Chapter Thirteen

I’m going through my closet, pulling out my top two dress picks before I turn to face Gabby. As soon as I told her I was going on a date with Dom, she insisted on coming over, stating I couldn’t pick a proper date outfit alone which was kind of insulting, but one hundred percent Gabby. I know she can be a lot sometimes, and she’s definitely a friend you need in doses, but she’s really all I have in this life, or at least all that’s left.

“Okay, what do you like better?” I ask Gabby.

She glances up from her phone and smirks.

“They’re both black, babe.”

“Yeah, so?”

She shakes her head as she tosses her phone down.

“That one,” she says, pointing to the off-the-shoulder black lace cocktail dress that hugs everything just right.

“Perfect.” I smile as I slip it on, pairing it with a pair of black pumps.

My hair is already curled, but I run my fingers through it to give it a more relaxed look before I finish swiping on my red lipstick. Normally I don’t care about makeup or dresses, honestly, but Dom is taking us to the nicest seafood restaurant in town. The waitlist is usually something crazy, like a year, no clue how he got reservations, but I’m not complaining!

My phone buzzes on the dresser, and I grab it quickly, disappointment fluttering in my chest when I see that it isn’t Dom, it’s just Christian.

Christian: Where are you guys going to dinner?

I scrunch my face at that. Why is he texting me, and why does he want to know about where we are going?

“Why is Christian texting me?” I ask.

Gabby looks up with an unimpressed eyebrow.

“How should I know?”

I shrug, leaving the message on read before Gabby speaks again.

“So, what’s the reason Daddy Warbucks is taking you out on the town?” she teases.

I roll my eyes as I call out to her.

“I swear to God, if you call him that to his face, our friendship is over.”

She snickers as she comes and wraps her arms around my shoulders, kissing my cheek.

“You couldn’t exist without me, and you know it.”

“You confident in that?” I ask with a raise of my eyebrow.

She nods seriously. “Very.”

We both chuckle as a knock comes from the door. I cap my lipstick and go to open it, smiling when I see Dom standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and his body wrapped in a deliciously tailored suit.

I think it’s his expression that is my favorite part of it all, though. His eyes are wide, mouth unhinged, as his gaze rakes over me, from top to bottom. I feel like a goddess in front of him, I always do.

“Baby, you are…exquisite,” he says reverently before stepping inside.

He tosses the flowers onto the counter and wraps an arm around my lower back, hauling me into him as he leans down to kiss me. I put my hand against his chest to stop him.

“I don’t want to get lipstick all over you.”

“You think I give a shit?” he scoffs before crushing his lips to mine.

A flurry of butterflies rush through my chest as I wrap my arms around his neck. His tongue swipes out, tangling with mine when a very forced cough comes from behind us. We break apart, turning to face my grinning best friend.

“Hate to break it up, but you have to leave a little something for the honeymoon, kids,” she teases.

I roll my eyes as Dom raises an eyebrow at her.

“How are you doing, Gabrielle?” he asks.

“Good, but I hate it when you use my full name, and you know that,” she says with a smile that is just a little too flirty for my taste. I know it’s just Gabby being Gabby, doesn’t mean I like it.

He nods his head. “My apologies.”

I take the flowers from his hand, lifting them to my nose before inhaling.

“They are beautiful. What are they?” I ask.

“Daffodils. They’re associated with strength and resilience due to their ability to survive and withstand winter storms and come out the other side in the spring. They’re beautiful and strong. Little fighters, just like you.”

Hot tears prick at my eyes, and I do my best to blink them away before smiling.

“Thank you so much.”

“Of course.” He nods as I step into the kitchen, grabbing a vase from the top of the cabinet before filling it with water. I place the flowers inside and turn to find Dom patiently watching me.

“You ready?”

I nod with a smile before tossing a look at Gabby.

“Lock up when you leave, yeah?”

She winks at me as she nods. “Have fun you two!”

I wave goodbye as we step out into the hallway and make our way to the elevator. Dom’s arm slides around my waist seamlessly as we ride down, before getting out and making our way to his car.

