Page 71 of No Sweet Goodbyes

He lied to me, and he did it knowing how Danny died.

“What are you doing in the dark?”

I scream and fall off the couch when he steps out of the dark hallway. “What the shit, Dom?”

He reaches out and offers me a hand up. “I knocked on the door. Your bell wasn’t working. When you didn’t answer, I went to the back door.”

His explanation doesn’t do anything to erase the fact that I’m about to have a heart attack.

“You suck,” I say between deep breaths. “You freaking suck.”

“Yeah,” Dom admits. “I do. But I’m here, and I told you before you walked away… I’m going to do whatever it takes to fix what I broke.”

The letter he handed me in the parking lot itches in my palm, begging to be opened.

“You don’t need to read any of them,” he says quietly, seeing where my focus is. “If you don’t want to, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“I’m so mad at you.” I purse my lips, not meaning to have said that. “I didn’t mean to say that, but it’s true. I’m so mad it was hard to concentrate during the academy. But I was worried about you, too. I didn’t want to read them, but I wanted to know you were safe. I’m glad you sent them because of that.”

“Emma.” He reaches over and grabs my hand gently. “I should have told you from the first kiss that I was deploying. I know that. There’s no excuse. Nothing I can say will take away that sting.”

When he lets go of my hand again a moment later, I stare at the space where his hand had just been, wishing he hadn’t let go.

Stupid.

Why does this man make me so stupid?

Before I lose my courage, I start to unfold the piece of paper that is so important to Dom.

“Before you read it…” He stops me when I see my name written across the top. “No matter what you decide, I’ll respect it. If you tell me to leave and that you never want to talk to me again, I’ll understand. I don’t know if I could actually make that happen, since we’ll work at the same department, but I’ll do my best.” I can hear the silent plea left hanging. The way he wants me to understand. To give him a chance.

Rather than say anything else, I start to read the hastily scrawled letter.

Dear Emma,

I’m coming home. Those are the hardest words I’ve ever written, and it’s got nothing to do with the mission or the deployment. It’s hard because I’m coming home to you.

If I walk into the building and see you, I’m going to want to kiss you. I’m going to want to show up at your house at three in the morning in the pouring rain just to make you smile. I’m going to be a few minutes away instead of thousands of miles, and I don’t know if you want me the way I want you.

I’m coming home to you, and I don’t know if you love me.

That’s why these words are the hardest that I’ve ever written.

I’m coming home… and I don’t know what I’m going to find when I get there.

Will you forgive me?

Will you love me?

Will you tell me to go fuck myself?

I would write you a letter every single day for the rest of our lives, if it meant that I’d get to see you smile. I know I lied. I know I should have told you the truth from the start.

If you’ll have me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.

I’m coming home for you.

Dominic.

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