Page 35 of Only In the Dark

“Shut up.” I stand and kiss him. It’s a long-drawn-out kiss, deep and passionate. He relaxes against me. I pull away and tell him, “Shower with me.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

***

A week has passed since Dominick called me his. And since that day, we’ve been inseparable. After being holed up together, we knew it was time to get back into a routine. My lip was healing, and my eye was looking better, but wasn’t completely healed. I surely don’t need any more injuries.

But today, we were hosting my parents’ anniversary. And to say I am nervous is an understatement.

I did the best I could to cover my eye up, but it wasn’t healed enough to cover it. And I wasn’t sure how my parents would react.

“You look gorgeous, as always,” Dominick says as he leans on the doorframe, watching me put on the finishing touches to my hair since my makeup was minimal. I told my parents to dress to the nines. So that meant me and Dom had to dress up as well. I wore a simple black dress, and Dom had on a dress shirt with the collar open, and black dress pants.

I walk over to him and lean up to kiss his lips.

“Your parent should be arriving soon.”

“Nervous?”

“A little.”

“You should be fine.”

We head back downstairs, and ten minutes pass before the doorbell rings.

I stand next to Dom as he pulls the door open.

“Geneva!” Mom says with excitement and immediately hugs me. “Are you must be Dom,” she says to him while I greet my dad.

“It’s nice to meet you ma’am.”

“Dad, this is Dominick.”

They shake hands. We take their coats and put them in the spare closet.

My dad grips my face and seeing the bruising around my eye, and he looks at Dominick with anger. “Did you fucking hit my daughter?”

Dominick backs up, holding his hands up, and I pull on my dad’s muscled arm. “Dad, he didn’t do it. He was nowhere near me when it happened.”

Now, mom looks concerned.

“I was mugged at my apartment building.”

“Sorry Dominick.”

“No worries,” he tells him.

“Jesus Christ, Gen. You need to find somewhere safer place to live.” I look to Dom for confirmation to tell them the news, and he nods ever so slightly.

“Mom. Dad. Dominick asked me to move in with him.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little premature,” Mom says, and I know she means well.

“I think when you know you found your person, you just know. Why wait?”

“What about Livia?” Dad asks knowing we were roommates.

“She is living in the guest house for the time being. So she’s close by, and we are safe here.”

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