I crouched so I was eye level with him. “You weren’t a father to Dominic, and thanks to your actions, now you don’t have a son. He won’t ever come back to you unless you sort your fucking life out.”
In reality, I doubted Dominic would ever come back here. I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.
“You’re pathetic,” I continued. “And you know what? I’m glad your wife is dead. If she were alive, she’d hate you for what you’ve become. She’d despise you for how you’ve treated Dominic.”
The can in his hand crumpled. “You don’t knowanythingabout Sally.”
“No, but I know her son,” I told him, just as I’d once told Dominic. “He’s caring, loving, and so bloody protective that he’d throw himself into the line of fire to save someone he loved.”
Please don’t let him actually do that.
I got to my feet, glaring down at his dad. “Seeing as he didn’t get those traits from you, I know they came from his mum. Which means she’d be just as disgusted with you as he is.”
His dad stared off into space, his body limp. When he spoke, there was no heat behind his words. “Get the fuck out.”
This time, I listened. Not because I gave a shit what he wanted, but because I was done. I’d said my piece. I doubted it’d have any impact, but at least I’d tried.
Maybe one day, if Dominic did come back, his dad would realise his son’s true worth.
Or maybe neither of those things would happen. The one certainty I had was that Dominic was gone.
He was gone. All along, he’d had his plans. Plans that had never included me.
It was time I worked out what my own would be.
29
Ryan
Anger became my closest friend over the next few weeks.
I spent most of my time out of the house. Mum and Dad seemed to come to terms with Max’s choice, their lives returning to normal.
I wished mine could.
My phone went off often, but never with calls from Dominic. No texts, either.
Hadn’t stopped me messaging him. A casual check-in. A furious tirade about how he’d just left. Finally, three simple words.
RYAN
Go fuck yourself.
Not the three I wanted to send. Realising I’d never say them again hurt almost as much as not seeing Dominic’s face at my window every night.
Sure, there might be someone in my future who’d capture my attention. A person I’d whisper my love to, but it wouldn’t be the same.
There’d never be another like Dominic for me.
When the third hit, I stopped hoping for a response. Or that I might wake up with him beside me.
He wasn’t coming back. Basic training had started, and he’d spent his two final weeks of freedom with my brother.
Not with me.
I knew I wasn’t being fair. I’d been pretty fucking adamant that we were over that night, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.
Max had been right all along.
