12. Thea

"Thea! Over here!"

My gaze moves through the hordes of people to see Lili. I grin at her and wave to let her know I see her. Then, I carefully make my way to her. We're at Poor Boys downtown and there's a live band tonight—which means the place is jam-packed. I agreed to meet Lili here tonight and Raze and I had a small fight about it. He's out with the club tonight, though. The last thing I wanted to do is sit at home alone. I got the distinct impression, however, that Raze didn't want me to go because I was meeting Lili. I told him if there was something I didn't know that he could tell me, otherwise she was a friend of mine, and I wasn't going to just ignore her invite. He'd walked out without saying goodbye. I'm not sure how I feel about that. We'd been getting closer. I really liked him. Yet, the last thing I want is another man who can't express his feelings and has a temper. I never realized that was such a red flag until Deke showed me it definitely was.

"Girl! I was starting to think you had stood me up!" Lili yelled when I made it over to her.

"Sorry, had a few issues getting away," I confess.

"Let's go find a table," she suggests. I nod and follow, letting her lead.

We find a high-top table close to the bar. It's not far off from the stage, so it was perfect to watch the band. Once we get settled, a server comes over and takes our order. Since she and Lili work together, they know each other well, and chat for a bit. While they do that, I look around. The place really is packed. Lili eventually sits down as her friend gets our drinks. There's tension between us, and I'm not sure what to say.

Lili sighs. "Raze told you, didn't he?"

Shit.

"He said you used him to make someone jealous. He didn't really give me the details, and I didn't ask for them, to be honest."

"That asshole."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. He's just good at giving half-truths."

"What does that mean?" I ask, suddenly wishing I had listened to Raze and not come here.

"It started out like that. I can admit it. I even know it was a stupid thing to do. Things changed, though. The more I got to know Raze, the more I really cared for him. It wasn't even like we were supposed to be exclusive. I knew what kind of lifestyle Raze had. Yet, when the other guy spent the night at my house, Raze got pissed off. He said a bunch of shit that upset me and, well…"

"You let him have it," I respond, knowing Lili's temper from when we used to hang out.

"With both barrels," she confirms, making me laugh. "I said a lot I wasn't supposed to and when he told me I was acting like a club twinkie, I told him to leave that I didn't need his shit, that I was into Rebel way before I met him. I would not agree to be exclusive just because he couldn't handle the fact that I was dating more than one guy, especially when I knew for a fact that he was still banging club whores."

"Twinkies," I mutter.

"Whatever," she huffs.

"Some of them are really nice," I try to defend, and she gives me a look like I'm insane. "Honestly, they're not doing anything worse than what men are."

"Yeah, well, they whore around, too."

I give up trying to explain about the girls. Heck, she's not wrong. For some reason when she talks about the men whoring around, it's not Raze I see in my mind's eye. Nope… it's Dom. I shake my head, wondering what on earth I'm doing thinking about him.

Thankfully, the band arrives on stage and diverts our attention. It doesn't take long before the music begins. It's loud, but surprisingly good. They play some eighties and nineties rock, along with some southern rock staples. Lili gets up to go dancing and I wave her away. With my leg, I'm not big on dancing, so I stay in my seat. The server comes back leaving fresh drinks and an enormous plate of chicken strips with a couple of different sauces. I'm not really hungry, so I just sip my drink and enjoy the music.

"Why didn't you tell me that you and Raze were dating?"

I pull my attention from the band to Dom—who is standing in front of me wearing faded jeans, a light blue T-shirt, and his cut. He looks good. I hate to admit it, but Dom has always been sexy. He's got this face that is intense, sculpted, and vulnerable all at the same time. Damn him.

"I'm sorry?" I whisper-yell back. I don't want to be too loud, but everything is drowned out by the music.

"Why didn't you tell me you were dating a brother?" he asks again, and you'd have to be stupid not to hear the anger in his voice.

"I didn't know I needed to tell you anything, Dom. We barely speak," I respond, not bothering to hide my irritation.

