“That wasn’t my job, Jace. That’s something a father’s supposed to do. Not a brother still trying to figure out what to do with his own life.”
I swallow, trying to get rid of the fury threatening to take me under.
“But I did it because I couldn’t stand it.” And when he speaks again, it’s almost a whisper. “So yeah, maybe I’ve been a little fucking insane about keeping men away from her.” Dom looks up again, eyes hard. “Maybe I overdid it. Maybe I didn’t know how to stop because that’s all I’ve ever done.”
I can’t sit still anymore, so I start pacing a few steps. I need to shake off the image of her in some tight little dress, trying to be good while men with too much money picked her apart with their eyes.
“Fuck,” I mutter. My fists won’t unclench.
Dom nods slowly, then looks down.
“So when she told me about you—about what she felt for you…” Dom shakes his head. “I didn’t believe it at first. I couldn’t. Because Melody doesn’t let men in. Not like that.”
He looks at me and his eyes are sharp but not angry anymore.
“You slipped past every wall she’s ever built, and she didn’t even stop you. She let you in. And it made me angry. I’ve been the only man in her life for so long who’s protected her. I didn’t know how tonotbe.”
I know that feeling—that sick twist of rage and fear when something that was always yours shifts.
“Me coming into her life doesn’t mean you’re not protecting her anymore,” I finally speak. “It means there’s two of us now.”
Dom looks at me, holding my gaze for a few moments, considering what I said. Then slowly, he nods once, and the air suddenly returns to my lungs. He nodded. He agreed.
“When we were driving to the arena today, she was fidgeting and bouncing in her seat. She kept checking the time like a kid on Christmas morning. She wasn’t excited about the game.” He looks right at me. “She was excited to see you.”
Dom pulls off his shoulder pads absentmindedly.
“And it made me think…” He shrugs slightly. “How much I fucking miss you too.”
My eyes flicker to him, wide and shocked. I’m not sure I can speak through this lump in my throat.
He hesitates, then exhales.
“So thanks. For keeping your distance. For giving me time to grow the fuck up and deal with this without pushing it away. I know that shit wasn’t easy for either of you.”
“It wasn’t.” My voice cracks.
Dom clears his throat, grabs his gear bag from the locker, and slings it over his shoulder.
“I just wanna see her happy.” He shrugs, trying to play it off, but it lands heavy anyway. “And I wanna see you happy too.”
“Dom…” I start, but he cuts me off.
“Doesn’t mean I’m suddenly okay with your dick anywhere near her,” he adds dryly. “But as long as I pretend you two just hold hands and kiss each other’s cheeks, I’ll cope.”
“That’s very healthy of you.” I snort.
“I’m growing,” he deadpans.
A pause, then his tone shifts again.
“You might be a lot of things, Jace. But I believe you’re not going anywhere.”
His gaze is steady now, heavy with trust. “I believe you’re staying. But if I’m wrong—if you break her heart—”
“Yeah, I know,” I cut in, voice hoarse. “You’ll kill me.”
“No.” His voice stops me cold. “You’ll break mine too.”
