The way he looked at me when he grabbed me and threw himself between Rafe and me. His hard body, half naked, glistening with sweat. The hard look on his face as he protectively guarded me from Rafe.
Then there was the night we ran into each other, and even though he didn’t recognize me, we left together and had sex in his car. Every inch of this place is full of memories of Dom and me. Memories that were like dreams come true at the time, only to be shattered by the reality of life.
As we walk into the ring room, I take in the deepest breath I can manage, preparing myself to act surprised and happy. Not like I feel like I’m unraveling one thread at a time.
I force back tears, replacing my sorrow with a smile. But as soon as we walk into the room, my expression shifts to shock.
The lights are off, except for the one above the ring. Standing there on the stage are four ballet dancers.
“What’s going on?” I ask as music pours through the speakers.
“It’s the Aurora Ballet Collective…” I say, recognizing them immediately. They’re one of the most prestigious ballet companies in California.
“It is,” she says as they begin their dance. I’ve seen them before, as a child and when I was in high school. Of course the girls were different back then, but everything about it is still the same. I stand with my hands clasped and tears in my eyes for the next ten minutes, unable to say anything.
When their performance is over, I clap, my cheeks drenched with tears.
“Where is Niko?” I ask Lainey. “Was this his idea?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head.
“No?” I ask, looking over at her. “Was it yours? Lainey, how did you do it? Their performances are booked out for months.”
“It wasn’t me either,” she says, and I am completely lost.
A smile creeps across her face, and she lets out a giddy laugh. Her eyes glisten with tears, and that’s when I hear his voice.
“It was mine.”
I turn to see Dominic standing in the ring. I don’t know where he came from, and I blink multiple times, thinking maybe I am seeing things. But he’s really there, in black slacks and a burgundy fitted button-down. His hands are in his pockets, and his thick dark hair is shiny in the overhead lighting. His taunt jaw is lined with two weeks worth of salt and pepper. His eyes are bright, like the color of the sky just after a storm.
I gasp, unable to speak. Lainey squeezes my hand and walks off. I don’t even see where she goes. I can’t see anything but Dominic standing alone on the stage as the dancers quietly exit.
“How did you do this?” I ask. “And why?”
“Because I love the way you light up when you watch dance. I love the way you look when you are dancing,” he says. I slowly make my way towards the ring so I can hear him better. He holds out a hand and helps me up. We stand together under the lights.
“I’m sorry,” I start to say, but he presses a finger over my lips to hush me.
“No. I’m sorry, Mila. I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain. I’m sorry I only thought of my own fear and didn’t consider yours. I’m sorry I asked you to play along with this whole charade. I’m sorry I didn’t call it off when it was obvious it wasn’t fake anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you tried to warn me about Rafe. I’m sorry that I was anything but ecstatic when I found out you were pregnant. Because that should have been my reaction to finding out that the woman I love is carrying my child.”
I swallow hard, my chin quivering. “How do I know?” I ask.
“How do you know what?” Dominic echoes.
“How do I know that you’re not still just saying these things so that you can get your inheritance and make the bid for Golden Rule?” I ask.
“Rafe is out of the running,” he says. “They found out about the fight and don’t want anything to do with him.”
“How do I know you aren’t just trying to get your inheritance from your dad?” I ask. “Golden Rule or not, you still have no access to the money without a marriage license.”
“I already have the money,” he says.
I blink. “You have your inheritance?”
Dominic smiles, taking my hands in his. “I do. Every penny of it is in my account. And while that changes things in my life drastically, it doesn’t change one thing.”
“What’s that?” I ask, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