"That's where you're wrong. You're family, Thea."

"Dom, you and I have never been close. We don't have that kind of relationship and never have."

He sits down in Lili's seat, and I frown at him. "That seat is taken," I grumble.

"Not right now, it's not. Tell me why I'm the last one to know that you are dating one of my brothers? Last I heard, you were still dating the lawyer in New York."

"He's in med school, not law. I haven't seen him since I left New York, and quite frankly, never want to."

"You think that's something you might have discussed with me the night we had dinner?"

"Why would we? Have you been drinking?" I ask him, trying to figure out what's going on here.

"No. Damn it, Thea. I know we haven't been close in the past?—"

"Dom—"

He holds up his hand to keep me from continuing. "I can even admit that it is my fault."

"That's big of you," I respond with a smirk.

I catch him off guard and I watch as he rolls his eyes at me and then laughs. "Smart ass. I swear, I think you just love busting my balls."

"You make it too easy."

He shakes his head. "We had a good dinner together, Thea. I thought we had turned a page. It crossed my mind that things might be different between us now."

I study him, trying to figure out what in the world he's thinking. His face remains unreadable, however. "I guess it is different. I don't actively want to kill or maim you now, at least."

His eyes go round in shock for a second and I have to school my features to keep from laughing out loud. "Damn," he hisses and I just grin at him.

"You're a hard woman."

"So I've been told," I respond—practically giggling.

"Are you sure dating someone from the club is what you want, Thea?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're more like Hawk when it comes to the club. You don't want anything to do with us. Dating a brother?—"

"Dom, stop. I love the club. My family is here."

"If that's so true then why the hell did you avoid anything the club has done? You never come to family parties. You never use the room that Bull set up for you, and?—"

"Is that really what you think of me? You think I believe I'm too good to associate with the club? With my family?"

"It sure as hell looks that way. You have to admit that."

"No, I don't. No one believes that. I have a sneaking suspicion that you only believe it because Gabby has drummed it in your head."

"Thea," he sighs out, sounding exhausted with life. I could almost feel sorry for him. I can't though.

"You never really knew me at all, Dom. The sad part is you never gave me a chance. You believed every lie Gabby ever told you?—"

"Why would she lie about you? It makes no sense."

"God, do you still not see that she's a pathological liar when it comes to trying to keep what she deems is hers? Why would she lie to you about anything, Dom? You've loved her all your life. What did you do that warranted her lying to you about Thomas? Why would she keep Thomas on the string? Even knowing what she's done, you still think she didn't lie to you about me?" I question him, shaking my head in disgust.

"It's not that, but you can't deny you avoided the club. Hell, you left town to get away from us all."

I look at this man. I stare into his beautiful face, and I just shake my head. "Wrong, dickhead. I left town to get away from the two of you. I might have been young and stupid, but back then, I loved you. Gabby knew it and she made my life a living hell because of it."

"I…" He stops talking and just stares at me. Confusion etched across his face as he tries to piece everything together. It looks painful, and that shouldn't make me happy—but it does.

"You love me?" he asks.

"Loved, past tense."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Oh, please. Everyone knew how I felt about you, even Mattie."

"Breaker knew? Why the fuck did no one tell me?"

"It wouldn't have made a difference, Dom. You were my first kiss. Do you really think I would have shared that moment with you unless I had feelings for you?"

"We didn't know each other enough for you to love me, Thea."

I let out a snort. It's self-deprecating because he's right—but he's also wrong. It was young love, but for me it was real. I knew everything about Dom. I followed him around like a lost puppy. Everyone realized it but him. He was always clueless unless it involved Gabby.

"You know, now that I think back on it, I think the two of us were more alike than I ever realized," I grumble.

"What does that mean?"

"You were blind to everyone but Gabby, and I was blind to everything and everyone but you."

"Why is it we seem to go in circles talking, Thea?"

"My mother would say it is because we're both too stubborn."

"You discuss me with your mother often?" he asks, making me roll my eyes.

