I swiveled my head and glowered at her, attempting to cross my arms but stopped when I noticed how much that made my robe ride up even more.
“Shut up!” I whispered back, which only made her laugh harder.
“Like I don’t know you, baby sister, and you didn’t slam the door to send up some kind of code to tell Dominic to put his pants on.”
“How do you know it’s Dominic?”
She dropped a hand to my shoulder. “I knew Dominic would end up here before you did, honey. And to think, I complained they were dragging me out here early on a Sunday. This was too good to miss.”
I jabbed her in the arm.
“Mom, Dad, do you want some coffee? I only have the one cup at a time machine, but I can make you some.” I said much louder than I needed to, hoping my voice carried up the stairs.
“Why are you speaking so loud?” Mom asked. “We aren’t that old.” She chuckled. “How are you feeling? I knew you’d get a nasty infection while you were here alone.” Shetsked, shaking her head.
My father looked me over, his lips pursed and his nose crinkled, as if he knew what he was looking at, but didn’t want to say it out loud.
“It doesn’t look like she’s here alone, Debbie.”
“Could you excuse me a second?” I crept toward the steps in an attempt to escape. “Help yourself to whatever you want, I think there are some pastries left in the bag on the counter.”
“Wait,” my mother called after me after I made it to the second step.
“If you’re headed upstairs, maybe you should take these with you.” She picked my bra and tank top up from where they laid on the floor by the staircase and handed it to me, her eyes thinned to slits.
“Thanks,” was all I could say before I sprinted up the stairs.
My face heated as I trudged into the bedroom.
“Listen,” I started before shutting the door behind me. When I turned to Dominic, he was already fully dressed and sitting on the bed. He met my gaze and burst out laughing before rolling onto the floor.
“Oh my God, you think this is funny?” I swatted him with my tank top. “I greeted my parents half-naked and my mother just handed me my clothes that she found on the floor.”
“I’m laughing at the signals you tried to send up here. Slamming the door, talking to your parents like they needed hearing aids.” He folded over in laughter. “I love you so damn much, come over here.” He pulled me to the floor. “We’ll take them to the pub for brunch, they can’t yell at you or beat me up there.”
“Okay,” I kissed him and shoved his still shaking shoulder. “It’s still not funny, you big jerk.”
“Hopefully, I can make it up to them eventually.” His smile faded. “Hey, if I were them, I’d hate me, too. The important thing is thatyoudon’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you. Even at the worst of it, I still loved you.”
He pecked my lips and stood, holding his hand out to lift me up.
“Get dressed, Theodora. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
“Bite me, Domenico.”
“I’ll have to wait until everyone leaves.” He slapped my ass and made his way out the door.
Despite myself, my lips curled into a grin. I threw on a yellow sundress after digging for a bra and underwear when I turned to a knock on the door.
“I’ll be right out,” I called over my shoulder.
“It’s just me.”
I relaxed at my sister’s voice.
“I figured being up here was better than the uncomfortable small talk in your kitchen.”
