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"She lived in Paris for a few years and kept saying that she can't find good quiche here, but I think she'd love yours." I was rambling now. I didn't understand why I was so nervous. "You're not going to eat?" I asked when he made no move to grab a bite.
"No, I'm not hungry. I'll just have it for breakfast."
I stared at him. "You cooked all this for me?"
"Reese, why do you keep acting so surprised that I like to do things for you?"
"I don't know. I didn't think... never mind."
The silence stretched between us for a few seconds before he said, "When you’re ready to talk about it, just know you can. I'm here for you."
"Thanks."
For some reason, I kept expecting this night to take a turn for the worse, for him to make a sly comment about me leaving or to only consider this night a onetime thing. I'd always been a worrier and overthinker, but even for my standards, I was extra anxious tonight.
I was gun-shy after my past relationship, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But Dom hadn't done anything to deserve this, and I needed to stop anticipating the worst.
"So, you mentioned that you gather at your aunt and uncle's. How often do you do that?" he asked.
"It depends. Since all my cousins and my sister have a better half, and even have kids, we don’t get together regularly. But I’m very close to everyone. My aunt and uncle are like my parents in a way.”
“How come?”
Instead of simply saying, “Because we’re close,” other words poured out of me, ones I didn't usually share with anyone outside my family.
"After Mom passed away, Dad couldn't really deal, to be honest. He used work as an escape, putting all his effort into expanding the chain of bookstores. My grandmother and aunt and uncle practically raised Kimberly and me."
“But things are okay between you now?”
"Oh yes, of course. As I said, he lives in London, so we aren't as close as I'd hoped we'd be, but we do talk a lot, and visit. I've asked him to send me pics of my half sister once a week so even though I'm not there, I can at least see her grow up."
Dom was suspiciously silent. I eyed him carefully. "What?"
"Nothing. I don't think I've ever met someone who's been through a tough spot with their parents and doesn't hold one bit of resentment."
I shrugged. "He did the best with what he had. It's not like he woke up every morning and thought, 'Let's find a way to screw up my girls.' And I think older generations weren't as open to therapy. After my spectacular failure with the marriage, I knew I couldn’t cope on my own."
Dom moved around the counter until he was right in front of me. "Let's get one thing straight, Reese. The fact that your ex slept with your best friend is not your failure."
"Mm," I said noncommittally, putting a hand to my stomach. Talking about this was never easy.
"There's something to be said for decency. When you don't want to be in a relationship anymore, you can be honest about it and break up, not cheat. There are better ways of getting out of a relationship, ones that don't include destroying the other person."
I wasn't sure if he was talking about me or him. I put a hand on his chest, drawing my fingers in small circles over his torso. He was tense, but I could practically feel his muscles relax under my touch.
"You're right," I said softly.
He pressed his thumb against my cheek. "Don’t think that something you did led to that bastard cheating on you or your best friend betraying you. I've only known you for a hot minute, but I already know you're a wonderful person, Reese. That guy was an idiot. That's all on him."
I dipped my head, smiling slightly. "Thank you for saying that."
"You're welcome. Are you done eating?"
"Yeah. It was delicious."
He laughed and then, without warning, lifted me in his arms, one under my knees and the other around my back. I instinctively put both arms around his neck, snuggling close.
Holy shit. I feel like I'm in a movie.
