“Is your phone hooked up to the speakers?” Dom questions.
“Uh, yeah,” I mutter. That’s all he wanted?
He takes my phone and fiddles with it for a moment while I sit there motionless.
A song comes on through the speakers but I don’t recognise it.
Dom stands and holds his hand out to me. I blink at it for a moment before putting my hand into his.
Dom leads me into an empty space between the counter and the dining room table. He conjoins our two hands, resting the other one on my hip.
I shouldn’t be surprised that he wants to have an impromptu dance in the kitchen. It’s very Dom like.
The second those rumbling words leave his mouth I sigh, feeling every bit of stress leave my body.“Well, this ol' guitar in the spotlight; boy, if people only knew. Said it's the same guitar I wrote a thousand songs on, nobody heard but you. Baby, you were singin' it first 'fore anybody ever noticed.”
We slowly dance in the kitchen as I listen to Dom sing.
“And when my fifteen minutes ends,”Dom’s voice grows softer,“and the world loves me a little less. I hope you know that you're the only one I was trying to impress.”
I gaze up into those eyes. The ones I fell for—just a little bit.
“All I ever cared about, all I ever cared about, was your face in the crowd.”
I gently tug my hand from his. It travels up his back, under his shirt as I lay my head on his chest.
Dom’s hands are careful of my arm, settling on my waist.
“Yeah, this dream come true is a dream come true. It's a crazy ride we're on,”Dom croons.
I can’t help the soft laugher that bubbles out of me. There’s nothing more true than that.
“All I ever cared about—all I ever cared about, was your face in the crowd. Said all I ever cared about—all I ever cared about was your face in the crowd.”Dom continues our side to side sway long after the music stops.
Dom uses music to sort out and convey his emotions. I love listening to him sing. Occasionally, when he’s in the right mood, he writes his own stuff.
I’m the only one allowed to listen.
“Why are you scared of me?” Dom asks quietly, resigned. My heart breaks all over again.
“I’m not scared of you.” I shake my head slightly into his chest.
“You’re scared I’m going to hurt you,” Dom corrects.
“You did hurt me, Dom,” I tell him. Yet, I can’t find it in me to pull away. I lift my head, lowering my arms to my sides.
“You didn’t fight for us,” I sigh, deciding to be honest, “and it makes me think that if things get hard, in the future…”
“—that I won’t fight for you,” Dom finishes. “Fuck, Alec.” I feel the remorse in his voice.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying like hell not to break.
“Alec, I’m not going anywhere. I’m telling younowthat I want to be with you. Whatever that looks like with Rory and everything,” Dom tells me, slowly pulling away. “We can take it slow, with or without labels—it doesn’t matter to me.I just want you back. Please.”
My heart pounds and my lips part, nothing coming out as he looks at me sadly before walking away.
Every step he takes makes the space between bigger—every step hurting like hell.
He’s saying he wants this. Wants me. He’s ready to fight for us.
