at least going to tell me what happened with Dominic?” She asked.
I scuffed my shoes against the hospital floor. It still hurt to talk about it.
“He…cheated on me…and got the girl pregnant.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened.
“It’s ok, I’m fine. I was lucky enough to have everyone there with me when it all went down. It hurts, but that was just the hand I was dealt.”
Mom gave me one of her big smiles, wrapped her arms around me to give me a hug and said, “I’m sorry, baby girl. Just remember everything happens for a reason. We just have to pick ourselves up, and look on the bright side of life.”
I shrugged. While it still hurt, I was grateful Hunter helped to ease the pain away. If he hadn’t been there, it would have been a lot worse.
Mom and I visited with Jackson, Chloe, and Alex for a little while before the rest of the family started showing up. Chloe really hoped her parents would show, but Jackson didn’t seem to think they would. Once she had told them she was pregnant, they had completely cut her off.
Before we left, I asked mom if she would do something with me. She agreed, of course, not even knowing what I was going to ask. I asked a nurse where Dominic’s room was to finish what needed to be finished.
“Why is Dominic in here?” My mom asked.
I didn’t know if I should tell my mom the story or not, but I was sure she would have put two and two together anyway.
“Hunter got into a disagreement with him on Thanksgiving. I didn’t know he was here until yesterday I want to give him closure so he can get over this. He has a kid to think about now, you know?”
She smiled. “I’m so proud of the young lady that you’re becoming. You make your dad and me so proud.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Mom waited outside Dom’s room. His mom sat near his bed. Dom didn’t look great. Two black eyes, a broken arm, and stitches on the bridge of his nose and above his eyes.
Dominic’s mom excused herself from the room.
“Good luck.” She said to me on the way out.
Dominic didn’t look at me. He turned away as best he could. I regretted coming.
I took a seat and let him be in silence. I had no idea what I wanted to say.
His voice was low. “I’m sorry, MacKenzie. I didn’t mean for this to happen to us. I never wanted to hurt you. You were my everything.”
“I know.” I said, barely above a whisper.
“When I left home, I was so excited to be on my own and with you in the same building every day. As the first few weeks passed, things changed. I started drinking almost every day, and going to parties with the guys. I didn’t really think about anything other than that. Then the girls started throwing themselves at me. I got careless. I don’t remember what happened. I came back the night after your brothers’ surprise party, and she started flirting with me. Things got out of hand. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
I nodded. He sighed.
“I told her it couldn’t happen again. She was pissed and said I was only using her. We had a big fight, and I haven’t talked to her since. When you said you needed your space, I knew I had to give it to you or I would lose you. During our time apart, I realized what I had and I wanted you…forever. That is when I realized I wanted to marry you. I figured if I could get you to agree to marry me, then we could get over what I did.”
How could he think that? Did he think I would just look the other way?
He reached for my hand. “When I showed up at that party and she told me she was pregnant, I knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I didn’t even care about my football career anymore. All I cared about was you. I knew I had hurt you and that was the last thing I had wanted. You were always there for me, cheering me on.”
The tears started. As much as I had wanted to be strong, I couldn’t prevent them anymore.
He rubbed his thumb over my ring finger. “I still love you, MacKenzie. I think I always will, but I know I need to let you go. I know you are in good hands. Just look