Domisright.We belong together. The next few weeks after I told him about our baby, he spoiled me. Really spoiled me. He took me out to dinner, bought me flowers every week, and fattened me up with chocolates. Dom came to my house every night after work. He arrived after I put Charlotte to bed, and he woke and left before she was up for the day.
He fucked me good, and he made love to me. He held me and kissed me. But most of all, he listened to me. The wall I’d built to keep him out crumbled, and all the feelings I had hidden from him poured out.
I was happy.
Really fucking happy. So much so that my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
When I told him Charlotte saved me, I’d meant it. She did save me, but it was Dom that was breathing life back into me. It was intense, we were intense, but we had a decade of loving to make up for.
“Andi!” Haley calls from the edge of the barn, and I step out of the office and into the barn.
My eyes widen when I see she’s holding a very tiny and fluffy kitten in her arms. “What’s that!”
“I have bad news, and then I have good news.” She comes closer.
The ball of fluff was a gray tabby kitten, probably only a few weeks old. “Hold the kitty.” She shoves it into my arms. “Hold him through your heart attack.”
“What is it?” I bring the kitten to my cheek, stroking the soft fur.
“After the holidays, I’ll be moving to Boston. I’ve gotten an extremely great offer that I can’t refuse. I bought a townhome. A beautiful brownstone with two bedrooms so you and Lettie can visit.”
“No. Haley! You’re my best friend. You can’t leave me. I won’t let you.”
She pauses and scratches the kitten’s ear. “This is what’s best for me, Andi. I can’t be near him.”
“He lives in Washington! This is California.”
“I can’t breathe here. I need a fresh start. I need to get my life back, and it has to be far away.” She stops, petting the kitty. “This is my goodbye gift to Lettie.”
“She’ll love him. And he’ll keep the mice out of the barn.” I sniffle. “We will visit you every chance we get.”
“And I’ll be here every chance I get. Are you ready for this dinner? Mac said he’s bringing his new girl?”
I sigh and roll my eyes. The dinner tonight was Mac’s idea. He’s finally realized Dom and I are getting serious, and wanted to open up our relationship, or something like that. I don’t know what goes on in my brother’s head, but I enjoy hosting, so I agreed.
“Dom is bringing his roommate, so it won’t be weird. No fifth wheel,” I promise. “He’ll probably flirt with you. He has a different girl at the house every time I’m there.”
Haley smirks. “I’ll tell him to shove it. Mac too. You know he hates when people hit on us.”
“Yes, especially you,” I laugh. “Is it going to be weird to have his girlfriend there?”
Haley forces a laugh. “You mean his side piece of the week? I’m good. That night was a moment of stupidity. I don’t want Mac like that. I’ll be fine. The question is, will he? He gets more jealous than you do. Colby’s roommate hitting on me might send him into a tizzy.”
“Dominic,” I remind her, “Hey, I am not jealous!”
“Please. You freak out if someone stares at Colby’s ass for too long.”
“It’s my ass to look at!” I give up on correcting her. The kitten in my arms starts to claw to get away. “Where did you get this thing? How old is it? What am I getting myself into?”
“A few weeks. I found it and took it to the vet.”
“Jesus. You found it! What the fuck, Haley.”
“On Craigslist,” she adds.
“Craigs– “I shake my head at her stupidity. “I swear, you just do things without thinking of the consequences. You could have been murdered. The cat could have a disease. You could have just paid a psychopath who breeds cats for bait. What is wrong with you? It’s definitely too young to be without a mother, and you’ve bought it without thinking.”
Another shrug from her causes me to roll my eyes. There is no changing Haley, and even though her spontaneity exhausts me, I wouldn’t want her to lose it. “Fine, you win. The kitten stays. Let’s check on dinner.”