell her, before I can talk myself out of it.
Her eyes light up instantly. “Oh? Tell me everything!”
I let out a breathy laugh, not at all surprised by her enthusiasm. “It’s... complicated.”
She tilts her head, studying me. “Complicated how?”
I stare down at my plate, pushing my fork through the vegetables. “I like him,” I admit quietly. “A lot. But I’m scared.”
When I glance up at her, her expression has softened. “Scared of what, sweetie?”
I swallow. “Of getting hurt. Of... letting myself love someone, only to be abandoned.”
Understanding flickers across her face. She reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. “Evie, sweetheart... I know what happened between your father and I made you wary of love. But that’s not how it’s supposed to be.”
I bite my lip. “But how do you know that someone won’t hurt you? How do you trust someone not to leave?”
Mom smiles gently. “Because when a man truly loves you, he shows you. Every single day. He does everything in his power to protect your heart and make sure you feel safe with him. Is that something your new man does for you?”
My breath catches, and my mind flashes to the car outside. To Dominic, parked there in the dark, just watching over me.
He’s protecting me.
Maybe not in the way most men would, but in the best way he knows how.
A slow, aching realization settles deep in my chest.
Dominic isn’t like my dad. He’s not the type to walk away. If anything, he’s the type to never let go.
And maybe - just maybe - that’s exactly what I need.
I exhale softly, a small smile tugging at my lips.
My mom watches me carefully. “You love him, don’t you?”
I hesitate, then nod.
I love him.
And for the first time since Dominic bulldozed his way into my life and my heart, I feel at peace with it.