Page 80 of After Midnight

As I sat at the kitchen table, eating my lunch, I couldn’t contain my excitement about having a movie night with Dominic and the girls. Actually, hell, I felt excited about seeing the entire group I’d begun to consider my tribe.

Chapter thirty-seven

Dominic

Through sheer determination, I forced myself to get up and brush my teeth before going down to the living room to spend time with my family. After living in a dark, smelly hole, I was determined not to spend another moment without them, even if I didn’t have much energy.

I was delighted to see Dillon when I came downstairs. Miss Rita had told me he’d been responsible for helping everyone navigate things since I’d been taken. I appreciated her telling me, though it didn’t completely surprise me, either.

It felt right that Dillon was here. Like he had become part of us without any big fanfare or declarations. Just by being present and offering his love and support to me and everyone in this house, Dillon had become family.

Visions of the princely Dillon who’d once dreamily swept me off my feet kept coming to mind and each time, I smiled. Before, thoughts of my dream from so long ago brought comfort, and now they brought hope and quite a bit of longing for the real man.

I went into the kitchen and, while everyone else was distracted, I slipped my arms around him from behind. “It’s good to see you,” I said quietly in his ear.

Dillon turned in my arms, all smiles, and kissed me. “Not as good as it is to see you,” he said.

I laid my head on his shoulder for a moment, just enjoying the feel of his warm embrace. The spell was broken when Miss Rita told us all to sit down at the table while she served us dinner.

After we were all seated, I asked, “What’s this? Did Uncle Jeffrey finally convince you to let him teach you some of his fancy French cooking?”

“Don’t you start,” she huffed, causing Uncle Jeffrey to smile. “This was brought to us by way of Dillon. His father made it for us.”

I took a bite and moaned with pleasure. The rich taste of beef and gravy washed over my tongue. “Tell your dad he can make this for me anytime,” I said, as everyone at the table nodded in agreement.

After dinner, we all retired to the living room to watchThe Princess and the Frog, at Olivia’s request. When I began to fade, Dillon coaxed me to lean back against his chest. I fell asleep like that, in the knowledge that everyone I loved was safe, happy, and home.

After the movie ended, Dillon escorted me and my sisters up to our bedrooms. After we tucked the girls in, he walked me to my room, kissed me good night, and turned to leave.

“Wait,” I said, reaching for him. “Thanks for all you did while I was, um, indisposed.”

He chuckled. “Interesting term for it. I was happy to be here, but I’m a whole lot happier you’re back.”

“When do you have to return to Chicago?” I asked.

“I’ve got some time. I need to be there by April.”

Concern washed over me as I thought of him leaving, and I decided not to waste any more time. “I think I’d like to go with you,” I said. “Uncle Jeffrey has an apartment there, and I was already thinking about going early to help get things settled for the girls, before all this happened.”

“I’d like that,” he said, leaning in for a quick kiss. “You should know, though, I’ll be really busy with classes and performing. I won’t be able to spend as much time with you as I want to.”

“I know, and that’s why I’d like you to stay with me, at Uncle Jeffrey’s apartment.” I searched Dillon’s face for any indication that this was too soon. When I saw nothing but excitement in his expression, I felt my own excitement bubble up. “So, it's settled then, roomie. Fair warning, I may end up fighting you for the remote, but I don’t think I snore.”

Chapter thirty-eight

Dillon

When I went back downstairs after my talk with Dominic, I must’ve had a curious look on my face because Jeffrey became alarmed and asked if anything was wrong with his godson.

“No, he’s good,” I assured him. “He just asked if I’d stay with him at your apartment in Chicago while he got things ready for the girls to move there permanently.”

Jeffrey nodded. “Feeling like things are moving a little fast?”

Ashton pointed to an empty chair at the table, and when I sat down, he asked, “So, you and Dominic are pretty serious then?”

I thought for a moment of how to best describe what I felt for the man. “When I’m with him, it’s like the planets align and everything just feels right in my world.”

“That sounds like love to me,” Miss Rita said, joining us at the table.

---