The drive to the restaurant goes by fast, and soon we are sitting at a fancy white-clothed table with soft music playing all around and the best view of Puget Sound in front of us. An entire bottle of white wine, two lobster tails, and one crème brulée later, I’m handing my plate to the waiter while Dom stares at me.

“What?” I say with a small smile.

“I just am…surprised,” he says cryptically.

I lean toward him and rest my head in my hand.

“By?”

“You.”

“In a good or bad way?” I tease.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he says seriously.

His words cause my smile to fall slightly. I lean back into my chair before sitting up a little straighter.

“Okay, what’s going on? You’re acting weird. If you’re gonna break up with me, don’t you know it’s best to do it when you drop me off so there isn’t the whole awkward ride home thing?” I laugh hollowly.

He lets out a short huff, like the very idea is ridiculous, as he shakes his head and stares off into the distance. It takes a moment for his eyes to come back to me, but when they do, they seem to be more clouded and confused than ever.

“I’d never. Blake, I didn’t take you out tonight because I wanted to end things. I wanted to take you on a date, a proper one. One that you deserved. You deserve far more than I could ever possibly give you, but I’m going to try to be worthy, always.”

A small bit of relief passes through my chest as I relax.

“Okay, now you’re sounding more like you’re gonna propose to me, which would be insane.”

“Would it?” he asks curiously.

“Uh, yeah?” I laugh. “We’ve known each other for like two months.”

He nods like that makes sense before he knocks his knuckles against the table like he’s made up his mind about something.

“Alright, I guess you’ll just have to move in with me then.”

“Excuse me?” I blink.

“Well, I respect the fact that you’re not ready to get married, and despite my failed attempts, you don’t seem to be ready to move to San Diego either. So I’ll have to settle with you moving into my apartment.”

I’m speechless at the matter-of-fact tone carrying his words. Does he expect me to just bow to his every command? Does he think that just because the time that we’ve spent together has been some of the happiest of my life that I’m just going to bend and twist to fit whatever desires he deems necessary?

“No,” I say.

His head turns to the side slightly at that as he frowns.

“No?”

“Yeah, no,” I huff, shaking my head at the beautiful yet stupid man in front of me.

“Why?” he counters.

“Why?” I scoff. “B-because we just met, we just started dating. Living together, that’s such a…big step, and what if things don’t work out? I’m on the street? Again? I can’t do that. I won’t do that. I like you, but I can’t put myself at risk, and I?—”

I don’t even realize Dom is out of his chair until he’s by my side, kneeling, his hands cupping my cheeks as his eyes search my face like he’s looking for something.

“Baby, I would never let anything happen to you. If you didn’t want to be with me anymore, we would figure it out together. You’ll never be without a home again, I promise. Even more so, there is no possibility in this fathomable universe where you and I aren’t together until the end of time. You’re mine, Blake, and I’ll never let you go.”

The steadiness in his words and the certainty in his eyes cause my currently racing pulse to slow. My breathing evens as I nod carefully at him, a sense of ease washing over me that I didn’t know I needed. I think it’s safe to say that I have abandonment issues that are definitely unresolved. The idea of moving in with someone I’m crazy about shouldn’t send me into a full-blown spiral like that, but on the same hand, the idea of losing the only sense of stability I’ve really had in my whole life is worthy of said spiral.

“And,” Dom continues, “I’ll keep your apartment. I’ll cover this year’s remaining payments, and this time next year we can talk about if you want to keep it or not. Whatever you want, baby.”

“Next year?” I say. “You really think we’re going to be together for that long? Already, at two months, you know that?”

“I do.” He nods confidently.

All I can do is blink at him. What else am I expected to do or say in a situation like this? He’s listening to what I’m saying, yes, but not accepting no. He has an answer for every potential question I have, a solution for every problem.

“Please?” he asks, softening his tone to the point where it’s the lightest I’ve ever heard before.

Something in his tone, or maybe his eyes, has a strange feeling twisting inside of me. It’s a feeling that is powerful enough to have the words spilling out of my mouth before I can even stop them.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” he questions.

I nod with a small smile. “Okay.”