"No, that's what she used to say about me and Mattie when we fought."

"You and Breaker fought?" he laughs.

"Sometimes. It didn't happen very often, but when it did, neither one of us liked to give in."

"Now that, I can believe."

I grin. "He's the best big brother a girl could ask for."

"You're right, you know," he says, exhaling with a noise that I can only describe as mournful.

"About what?'

"I listened to Gabby above everyone else. She didn't want me anywhere near you. I can see that clearly now."

"I know, although I could never truly understand why. It's not like you even knew I was alive."

He gets a funny look on his face that I can't decipher. Before I can dwell on it too much, Lili comes back to the table. "Girl, are you sure you don't want to dance? There's some good-looking men eye-fucking you over there," she says, motioning to the table across from us.

"Thea has a man," Dom growls.

Lili's body jerks and turns to look at Dom. Her face goes tight. "Dom. Didn't expect to see you around here, especially on a Saturday night. Isn't that the biggest party night at the club?"

"You should know, you've attended enough of them. With more than one member, if I remember correctly."

"Is there a law against that?"

"Nope," he says, sounding cold and taunting all at the same time.

"Thea, I'll be over by the stage if you want to join. Suddenly, the company here sucks," she huffs, all but stomping away.

"Does Raze know you're with Lili tonight?"

"Yes. He wasn't too happy, but the two of us were friends back in the day. I won't let Raze tell me who I can and can't have in my life."

He gives me a look like he's disappointed in me and that serves to piss me off. "Stop glaring at me. I can have friends with one of my boyfriend's exes. It's allowed."

"I'm surprised you'd want to after the shit she pulled."

"What did she pull exactly? If she wants to date two guys at the same time, I don't see a problem with it as long as she's not in a committed relationship."

"Did Raze tell you what happened between them?"

"He said Lili was using him to make another man jealous."

"Rebel."

"Yeah, but they weren't in a committed relationship. I don't get the big deal. Honestly, it sounds like some fake high school drama."

"There's more to the story. You should talk to Raze."

I frown. "Why can't you just tell me?"

"If he's your man, he should tell you."

I sigh. "I'm not sure I'd call him my man. I mean, we're dating. I like him a lot. I'm not really ready for more. I just…"

"Just what?"

"No offense, Dom, but we're not even sure we like each other," I laugh. "I don't think I'm ready to bare my soul to you."

"I like you and you like me, even if I don't deserve it."

I fake gasp, bringing my hand up to my heart. "Are you suggesting that you and I become friends, Dominic West?"

"I'm not just suggesting it. We're going to be," he declares. I cock my eyebrow up, looking at him as if to challenge what he just said. "Tomorrow, I'll pick you up at noon, Thea."

"Um…What if I have plans?"

"Cancel them. I've been an idiot for a lot of years?—"

"You can say that again," I inject, my voice full of sarcasm.

"I have a lot to make up for. I'm asking you to let me. Will you let me try to prove I'm worth the effort, Thea?"

"I think I'd be foolish to open myself up to that, Dom. We…" I trail off, trying to find the words to explain how I feel.

"I promise that no matter who I date in the future, I won't allow them to come between us."

"Yeah, right."

"I know I haven't earned it, but I'm asking you to trust me. I want us to be friends, Thea. I want us to be family."

"Do you realize that even our conversations are bordering on bi-polar?"

He laughs. "Will you go out with me tomorrow?"

"Fine," I mutter. "I should warn you that if you annoy me, I'm going to use my cane to ruin all chances of you ever procreating little Dom's to infest the world."

"Infest?" he laughs, and I shrug.

I spend the rest of the evening laughing and talking with Dom. It was relaxing and fun. Lili never did come back, and I found I didn't miss her. She's not the same person I remember, or maybe the truth is we're just too different now that we're older. It doesn't matter I had a great evening. It ended with Dom walking me out to my car and saying goodbye.

When I finally get home and crawl into my bed, I find myself looking forward to tomorrow.

I also ignore the small voice in my head that tells me I'm being stupid.