Page 41 of After Midnight

Wow. Straight to the point. “Um, well...” I hesitated. I barely knew this woman and wasn’t sure how much to reveal, but as I looked at her taut and clearly concerned face, I understood. She wanted to protect him. It made sense that she would, considering Dominic himself had told me she was like a parent to him. “I like him. A lot,” I finally admitted.

Miss Rita sighed and rolled her eyes. “Boy, you were one of the most spoiled, out of control brats I’ve ever taken care of. Goodness knows if time cured you of it, but that man does not have time for silly nonsense right now. He’s being run through the mill, and what he needs is support. If you’re here looking for a fun ride, I recommend you go find it elsewhere.”

I closed my eyes a moment to think. I understood where she was coming from, I really did. I could only imagine how much grief my younger self caused Miss Rita. I liked Dominic, though. I also felt the need to prove myself to my former nanny. Justify my childhood actions even if I’d only been a kid, and show her I’d become a decent adult.

“Miss Rita, I understand why you don’t trust me, but in my defense, I was just a little boy when the supermarket incident happened. I’d never been away from my dads before and for all I knew, they’d up and disappeared. I’ll be honest, I think you’re being unfair judging me based on that.” This was it. She would either accept my explanation and let me see Dominic or toss me out into the snow. I crossed my fingers and waited.

She studied me hard, then sighed. “That’s probably true. I know I’m being overprotective. Goodness knows I can’t protect that boy from most things anyway, much as I want to.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. For now, I’d passed some kind of Miss Rita test. I had no idea how long the reprieve would last but I hoped it was long enough for me to talk to Dominic.

She went over to the counter beside the sink, pulled out a covered cake dish, and opened it before placing it in front of me. “I just made chocolate chip cookies. They used to cheer our boy up, but nothing does these days. Anyway, help yourself.”

My heart skipped when she referred to Dominic as “our boy” but I also hadn’t missed the melancholy in her voice. I hoped I could change that, for her and for Dominic, or at least get the chance to try.

I took one of the still-warm cookies, and when I took a bite, memories from my early childhood swarmed my consciousness.

“Oh my god, Miss Rita, these are delicious. Did you make these when you were taking care of me?” I asked.

She smiled for the first time since I’d arrived. “You remember?”

I nodded. “I think I do.”

That melted the last layer of ice between us, and she poured both of us a glass of milk without asking if I wanted one, then sat down across from me.

“How’s he doing?” I asked softly.

Miss Rita’s brows furrowed and she stood back up, grabbing a sponge to wipe down the already spotless countertops. She was nervous and obviously worried about Dominic. Was she debating how much to tell me or whether to say anything at all?

“The boy is hurting,” she whispered and met my eyes. “Too many people have either disappeared from his life or let him down. What he needs most is someone who will be there for him, who will listen but also help him forget his troubles from time totime. And when things get dark, like they are right now, he needs someone he can depend on and trust with his whole heart.”

I exhaled a long, deep breath. I’d been right to worry. Things were even worse than I thought. “I was telling you the truth, Miss Rita. I like Dominic, and if he’ll let me, I’d like to get to know him and be there for him like you said. Even if it’s just as friends.”

“Finish them cookies,” she said with a smile. “Dominic’ll be home any minute.”

Chapter seventeen

Dominic

The past week had been an ugly beast. It began and ended with my attorney fighting against the ruling that I vacate my house. Margarette’s attorney, who clearly just served as her puppet, had demanded that I abide by the “rule of law,” as he’d put it, and clear out.

Mr. Langdon snarked the last time we spoke that the man must’ve gotten his law degree from a Cracker Jack box. “He should know the status quo held until after the appellate court renders judgment. My guess is he knows there’s no way it’ll uphold the lower court’s decision, and he’s only pushing the issue because Margarette is pushing him.”

Fortunately, the appellate court finally clarified that nothing had to be done?meaning I didn’t have to suddenly move out?until after it made its own ruling on the matter.

The clarification came earlier today while I was on campus taking an exam. I listened to Mr. Langdon’s voicemail about the “duh clarification,” as he called it, while walking to my car. Good to know I wouldn’t have to spend the weekend packing my bags.

I also had a new text from Dillon on my phone, but couldn’t muster up the courage to read it. I felt too mentally and emotionally exhausted. All I wanted to do was veg out in front of the TV and watch some mindless show while scarfing junk food.

When I walked into the house and found Dillon sitting at the kitchen table, I might have groaned in protest. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was thrilled to see him after thinking I’d probably lost him forever. But I just didn’t have the energy for… anything.

He immediately put his hands up. “I come in peace,” he said, the corners of his mouth curling up into a small smile. “Seriously, Dominic, I’m only here as a friend. Ashton said things were getting worse for you, and I thought you could use one. No strings, no expectations, just hanging out.”

I plopped down on the chair across from him and laid my head on the table. “It’s been a hell of a day,” I said. I felt like I’d been run over by a truck multiple times, then kicked to the side like a piece of roadkill. I was not going to even attempt to be good company.

Miss Rita came over and rubbed my back as she put a plate of something in front of me that smelled a lot like her amazing chocolate chip cookies.

I inhaled deeply and looked up to see itwasthose freshly baked cookies. I felt so starved for comfort that I’d gladly take it any way I could, even in the form of comfort food.

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