A blush quickly heats my cheeks. I take a quick steadying breath and look over his frame. “You look pretty good yourself, Peggy. Though I may miss the way your apron fits so snugly on you,” I say, schooling my attraction with a joke, but in all honesty he looks…irresistible.
He’s wearing his typical all black attire, but upgraded to a fitted pair of slacks that hug his muscular thighs. His tucked in black button down accentuates his tapered waist and wide shoulders. With his sleeves rolled up I take a moment to appreciate his tattooed forearms and strong hands.
He tentatively extends a palm up to me in offering, a playful gleam in his eye. His happiness soothes my anxiety and I put my hand in his as he leads us to our table. He pulls out my chair and tucks me in as I sit, his fingertips grazing my shoulders ever so slightly. As he settles in, I take in the feast before me.
“May I take you on a tour of flavour?” Dominic asks with a bemused raised eyebrow.
“Please, my palate is patiently waiting.” I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table as he gestures to a plate of cured meats and fruits.
“Antipasti,” he begins, then gestures to another plate. “Bruschetta.” He gestures to the last plate, a pasta dish. “Ossola styled gnocchi with a sage butter sauce.” A tone of pride exudes from his voice as he labels each dish. I sit back, a little astonished at the decadency at my fingertips.
“Dom, this is amazing. Y-you made all this? For me?” I ask incredulously, feeling a light flutter in my belly.
His gaze lowers to the table as he smiles shyly.
“Right down to the last gnocchi.” His eyes trail slowly up to meet mine, and for the first time I see all his walls crumbling away. He’s showing me not just a new side to him, but that all the sides are blown to smithereens. No judgments or hiding behind sarcastic comments, just Dominic, showing me exactly how he feels through his cooking.
“I’m speechless Dom. May I start before it gets cold? I can’t wait to taste it,” I say, proud of his effort no matter the palate. He gestures for me to begin before adding to his own plate. I copy his movements. I sink my fork into a delicate and fluffy piece of gnocchi. Flavour bursts across my tongue. Sage, chestnut, and nutmeg flood my senses. I close my eyes and savour every bite. It’s one bite, I’m aware, but myGod, wars have been started over less.
“I didn’t put you to sleep already did I, Hoot?” he asks in a calm and soothing tone so jarring compared to his regular rough-edged mocking that my eyes pop open.
I smile at his expression and cover my still chewing mouth with my hand. “Just relishing in this flavour. Gnocchi-ding–this is the best food I’ve ever had.” I elongate the “no-kidding” pun to really deliver my dad level jokes. He smiles at my terrible pun, the edges of his mouth pulled so high the happiness reacheshis eyes. It’s his best smile yet and I reach out over our small cafe-made-dinner-table and rest my hand lightly on his cheek needing to physically feel his happiness.
“I have to confess something,” I say, my hand still on his cheek, my gut threatening to spill out the butterflies that won’t settle. I feel my pulse radiate from my heart down into my palm and I’m positive he can feel it.
“Me first,” he interjects, laying his hand over top of mine. He turns his head into my palm without breaking eye contact and lays a small and too-brief kiss there. Sparks spread throughout my chest, into my veins, sending a zing of giddiness right down to my toes. He pulls my hand in his, resting it atop the table and I relish in the warmth still radiating from his touch. He takes a deep inhale and slowly releases the breath as he looks directly into my eyes, his thumb absentmindedly sweeping across the back of my hand. I smile at the small gesture.
“Celeste…I’m so bad at this but bear with me.” He smiles in spite of himself and takes another fortifying breath. He quickly shuffles his chair around so he’s sitting right beside me instead of across the table, never letting go of my hand.
“I’m not good at this because I haven’t had to do this before. I haven’t felt these things before, for anyone. The first moment I saw you walk into the cafe I knew you were meant for my heart. You radiated sunshine and happiness even before you first spoke to me. Then you opened your mouth and you were this witty, funny, and crazy smart woman. While I might not meet every expectation or bullet point on your list, I want to try and be enough. For you.” He takes a tentative pause, as if trying to read my expression.
I feel ashamed. And regretful. I immediately hate that I ever broughtThe Listup to him or that he thinks he needs to meet an unrealistic expectation. I don’t want him to stop talking though,so I try as hard as I can to keep my face open and free of self-disdain.
“Celeste, I’m so fucking in love with you.”
I can’t stop the small gasp as my whole body reacts to those words. My heart stills in my chest and my brain eddies of all prior thoughts. All I can do is look into his eyes, at his face, at Dominic. This man. Who lovesme.
“Everyone wakes when the sun rises but Hoot, youare my sun. My being revolves around your glow, and I bask in your beautiful soul. You have given me a view on life I didn’t have before, and my God, was my world bleak before I met you. I want to pursue my dreams and cook for you because I know you would support me in that.”
I give a little nod in agreement, still unable to form words.
“I want to be there for you too, Celeste. I know you already know that you deserve it all, but maybe you don’t realize you don’t need to prove it. You’re allowed to be abundantly happy without having to explain why you deserve it. To anyone. Even me. And I want to support you in every goal you have, through medical school, or even finding the right person for you if I’m not what you want.” Dominic trails off and I suck in oxygen trying to get him to back pedal.
I begin to shake my head no but then blurt out, “I’m in love with you too!”
“W-what?” he asks, looking astonished.
“Dominic, I’m in love with you.The Listwas stupid and unfair and…” I don’t know how else to explain that I don’t want him to feel pressured to be something that he isn’t.
But I don’t have to. Before I can formulate another sentence Dominic’s hands reach out to hold either side of my face just before his lips crash onto mine. There’s no hesitancy in his movements, but his lips are soft and tender in their touch. His tongue finds the seam of my lips and I part for him,our tongues tentatively exploring this newfound heat. My hand wraps around his shoulder as I weave my other hand through his hair. We both pull away a moment later, with puffy lips and quick breaths.
I look at him with wide eyes. “Only ever kiss me like that,” I whisper. He chuckles low and deep, sending shivers down my spine.
“That should have been our first kiss,” he says, pulling back to sit fully in his chair, his hand holding mine atop his thigh. I bite my bottom lip, my fingertips straining to explore more of him. The heat in his eyes tells me he wants to explore as badly as I do.
“We have lots of other firsts to cross off our list,” I say, a little giggle escaping me because this reality seems so different to where I expected it to go tonight.
“No!” Dominic barks a laugh. “No more lists, Hoot!” His smile is nothing but perfection. Every crinkle shaping his face into complete joy has my heart exploding inside my chest.
