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Lulu was another neighborhood girl. We’d been friends for years, but she was the complete opposite of me. She wore bows, and her hair was always perfectly curled. When we were younger, she played in dresses and was always trying to pull me away from the boys to play house or Barbies. At sixteen, I wasn’t climbing trees anymore, but Lulu was still the kind of girl that most boys in our grade gravitated to.
“Stop it, Val, you know we’re meant to be together.”
What had started as a tingle now felt like a full-on blaze about to ignite my entire body. Dom was finally being straight with me and I couldn’t stop hope from sprouting.
“We’re sixteen.”
He tucked one strand of my hair behind my ear. “And you’ll be my wife someday. You just have to let me conquer the world first. Promise.”
Our eyes locked, and all I wanted was for him to seal his promise with a kiss. Just as I hoped, our faces drew closer and our breathing was the only sound I heard.
“How could you ever think I like Lulu?” He smirked right before his lips brushed mine.
His tongue slid along my seam and I opened, allowing him to enter. The kiss became more intense, and soon my back was flat on the bed and Dom was half on top of me, his hand about to slide up my shirt.
“Is this okay?” he asked before touching my breast.
I arched my back and nodded to grant him permission.
My Best Friend’s Wedding played in the background as we explored each other’s bodies. Dom raced upstairs to retrieve a condom from his bedroom and then we took off our bottoms. I didn’t look when he put it on, and I still had my shirt on as he slowly pushed inside me. He kissed me to drown out my pain, and for a moment, the painful sensation was masked by my love for him.
It was awkward and sloppy, but it felt magical all the same. Because anything that involved the two of us was always good.
He stayed with me until sunrise, when we heard his dad getting up for work. His lips landed on mine, and he acted as though it tore him to shreds to leave the bed.
Later, I told his ma that I’d gotten my period in order to explain the sheets and she gushed over me to make sure I was okay. I’m not sure what Dom did with the condom. I never asked.
At breakfast that day, Carm played Duck Duck Goose with Blanca even though none of us got up to chase them. My eyes caught Dom’s, but then we’d look away from each other. I was certain of one thing when I left the Mancinis’ that weekend—I’d wait forever if it meant having Dominic Mancini.
Dom’s feet slowly stop, pulling me back to the present like a bucket of cold water. He releases me as though he didn’t realize himself that I was still in his arms.
“Whoa. You guys are good,” Luca says, pretending to do what we did.
Mauro yawns and stretches. “I’m hungry.” He barrels up the stairs without another word.
Dom turns off the music and stuffs his phone into his pocket. “There you go, Luca.”
“I’m not sure I’ll do as well as you guys, but…”
I walk over to Luca, happy for the distance from Dom. “Just love her out there and your feet will do the work. If all anyone sees is the love between the two of you, they’re not watching whether your footsteps are right.”
“Thanks.” Luca stares over my shoulder at Dom. “I never would’ve guessed that you’d be one to sink.”
“Sink?” The heaviness in Dom’s voice almost sounds like he wants to say fuck off.
“You’re drowning in love. It’s great to see.” Luca smiles then nods toward the stairs. “Ma made some food. Want to join us? I eat when I’m nervous.”
“Give us a minute,” Dom says, putting up his finger.
“Sure.” Luca barrels up the stairs with Cristian in tow.
I try to keep my eyes focused forward when I hear his footsteps growing closer.
“You okay?” Dom’s hands land on my shoulders.
I desperately want to lean back, assured that his strength will keep me up, but I force myself to stay upright. “I’m fine.”
“You look like you saw a ghost.” He’s quiet and his hands run up and down my biceps.
“Just memories.” I turn around, but his hands stay on my arms as he peers down at me.
“What memories?”
I can’t take us down memory lane. We can’t afford to get lost there. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
I walk toward the stairs, but he grabs my hand, pulling me back to him. “Valentina, what is it?”
I shake my head. “All this pretending brings up a lot of stuff from the past at the same time as it brings reality to the forefront. Come on.”
I tug and he follows, letting us pretend that any feelings we might have for one another are all part of the façade. That’s the thing about Dom—he’ll never let me see his vulnerability. It’s always been the one part of him I can count on.
