Page 60 of Always You
She pauses for a second, and I wait for her to tell me how she responded.
“I told him not right now, not anytime soon. And we don’t know how things will end up with us yet.”
I feel a stab in the chest.She has major trust issues, I get it. She lost her mom and dad at a young age. Everyone she’s loved has disappeared from her life, including her friends. I hurt her painfully. Her fear is me walking out on her. Her feelings are relentless. I’ll do anything to reassure her I’m not leaving her. I know I screwed up these past months with her, taunting her, adding gasoline to the fire. My betrayal, belittling her all these years. I walk up to her, keeping my gaze on her, cupping her cheek. I brush my lips on hers, our breath mingles.
“Listen to me, baby, you are my forever. I need you like I need air. There willnever benous. You got it? You’re my world. The woman I’m madly in love with. I will do anything you need me to for you to trust me, but all I ask is don’t push me away. I want it all with you, a future, marriage, more kids, a shit load of them. I will repeat it as much as you need to hear it until it sticks in your stubborn head.” I kiss the tears from her beautiful face.
“Dominic,” she croaks.
My heart is breaking with each tear she sheds. “Hmm,” I say while kissing her neck.
“I love you too.”
“I know,” I say in between kisses.
“Ugh, you’re such a cocky bastard.”
I gently squeeze her plump ass, which I admire. Then chuckling, I slap her ass and head upstairs with Dante.
Standing in the doorway, I watch Dante with amazement as he lines up his army guys. Being a father is the most precious gift. I will be nothing like my own father. Part of me will never understand how he walked away from his kids. I’ve always wondered why he left. Mom never mentioned to us his reasons.
The one thing that terrifies me is cancer, cancer consuming me once again. However, I get checked yearly and have been in the clear. With Dante and Mila back in my life, I ask God to grant me more time; years if possible. I sneak behind him, squatting next to him. He feels my presence and turns to look at me. He greets me with a perfect, boyish smile, his dimples visible. My heart radiates with love. He cocks his head to the side. Hell, how did I get so lucky?
“Daddy!” He leaps into my arms, causing us to both fall to the ground.
I tickle him all over, he lets out a squeal, panting.
“Daddy, no stop.” He laughs so hard that his stomach shakes.
We both roared with laughter. I peer into my boy’s eyes, which resemble so much of me. My little mini-me. I gently kiss him on the forehead. Jesus, he’s perfect.
“I got doughnuts and chocolate milk for you.”
He licks his lips, then shoves a hot wheel’s car in his pocket. I laugh.
“Yum, come on, Daddy, let’s go down the stairs.” Dante reaches for my hand.
I take his small hand in mine and swallow the clogged knot forming with emotion. We make our way downstairs.
“Daddy, I think Mom’s happy now. She cried for you.”
Damn, my chest hurts—the pain I have caused them. “I’ll make her happy, Dante, I promise.”
He smiles all dopey and nods.
Mila stands leaning against the kitchen counter, talking to Sophie, who must have just walked in. I suck in a breath, and take a moment to admire her. She’s strong, confident, intelligent, and beautiful. The way she holds herself up, has me beaming with pride. The world has not been fair to her. I will do everything in my power to give her happiness and show her the world.
She turns when she hears us, her emerald eyes are locked with mine. With a raised eyebrow, she looks over at her friend. By the glowered stare, she can’t stand me. Last time I met her, I was getting engagement photos and making shitty remarks to Mila.
“Sophie, you remember Dominic?” Mila boars her green eyes into her friend. As if they can telepath with each other. Without looking away.
“Of course, I remember him. Last time was at the studio when he was getting his glamor shots done with his ho,” she bellows and narrows her glare at me. She slowly turns to look at me with a look that could set me on fire and I know she’d spit on my ashes. I don’t know much about Mila’s life in the last five years. Sophie seems protective of her, and I’m glad. Mila needs someone in her corner.
I open the box of doughnuts, handing one to Dante. I look to Sophie. “I apologize for how I acted and how I treated Mila. It was uncalled for. I let my anger get the best of me. I should have been man enough to confront her respectably, to get the answers we both needed. My mother manipulated me into believing Mila was the bad guy in our story.”
Sophie’s lips form a straight line.
“I’m to blame for believing what my mom accused her of or rather lied. I should have known better. I love Mila and Dante.”
