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“Fine, but I want you to sit with me. And does everyone really need to be here? This is embarrassing, Dom,” she whispers back.
I have no idea why she’s embarrassed. I turn to my father and uncle. “Wait out in the living room.”
Dad looks from me to Lucy before shoving Uncle Josh out the door and closing it behind them.
THIRTY-TWO
I allowed the doctor to look me over—who, by the way, confirmed I was fine and agreed that I just got squeamish at the sight of blood. Then I chose to have a shower while he stitched up Dominic’s head.That, I did not need to see.
I don’t know how long I’ve been standing under the hot stream of water when the door opens and Dominic walks in. Reaching into the stall, he turns off the tap and wraps a towel around my shoulders. We don’t speak as he then proceeds to dry me.
“Let’s go to bed,” he says, taking my hand in his and walking me out of the bathroom.
“You’re still angry,” I comment.
“I was fucking terrified, Lucy.” He raises his voice, then forces himself to lower it again. “You put yourself in danger.”
“I needed to help my brother. Which we did, you know.”
“Your brother would have been fine without you doing what you did.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” I tell him, and I truly am sorry he got into a fight because of me. I flop down into bed while Dom climbs in on the other side.
“Do you really think I give a shit about myself? I don’t. I was worried about you.” He pulls me into his arms.
“I think we’re not good for each other,” I admit aloud for the first time.
“I know we’re not,” he says.
“Then why are we doing this?”
“Because I can’t give you up. I won’t give you up, so don’t ask me to,” he pleads.
“I won’t.”
He’s silent for a moment before he kisses the top of my forehead and sighs. “Go to sleep, Lucy.”
Snuggling into his chest, I close my eyes and let myself fall asleep with the beat of his heart sounding in my ear.
* * *
I wakeup to an empty bed. I shouldn’t be surprised, but considering we’re in his house, I have to admit that I kind of thought he’d still be here. Dominic walks into the room just as I’m sitting up.
“Where were you?” I ask.
“I went for a run,” he says, positioning himself on the edge of the bed. He leans down and kisses my forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Why do you smell like petrol?”
“I’m going to have a shower. I left some clothes for you in the closet. Get dressed. We’re going on that date today.” He pushes to his feet, totally ignoring my question, and walks away.
My phone buzzes on the bedside table and I pick it up. There’s a message from Shar.
Shar:
Have you seen this? It’s all over the news.
I click on the link she attached and it goes to a news article about the pub we were at last night. It got burnt down. The picture at the top shows the building on fire. I glance up at the bathroom door before dropping my eyes to the article again. Ten bodies were pulled out of the debris. Apparently all the exits were chained off and they couldn’t get out.
