“I don’t like seeing another woman’s hands on you.” With that, I push him back.
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t fight it. He lets me put distance between us.
I skirt around him and head back to my friends, peering at him over my shoulder. “Do something about it, Dom.”
CHAPTER 23
happy birthday, mia
DOMINIC
Age 22
October
The instant Miaclimbs into my passenger seat, the air shifts. Just the sight of her makes my heart pang. I’m failing her time and time again with all this Remi bullshit. I want to fix it.
She presses her backpack to her chest and focuses on the view outside the windshield. My grip on the steering wheel tightens. I hate how indifferent she is.
“You good?” I ask, throwing the car into drive.
She shrugs. “Yeah.”
The distance she’s put between us doesn’t surprise me, but it still stings.
For the first mile or two, the only sound is the low rumble of the engine. Guilt has been gnawing at me since the bonfire, but with her right here beside me, it hits harder.
“About Remi…” I drum my fingers on the wheel and inhale, collecting my thoughts.
Her jaw tenses, but she doesn’t turn my way.
“You’re right. I should’ve set boundaries a long time ago.” I lower my voice. “I should’ve made it clear we were over for good. I haven’t wanted her around for a very long time, but I didn’t have the guts to tell her. That’s on me.”
Mia doesn’t respond. She doesn’t even look at me.
I clear my throat, but the lump there remains. “I’m not proud of how I handled this situation, and I hate that my actions have given you a reason to doubt me.”
Finally, she shifts in her seat, assessing me. “I want to trust you, Dom, but there’s no way I could ever trust her. Not when she texts you, not when she comes to the shop, not when she touches you and you don’t tell her to stop.”
My gut burns with regret. “I understand. I really do. I’m fucking mad at myself for not realizing all that sooner.”
She presses her lips together, her expression still guarded. She still doesn’t believe me, and with all the shit I put her through, I can’t blame her.
Rather than drop her at the front of her building, I pull into the parking lot and turn to face her fully. The morning sun makes her hair shine and her blue eyes stand out. She’s upset, but she’s never looked more beautiful.
“I can’t change my past,” I say, “but I’m dead set on changing my future. There’s no place for Remi in my life, and I’ll make sure she understands that.” I lick my lips. “I started by blocking her number.”
She nods, and maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I swear, there’s a hint of a smile on her lips. “Thanks for the ride,” she says quietly. Then, she leans over the console and plants a kiss on my cheek. “See you at home.”
“See you, babe,” I tell her as she climbs out of my car.
It’s the tiniest step, but at least it’s in the right direction.
Me:
I have a surprise for you. Come to the shop at 5:10
Mia:
