Page 43 of Between Love & Ruin

“No, it’s okay. You saw what happened last night. I don’t want a repeat episode of that. I’m already embarrassed enough that he talked to you like that.”

Now, I smile for real. I love that she’s concerned about me, even though I don’t need her to be.

“Don’t worry about me. You didn’t do anything, and I can handle guys like him easily. So, let me drop you. I insist.”

She chews on her lip, and I try my best not to stare.

She is such a tease without even knowing.

“Sure. If you insist.”

“After you.” I bow in front of her, and she chuckles.

And I realize how much I love hearing her laugh.

Music to my ears.

Sienna Hayes

Dominic Wolfe is hard to ignore. And even harder to resist.

Because last night, I had fully decided that I will keep my distance from him. I would be strict and reserved, but the moment we talked this morning, I got the idea that it would be really hard to do so.

I had convinced myself that Dominic was the problem, even though my heart knew that if anything, Dominic was the solution. To every single one of my problems.

I can’t even deny that ever since I came to New York, I’ve found a little bit of myself again. Back in Chicago, I was so wrapped up in my two-bedroom apartment that I had almost forgotten who I really was.

I had forgotten the old, bold version of myself who never let anyone put her down, let alone a man.

But being with a guy like Mark had really started to wear me down. I didn’t realize how slowly I had started to succumb and compress myself into the person he wanted me to be.

Coming here, away from him for a few days, gave me the much-needed break and reality check I didn’t know I needed.

Being around a man like Dominic made me realize something I already kind of knew: the guy I was dating was a total loser.

A misfit.

Mark was someone I once thought was my soulmate. For the longest time, he felt like exactly that. Until the honeymoon phase wore off and I started seeing him for the misfit he actually was. I had been settling for something I never wanted.

And still, I kept going, convincing myself that something was wrong with me.

But distance and time do things to you.

“So, did he say something to you last night?” Dominic asks, pulling me out of the thoughts consuming my mind and I realize that I had zoned out completely

“Not much,” I say, and he quirks a brow, making it known he doesn’t believe me at all. “I mean, yes, he said some stupid stuff. But I sort of kicked him out of my room, so, I guess, he didn’t get to say a lot.”

He whistles, and that brings a smile to my face.

I don’t think I have smiled or laughed this much with Mark as much as I do around this man who appears reserved to the world.

“Look, we are friends,” he says, and I give him a look. “Or I would assume we are, and as a supposed friend, I am saying this: you are too good to be with a man like him.”

So everyone keeps telling me. But hearing from him is another different story. Maybe because Dominic Wolfe is the definition of masculine in physical form, and yet he manages to be so…unlike the “men” you find these days. Honestly, it’s a relief.

If he was an asshole, it would be so difficult to work with him.

“I know. Everyone around me, which is just four people, keeps telling me the same thing.”