9. Dominic
DOMINIC
M allory kicks off her knee-high boots that seem excessive for this kind of heat, and marches in like she’s on a mission. She spots me with Este in my lap on the couch, and her eyes pop open, grimacing as she grinds to a halt.
“Oh, shit,” I hear her mumble as her face reddens.
“It’s fine,” Este insists as Mallory slowly walks up to us. “I was just going to figure out dinner.” Este walks into the kitchen, and we both follow and sit down at the table. “Sit with us, Mal. Dom, you remember Mallory? My bestie and boss?”
Mallory is pretty, with thick, dark hair that reaches halfway down her back, and brown eyes hidden behind leopard-print cat-eye glasses that match the pencil skirt she’s wearing.
“Of course. Your BFF. Currently dating my friend, Jamie, who seems to be crazy for you, by the way,” I tell Mallory to her delight.
“Glad to know whatever I’m doing is working.” Mallory flashes me a smile as she goes to Este’s fridge and produces a bottle of white wine. I accept the glass she pours, and so does Este.
“I happen to feel the same about him,” Mallory adds. “I’m just here to lay eyes on my BFF and make sure she’s okay since she stopped answering my texts early this morning. I was worried.”
Este squares her shoulders. “Your BFF has been otherwise occupied, and as you can see, she’s in one piece.”
Mallory sends me a cautionary glance. “She’d better stay that way. Particularly, her heart.”
I reach out and entwine my fingers with Este’s. “Mallory, Este’s heart is safe with me. I have no intention of hurting her. And I wouldn’t get involved with a single parent if I wasn’t okay with it being a package deal, before you ask.”
Mallory nods, accepting my answer. “Alright. Well, occasionally, bestie, I’m going to need you to show up to work.”
Este laughs. “Girl, take a breath. I’ll be there bright and surly tomorrow morning.
” I wink at her jokingly. “After last night’s close call, I couldn’t sleep to save my life, so Dom came over this morning and we napped.
Not enough that I won’t crash at nine p.m., but I’ll be in tomorrow.
I was thinking of changing my schedule, so I have an easy Monday and Friday, and maybe work late Wednesdays or something. ”
Este parrots my schedule to Mallory, and I can’t hide how flattered I feel.
She’s making herself more available for me, and it ignites heat inside of me as I stare and take in her stunning features.
Este’s like the sun, and I’m the planet that longs to revolve around her.
I want to yank her clothes off and kiss her everywhere, but I sip my wine and try to stay calm.
Mallory rambles on about some multiple offer situation on a property she has listed for over a million dollars, and Este listens intently, asking the right questions at the right moments.
“I’ve got both the listing contract and the buyers on this one, but because you did most of the work, I’m giving you most of the check,” Mallory tells Este, who beams brightly and holds up her glass.
“Hell yes! I’ll cheers to that!” Este proclaims. We clink glasses. “It’ll bump up the balance of Reed’s college savings account! If she gets a scholarship for even the first two years, she’ll be set.”
“And that’s all you ever wanted for her. Plus, you didn’t have to sell your grandparents’ land to do it. Congratulations, Mama.”
Mallory smiles and proceeds to get teary-eyed, which makes Este misty too, and then they’re hugging and swaying in the kitchen as they cry together. I just sit back and sip my wine, letting the two friends have their moment.
Reed walks in somewhere in the middle of all this and asks me why everyone is crying, like I can even begin to articulate the answer. I just shrug while Reed joins them.
“Your college is funded if you go to Florida,” Este whispers, and then Reed starts sobbing.
I’m utterly useless in this situation, except to refill their wine glasses quietly and stay out of their way as they have this moment together.
When they break apart, Reed looks up at her mother. “Mom, can I have a tiny glass of wine?”
Este sizes her up, and Reed gives her best innocent expression, which works. Este smiles and grabs another glass. She pours maybe three ounces of the fruity liquid into the cup and pulls out Reed’s chair at the table.
“A toast to no college loans,” Mallory says, holding up her glass.
“To our last year under the same roof,” Este adds as her eyes well up again.
“To you, Mom. All your hard work. Your sacrifices. Being both Mom and Dad the last few years, and honestly, being both roles for most of my life. Thank you,” Reed finishes.
We all clink glasses with a “cheers!” Though I feel out of place, I pause to take it all in. It’s a special moment I’m privy to, and it’s an honor being in the same kitchen as this little family of three.
“What do you want for dinner?” Este asks Reed as the sixteen-year-old slowly sips her fruity wine.
I like that Este has allowed Reed to have some in the safety of her home, under her watchful eye.
Back when I was sixteen and raising hell, my drinking habits were already excessive and harmful.
It was “forbidden fruit,” and any teenager knows that what’s off-limits becomes a lot more appealing just by being against the rules.
I don’t have issues with alcohol anymore, but it had played a part in a few poor decisions when I was barely older than Reed.
“Breakfast for dinner!” Reed says this with such enthusiasm that we all laugh, and I glance at Este before I offer, “How about you ladies enjoy your wine while I make the breakfast-dinner? What’s your specialty, Este?”
“Fried, diced rosemary potatoes, scrambled eggs, and bacon.” Reed fills me in, and I nod, confident I can cook the hell out of those things. It feels great to be part of their beloved tradition.
“I promise to do my best to live up to your mama’s signature dishes,” I tell Reed, who consents with a nod.
Este helps me find all the various spoons, spatulas, bowls, and whisks I’ll need to make dinner; she tells me I don’t have to cook, but I pop open another bottle of wine and pour her a glass.
“Put your feet up, honey,” I demand, which catches Reed’s attention. She looks our way at the same second Este tiptoes and presses her lips to mine briefly, almost chastely.
Reed blinks a few times as if she’s seeing something unusual. She pivots her attention back to Mallory and tells her all about her upcoming summer camp while I dice potatoes and throw bacon on the griddle.
It takes about twenty minutes to whip up a dinner that gets everyone’s stamp of approval; most importantly, Reed’s. She asks what I put on the potatoes.
“Lots of rosemary, paprika, and chives. You like?”
“I love.” Reed grins as she spoons another bite into her mouth and closes her eyes.
Este’s hand rests on my knee, rubbing it through my jeans, which brings a smile to my face.
I never expected to be allowed to meet Reed so soon, and being welcome here at Este’s table with her family isn’t something I take for granted.
Something deep inside me knows that I’m only here because another man isn’t any longer, and I realize how much trust she is placing in me.
I’m going to live up to it.