alone in the house.”
He can’t be serious. I sit up and stare at Dominic from across the room. “Now you don’t trust me? You know I’ve been throwing parties while you’re gone for a while now. Now that I’m eighteen, suddenly I need a babysitter?” I’ll admit my tone has a bit of sass, especially when we’d been doing so well…at least until my graduation when Micah showed up. I wasn’t expecting Dominic’s reaction. I especially didn’t expect him to react so coldly towards me. He’s barely spoken to me all week, only to ask if I’m hungry and to let me know when he’s leaving the house. It’s strange considering everything that happened prior to my graduation. It couldn’t be that he thought I wanted Micah to take his place in my life? Right? I mean I made that clear that day.
A sigh comes from deep in his chest, letting me know that his irritation is building. “It’s not about that. Quite frankly, if I knew that’s what you were doing, I’d be glad to leave you. But you’re not yourself. You haven’t been out since graduation. You don’t even see Kate.”
“I’m sorry, my mother died. Forgive me for not jumping to go to the mall and cruise for guys.” I scoff and move off the couch with every intention of leaving the room, but he grabs me by my forearm, stopping me in my tracks. His grip is firm but not painful, and I’m amazed at how his large hand completely wraps around my arm. I look up from his grip into his blue eyes that don’t look angry despite my asshole comment.
“I wasn’t saying that, Stassia.” He shakes his head and loosens his grip on my arm. “I’m just saying, I don’t want to leave you here alone…and I don’t necessarily want to be alone down there either. I was thinking maybe you could bring Kate? Or a few of your friends? I’ll stay out of your way, I promise.” I’m used to the Dominic that consistently goes round for round with me. A man that is equally stubborn and combative and always has to have the last word. I’m not used to this man that is practically walking on eggshells around me. That doesn’t completely bulldoze over me when I don’t want to do what he wants.
I mean it might be nice to get out of the house. What am I doing here that I can’t do in South Carolina? “Can I think about it? I’ll…talk to Kate.”
“Of course.” He finally lets me go, with a nod. “You let me know.”
I stifle a yawn before taking a long sip of my coffee. I could barely keep my eyes open because Dominic wanted to get on the road at the obscene hour of three a.m. and it is now two fifty-five a.m. I practically begged to fly instead of making the eight-hour trek, but Dominic said the drive would do us good. I’m already dreading the drive, especially since Kate managed to get herself grounded two days ago for sneaking her boyfriend into the house and letting him stay overnight in her room. Dominic even got involved, asking her parents if maybe they could let it slide and ground her when we got back. He argued that it had been a hard year for me and I’d like my best friend around. Kate’s mother is a close relative of the anti-Christ, so naturally, she said absolutely not before hanging up on Dominic.
So, now it’s just me and Dominic, which is fine. I don’t feel like having to entertain anyone anyway. Kate was the only person that would have been fine with a chill weekend. Any of my other friends would be rallying to get me drunk or trying to find guys to party with. I just want to be still. Lie on the beach, read a few books, maybe eat my weight in seafood. There is this hole in the wall taco bar just on the edge of the city that has these spicy shrimp tacos that can change a person’s life. I’m also hoping that things can go back to the way they were between Dominic and me. A time when we were truly getting along and leaning on each other for the support we both need.
“I’m sorry it’ll just be us,” he says as he loads my suitcase into the car and I climb into the front seat, along with a blanket and a pillow.
“It’s