I speed walk up the stairs, into my room, and into the arms of my pet rabbit, thinking about how much Dom gives, and what he would be like when he finally took for himself.
* * *
“Boogie boarding!”
I took one look at the bags under Dom’s eyes this morning, saw his stiff movements, likely from sleeping scrunched in a bed far too small for him, and decided I would do everything in my power to keep his daughter occupied so that he could take a nap.
“I went in the basement and found these boogie boards,” I tell Frankie, who’s currently sans-pants presumably because her father is a zombie. “Let’s go.” I look towards her father. “Go take a nap.”
He yawns, scratching his head. “I have to work.”
“Go work, then take a nap,” I amend.
“I still have to do her hair,” he says, looking at her.
“Can Tita Lina do your hair today?” I ask Frankie.
“Yes, please,” she answers politely.
I glare at Dom and point towards the guest house.
He sighs then shuffles away, defeated, seemingly too exhausted to even acknowledge the capital M Moment we shared last night.
I turn to Frankie. “Can you teach me something new about World War II while I do your hair?”
“Well, the Mitsubishi (muhtts-bee-thee) was Japan’s best fighter plane. It had a big red circle on it. Actually, they all had a big red circle on it. I think it was supposed to be a sun…” she begins, as we walk towards the bathroom.
When I stop into the guest house at lunch to grab a book, he’s passed out facedown on the couch.Good for you, I think.Take for yourself.
* * *
It’s getting close to dinnertime when I find myself in front of my laptop again, doing some last minute budgeting things, trying to figure out the best way to save money ordering school supplies. But since I am New and Improved Real Life Lina, I am doing it outside on the patio of the main house at the dining table, so I am very Relaxed and Outside.
“Hey,” that voice like the ocean says behind me.
“Frankie’s inside with Gloria,” I tell him, and he sits next to me. He feels like a black hole, the way I’m pulled towards him.
“Thanks for taking her earlier,” he murmurs, long fingers tracing the grain on the dining table, and I’ve never wanted to be a piece of wood more in my life. “I didn’t sleep much last night. Didn’t fit in the bunk beds. I passed out on the couch earlier… I haven’t done that in years.”
“I saw. Your mouth was wide open, and you were drooling all over the upholstery.”
He blushes a little. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I still think you’re sexy.”
Dom searches my face with quiet intensity, looking for something. “I’m sorry for sending mixed signals. I know I keep saying that I don’t want to get involved, but last night was…”
“Hot?”
He lets out a breath. “Exhilarating. I haven’t felt that way in a really long time, and I got carried away, and I feel bad.”
“Why do you feel bad?”
“I don’t know. For like, leading you on, or something. For my actions not matching my words.” He scrubs his face, laughing without humor. “Wow, I’m incredibly awful at this. I’m sorry. It’s been a really long time.”
“Since?” I enjoy watching him squirm.
“Since I’ve…”
