“I didn’t,” he said, sobering up. “She tried to get me to. I pushed her away. He saw what he wanted to and wouldn’t let me explain. And now, well, it’s a bit late. Her word against mine. She was only wanting to get pregnant to get some of his money.”
“And why doesn’t he like Zevon?”
“Uh, I may have messed around with him one time and Peyton caught us,” Dominic said, looking up at the ceiling.
“Oh,” I said, turning to face him. “So you’re gay?”
“Not by a long shot,” he scoffed. “I kissed Zevon one fucking time to see if I was, because girls held no interest to me when I was in high school. Peyton just happened to walk into my room at that time and saw it. Zevon is, though.”
“I thought gay men were…girly?”
“He’s anything but girly,” Dominic laughed. “Zevon is a different breed all together. But you’re safe with him. I don’t think anyone else knows that about him.”
“I won’t tell,” I promised.
“I didn’t think you ever would,” Dominic said, a smile making his eyes shine. “You really are pretty, though.”
My cheeks reddened and I flipped onto my back, staring up at the ceiling.
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Black.”
“Flower?”
“None.”
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal,” Dominic said, flipping and sitting up on the bed. When he had my full attention, he went on. “I’ll go down to this lunch thing with you if you find something you want to do.”
“Like what?”
“A hobby? Go somewhere? Anything.”
“Other than finding a way to get rid of…it?” I asked, already knowing that wasn’t an option.
“Yeah, other than that.”
“Okay,” I breathed out. “May be a long road.”
“I have time,” he smiled. “Come on. Let’s go wake up Zevon and get him to go, too.”
“He’ll hate us,” I groaned, but I smiled all the same.
“Nah. Not when it comes to you, honey.”
Zevon did in fact say that he hated us. Multiple times. But since I had been the one to ask, he couldn’t argue against it. I may have given him puppy dog eyes.
When Peyton came to tell me it was time for lunch, he refused to acknowledge Dominic or Zevon. He acted as if neither of them were there with me.
“You’ll be sitting by me,” he said, descending the stairs. I followed a few steps behind him, a bit slower. “Mom and Dad are both waiting. And please, don’t yell at Mom again.”
“I’ll try,” I squeaked. Most likely, I probably wouldn’t say a whole lot because everyone would be expecting me to talk.
“And where will I sit?” Dominic asked.
“On the floor,” Peyton coughed before saying louder, “At the table. Probably next to Ace and by your buddy there.”
“I have a name,” Zevon said.
