“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.