“I don’t need you.” My voice is barely above a whisper—so weak I don’t believe it myself.
Dominic moves closer, his hand brushing against mine where it grips the counter. It’s a featherlight touch, but it sends shockwaves through me. “Maybe not,” he murmurs, his voice low, but rough enough to make me shiver. “But I need you, Ellie. And I’m not sorry for it.”
“Scottie, please stop crying.
Her tear-filled eyes get closer to the screen. “You almost died!
I sigh, running a hand through my hair, still damp from the shower I took to calm my nerves. “I did not almost die! My car is fucked, but nothing happened to me, okay? I’m fine. I already have a rental. The cops are on it. And Dominic is here…” I trail off quietly, hoping she didn’t really hear it.
Scottie narrows her eyes, suspicion cutting through her tears. “Dominic? Can you repeat that? I’m not sure I heard you correctly. You said Dominic, right?” Her tears are practically nonexistent now, replaced with a knowing smile.
I groan, already regretting mentioning him. “I don’t know why I tell you anything.”
Scottie giggles, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “Wait, wait, wait. So, you’re telling me you’re holed upwith Dom, who’s, what, sleeping on your couch now? Or, wait—your bed? Is he just wandering around without a shirt on?”
I huff. “Focus. He’s not walking around without a shirt. He’s overreacting, and annoyingly making himself right at home.”
“Wait! He’s there right now?”
I toss my head back, exhaling loudly. “Have you been listening to me?! Yes, he’s here! He won’t leave.”
The phone crashes, causing the image to distort, but I can still hear her. She’s in a fit of laughter.
A few seconds pass before the phone gets pick back up and her face fills the screen.
“Sorry! I lost my shit for a minute there.”
My eyes roll. “No, really? I couldn’t tell.”
She leans closer to the screen, her dramatics fully back. “How am I supposed to focus when you have a whole romantic movie situation brewing over there? What’s next? You’re forced to share a bed and one thing leads to another?”
“Scottie.”
“I’m serious, Elle. If he ends up in your bed, I’m going to need all the details!” She thinks for a moment. “Well, maybe notallthe details, but you know what I mean.”
I let out an exasperated laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “That won’t be happening.” It feels good to laugh, even when the cause is Scottie’s wild imagination.
She smirks. “Yeah, sure. Remind me to text Ariana and Layla so we can get another bet going.”
“Not you too. Why is everyone betting on us? It’s embarrassing.”
“You know what they say,” she sings. “Only bet on a sure thing.”
Before I can retort, her expression shifts, her playful tone gone in an instant. Her voice mellows, cracking slightly. “But seriously, Elle. You need to promise me you’ll stay safe. It could be nothing—just a couple crappy kids—but what if it’s not? Promise me you’ll be careful. Maybe I should drop out of the show and come stay with you for a bit.”
My chest knots at the worry in her cloudy blue eyes. I blink quickly and look away. “I know. I promise, I’m being careful. I’ll call you every day if it’ll make you feel better. But you can’t drop everything—you’ve worked too hard for this show.”
She pauses, clearly torn. “Fine. But if anything else happens, I’m on the next flight.”
I smile faintly. “Deal.”
She points a finger at the camera. “And don’t think this gets you out of keeping me updated on the Dom situation. I have a very specific interest in this subplot.”
I laugh, my heart feeling lighter for the first time all day. “Goodbye, Scottie.”
“Bye babe, love you,” Scottie blows a kiss, winking before the screen goes dark.
Releasing a breath, I set my phone down and lean backagainst the headboard. My gaze flicks toward the door—Dominic is probably still downstairs, wide awake, keeping watch.
