Page 10 of Starts With a Bang

Me:Can I watch?

Dom:no

Me:Okay. How about we jerk off at the same time. I’m already getting hard just thinking about the noises you make when you come. Are you busy now?

Dom:Bye

Mon, Mar 13, 2023 at 9:30 pm

I’d just stepped out of the shower when my phone went off with a text from Dom. I toweled off quickly, slipped into my fuzzy bathrobe, and took the phone into my bedroom to read his message. I’d been kicking my ass daily since our last chat and vowed not to chase him off again with suggestive comments. Once cozy under my down comforter, I opened our text thread. My heart sank further with every word I read.

Dom:My divorce became final today. I celebrated by securing proof that my client’s husband is a cheater too.

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard, trying to find the right words to type. Did I tell him I was sorry? That was hardly sufficient, considering Dom’s revelation.My client’s husband is a cheater too.He could’ve meant that he’d solved yet anothercheating case, but context clues told me otherwise. Before I could form a response, another message landed.

Dom:Sorry to reach out so late. I just… I don’t know.

Without thinking, I pressed the phone icon to call Dom instead of replying to his message. Would he answer?

“Hello?” Yes, he would. Dom’s voice sounded raspy and rough, and my heart lurched even more.

“Hi,” I said. “I’m sorry you had such a rough day. Want to talk about it?”

“Not in the least. I don’t know why I texted you. You don’t have to babysit me. I’m okay. Maybe I just didn’t want to be alone tonight of all nights.”

“I could come over,” I replied. “I’d keep my hands to myself.”

Dom laughed dryly. “I think we both know that isn’t true.” He cycled through a deep breath. “And we also know that I wouldn’t want you to. I think this is much safer.”

Maybe not so much for my heart, but this phone call wasn’t about me. “Talking about your newly minted single status is off the table, and you’re probably not in the mood to jerk off together.” So much for my moratorium on suggestive comments. “Oh damn. I didn’t mean to say that. I can’t seem to help myself around you.”

I expected Dom to make an excuse to get off the phone or just disconnect the call. But a low chuckle rumbled through the phone. “This is why I reached out to you. No artifice or bullshit. Just you and the color you inject into my dull world.” Dom took a deep breath, and I expected him to take it back. “Thanks to you, I know how Dorothy feels when she steps into Oz for the first time.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me,” I told Dom.

“You need better friends.”

I liked that he considered himself my friend, and I hoped we could be more someday. But even I had a tight enough leash on my tongue to prevent either of those thoughts from escaping. “And now I want to watchThe Wizard of Oz.”

Dom chuckled. “Me too.”

“I think it’s streaming on Max,” I said.

“Let me see.”

I reached for my remote and turned on my TV. I pulled up the Max app and opened it. Dom found the movie on his end too, and we pushed Play after the count of three. I stayed up later than I normally would on a work night, but the sacrifice was well worth it.

Mon, May 29, 2023 at 3:05 pm

Me:It’s my birthday!

Dom:That’s what it says on the giant birthday cake. Kerry didn’t tell me that when he invited me to the Memorial Day barbecue. I would’ve brought you a gift.

Me:It’s best you didn’t. He would’ve wondered why you brought his brother a birthday gift. We’re not supposed to know each other that well.

Dom:True!

Me:But I know how you can make it up to me.

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