Arianna smiles warmly. “I mean it. Think about it. If you really like him, you should accept him warts and all.”
She stands and takes her mug to the sink. “If you need me, call me.”
“Can I go see Dominic?” I ask and then quickly follow up with, “To take him things from home to make him more comfortable.”
Arianna nods, and I blush. “Thank you,” I say.
“I’ll chat to you soon.” She comes toward me and envelops me in a hug, and I hug her back, feeling comforted.
Once she’s gone, I pack some food into a container because I’m sure the hospital food is absolutely disgusting. Then I go upstairs and pack him some fresh clothes for tomorrow. I’m not sure how hurt he is, so I go with something easy to get into, slacks and a t-shirt.
I also pack his toothbrush and some toiletries. While standing alone in the bathroom, I see his cologne and spray some in the air before I sniff it. I immediately feel a sense of warmth spread throughout my body.
I take everything to his bed and sit there, looking at where he sleeps. I feel like I’m some kind of creepy stalker at this point, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him or me.
I think about what Arianna said. I close my eyes and picture them as my siblings and their parents as my own. I try and feel it with my entire being. Then I imagine someone threatening that, and I’m instantly filled with rage.
I open my eyes, and I sigh. I know what it is that I want. I don’t know if he wants the same thing as me, though, and confessing my feelings to him might just lead to heartbreak. It would be so awkward to live together afterward.
I think about the sex we had and the hungry look in his eyes when he was inside me. I lick my lips.
I have to try.
He is a pain in the ass. God, he is so annoying. He’s bossy, controlling, and overprotective, but the more I think about it, the more I appreciate the lengths he’s willing to go to for the people he cares about. I mean, shit, he nearly got killed for me and he didn’t even know me at all then. Now, though, I know he would kill anyone who came near me. I don’t know if I’m okay with that, but I know I need to try. I need to try because I think I’ve fallen hard for him.
I pick up his things and go downstairs, grabbing the container of food.
I walk out the front and smile at the guard standing there. He’s new. I don’t recognize him. I walk to the car where the driver is waiting for me, and suddenly, everything just goes black.
Chapter 29 - Dominic
I wake up, and my head is less sore than it felt yesterday, but my body is still in pain. I’ll adapt, though, because I’m used to pain.
I eat the stupid hospital breakfast they bring me only because they won’t let me go if I don’t. Once I choke it down, they give me another once over before the doctor declares I can be discharged.
The nurse brings the paperwork to me to fill out, and I think about Sofia. I wonder if she has missed me at all. She hasn’t called to check on me or come to visit, but I hope she’s happy to see me when I get home.
“Hello, big brother,” I look up at Arianna’s smiling face.
“Ari,” I say. “What are you doing here?”
“Picking you up.” She sits on the side of my bed. “Wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I snort. “You know this isn’t the worst I’ve been.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t worry,” she singsongs. She looks around the room and then at me. “So, did you and Sofia talk?”
“About what?” I ask curiously. “The last time I spoke to Sofia was yesterday morning.”
Arianna frowns. “She said she was coming to see you last night.”
“Maybe she fell asleep,” I say. “Or changed her mind.” My sister looks away, and I frown. “Arianna Amelia Sorvino, what did you do?”
She grins. “Don’t say my full name. It’s bad luck.”
I raise an eyebrow, which hurts. “What did you do?”
“I went to see her,” she says, drawing a lazy circle in the bedspread. “And I chatted to her about how she might feel about you.”