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“Dominic, I don’t need you to rescue me from a stupid high school boy.”
“Ah, so there was someone.” He points at me before putting his hand back on the steering wheel.
“I can handle it.”And I can. I don’t need Dominic charging in on his white horse because a boy hurt my feelings.Especially when I’m struggling with the thought that maybe I deserved some of his anger.Had I led him on?
“Of course, you can. You can handle anything life throws at you. Just know I’m in your corner if you need me.”
My nose flares like it does when I feel tears coming on but I swallow them down before I can feel that familiar prickle in my scalp. “Can we order pizza when we get home?”
He’s silent for a moment. “So, am I just supposed to pretend you aren’t under the influence of something?”
I freeze in my seat and look around the car, hoping there’s some sort of hint for how to answer his question. “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘ignorance is bliss?’”
“Stassia Rae.” His voice is stern but I can hear the humor in it.
“I smoke sometimes. Well, more than sometimes,” I confess.
“I know.”
I gasp. “You know? Did Mom know?”
He shakes his head. “Not that I know of.”
I’m shocked at his answer and even more shocked he didn’t ground me for the rest of my life. “How come you didn’t bust me?”
“I haven’t known for very long. Maybe a few months and then…your mom died, and I didn’t think it was fair to take away something that gave you some peace or relief. That’s probably really shitty parenting. I smoked a ton in college, so I figured even if I did get on you for it now, you’d be right back at it in a few months,” he explains as he pulls into the driveway. He turns the car off but makes no move to get out. “I’m navigating this new norm as best as I can so I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes without your mother’s guidance, but I hope you know I’ll always do right by you.”
“I know.”
“Okay, so pepperoni and green peppers?” he asks in response to my need for pizza.
Dominic went to bed after I got settled and my food arrived, but I, on the other hand, was wide awake and uncomfortably full after eating my weight in pizza. After spending far too much time scrolling through Instagram and watching my entire class get wasted at Carter’s, I decided I was over it. Kate had texted that she would call me in the morning because she wanted to hearmy sideover what happened which means the Stassia Vale slander had already begun. I’m thinking most won’t give a fuck, or at very least will agree with me that he was acting like a big baby with a bruised ego because I didn’t want to be his girlfriend. But I’m sure his boys have been in his ear that I fucked him over.
It’s nearing midnight when I settle on watchingScreamfor the hundredth time. I love scary movies. I love the flip in your stomach that comes with watching one. Of course, I’ve long lost that flip with this movie with how many times I’ve seen it. But that doesn’t stop the hairs on the back of my neck from standing on end when something spooks me. I dart my head up off the couch and look behind me towards the kitchen area, but I don’t see anything. I squint, to try and see into the darkness behind me before shaking my head.
I’m totally tripping from that weed. We have a top of the line alarm system and Dominic made sure every window and door is locked every night. I turn back to the TV and just when I’ve settled back under the blankets, I hear someone right behind me.
“BOO!”
I almost fall off the couch with how high I jump, and I scream so loud, I wouldn’t be surprised if the neighbors show up to see if we’re alright. I turn around to see Dominic doubled over in laughter.
“Are you kidding!?” I scream as I try to slow my racing heart by rubbing my chest.
“I’m sorry, Stassi, it was justtooeasy. You should have seen your face when you were peeking over the couch.” He moves around the couch and drops to the space where I was just lying and props his leg up on the table in front of us. “Why are you watching a slasher movie by yourself at midnight?”
“I’m not scared, and I love this movie.” I place my hands on my hips.
He narrows his eyes and points at me. “You’re scared.”
“Yeah, I’m scared of you sneaking up on me! Who wouldn’t be?”
“Aww,” he pulls me to sit next to him and pinches my cheek. “Poor baby.”
I push away from him despite the fact that he’s warm and comforting and I wouldn’t mind cuddling up against him. “Not funny.”
“It was a little funny,” he chuckles as he puts his thumb and index finger together.
“No.”
