Dominic:The first time I saw you, you took my breath away. Standing there in a white dress at a frat party, like an angel that came down to earth for the sole purpose of claiming my heart. You succeeded. I won’t say those words to you now because they’re too important to put in a text message you won’t ever read, but I feel them, angel. I’ve always felt them.
It’s been three weeks since I’ve laid eyes on Dom, but I’ve heard from him every single day. Text messages I won’t allow myself to read. Notes that are always attached to flowers or other gifts he has delivered to my house. Voicemails and audio messages I have to force myself to delete because I know the moment I hear that smooth, dark rasp, I’ll be a goner.
They started the day after I left him standing in my driveway and haven’t stopped since, and every time I get one, my resolve cracks a littlemore. Usually, I dismiss them as soon as they come in, but today is the opening for La Grande Nuit, and I miss him. Which is why the second his name popped up on my phone, I opened the message and ended up reading the most devastating one he’s sent so far.
And now that I’m in the thread, I can’t stop scrolling, reading every single thing he’s written to me over the last twenty-one days and trying not to ruin my makeup.
Dominic:I did try to hate you, Sloane, but I never succeeded because hating you was even more impossible than loving you.
Dominic:Tried to get on a plane to California today, but I couldn’t do it.
Dominic:You were in my dreams last night. I wish I could have stayed asleep.
Dominic:They’re using a new crust on the double chocolate cheesecake at Twisted Sistas. Have you tried it yet?
Dominic:I just watched the episode of Grey’s where Meredith asks Derek to choose her. He was a bastard for walking away.
Some of the messages make me laugh, but mostly they make me want to cry. I turn my phone face down and pull in a few deep breaths through my nose, willing the tears to go away so I can finish getting dressed for the launch party. Mal and I spent the entire morning pampering ourselves. Getting our hair, nails, and makeup done before coming back to my house to get dressed.
She’s agreed to be my date, promising to stay by my side for the entire evening just like she has for the last month. We haven’t talked much about Dom over the past few weeks, but I know they still talk and see each other at Sunday dinners when I’m not there. And I’m honestly glad their relationship hasn’t suffered because of me. Dom needs all the family he can get, and Mal can’t afford to lose another brother.
Skipping a family dinner every now and then to keep things from being weird seems like a small sacrifice to make.
“Hey,” Mal calls as she walks into my bedroom. “I got something for you!”
There’s a large white box with a black bow in her hands, and she’s smiling wide as she sets it on the bed and gestures for me to come over. I eye the box warily as I walk over. Mal has never bought me anything that’s required an actual gift box before, and I don’t know what to expect.
“Mal, what is this?”
“Open it and see!”
I run my fingers over the bow and glance at her. She’s bouncing happily on her tiptoes, and her face is split into a wide grin that makes her dimples pop. The excited energy pouring off of her is contagious. I tug on the bow and it comes loose easily. Mal makes an excited little squeal in the back of her throat that has me laughing as I open the box to reveal a black dress with a sheer corset bodice and beaded straps.
“Wow.” I give her a puzzled look as I pull the dress out of the box completely and rub the tulle skirt between my fingers. “It’s beautiful, but you didn’t have to do this.”
“I know I didn’t, but you’ve been through a lot the last few weeks, and I wanted you to feel beautiful tonight.”
“Aww, Mal. That’s so sweet.”
She waves a dismissive hand at me. “Yeah, yeah. I’m the best sister in the world. We already know that. Now shut up and put it on!”
“And just like that, the moment is gone.”
“Get a move on, Sloane. We have to leave soon.”
“Fine,” I mutter as I slip out of my robe and into the dress. “I do appreciate it though, Mal. Not just the dress, but everything you’ve done over the last few weeks. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.”
“I know, Sloane.” She sighs as she zips me up. “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Besides this dress.”
I stare at myself in the mirror and realize she’s right. This dress is perfect, so much better than whatever I was going to pull out of my closet. Even though the color makes me think of Dom, I can’t help but love how the soft fabric hugs my curves and accentuates my waist. The corset makes my cleavage look amazing, and the two front slits in the skirt give the slightest peek of my bare legs underneath the tulle.
“Wear these.” Mal hands me a pair of simple diamond studs. “They’ll pull the whole look together.”
This is how she’s been all day, standing over me and making suggestions that are really orders. Telling me to go with a neutral color for my nails, and a softer look for my makeup, talking me into getting a halo braid so I wouldn’t spend the night fighting with my curls. I don’t think she’s ever been so opinionated about my appearance, but so far she hasn’t led me wrong, so I take the earrings and put them on.
Mal smiles like a proud mom when I’m done and helps me pick out a pair of heels before forcing me down the stairs, out the door, and to her car. Within minutes, we’re heading downtown toward La Grande Nuit, and I’m trying not to feel anxious about seeing Dom for the first time in weeks with the words from his messages in my head.
“He’s not going to be there.”
