I just felt…nothing. Completely numb.
With a hot packet of chips in my hands, I finally had an excuse to not touch her. I ate as slowly as possible. When we were done, I made my excuses about getting home, citing a curfew.
Then I pretended not to notice how she lightly touched my shoulders before rising on her toes. Pretended not to see how close her lips came to mine. Pretended not to feel her hot breath on my face.
I stepped back and smiled widely, thanking her for a lovely evening.
Yup. That’s exactly what I said to her. Obviously I become seventy when I’m nervous and don’t know what to do.
Then I turned on my heel and walked as fast as I could in the other direction without her thinking I was weird.
When I made it to my road, I sagged in relief. There. It was done. I’d been out with her, and hopefully that’d be enough. She had to see I wasn’t interested, right?
My relief was short lived. As I drew closer to my house, this time I didn’t miss the figure sitting on my windowsill, smoke spiralling into the air above him.
Neither of us acknowledged the other as I approached. A tight knot formed in my stomach as I unlocked the front door.
I wouldn’t be able to ignore Dominic for long. He wasn’t like Maya. He saw right through my bullshit and called me on it.
I couldn’t decide whether I hated it or liked it.
I didn’t rush straight upstairs. I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water, drinking it at the sink. When I was done, I stared at my reflection in the kitchen window, trying to figure out who was looking back at me.
Tonight, I’d been on a date with a beautiful girl who wasinterestedin me. Who wanted me to kiss her. It was something that had been a dream of mine ever since I’d worked out what my dick was for.
And…I’d felt nothing.
Meanwhile, Dominic was waiting upstairs for me. Someone I hated. Who drove me fucking crazy and made me act in ways I didn’t understand.
So why was my skin tingling like I’d touched an electric fence? Why was my pulse racing? Why was I having to physically stop myself running up the stairs?
I looked away from my reflection. He didn’t have any answers and neither did I. I wasn’t going to find any hiding down here, either.
Rinsing the glass, I added it to the dishwasher and turned it on. Mum was already in bed and the dim light from Dad’s shed told me his location. No idea where Max was, but seeing as Dominic was choosing to lurk in my room, I suspected he was busy with Amy.
Like you could’ve been with Maya. Instead you’re going to spend time with Dominic.
Not because I had a choice, I told myself as I took the stairs two at a time. He was forcing his company on me, not the other way around.
“You’re back early,” he said as I closed the door behind me. He didn’t turn around, just continued to blow smoke into the night.
Tugging off my jacket, I chucked it onto my desk. “Smoking’s bad for you, you know.”
“I know. I’ve heard you tell Max often enough.”
“Ah, so it’s not that you don’t listen, just that you’re not smart enough to understand it.”
“I’m plenty smart, cheers.” He took another drag. “That’s not the issue.”
I yanked my T-shirt off and tossed it in the direction of my washing basket. It fell close enough to count. “Then why do it?”
“Because I don’t care.”
My fingers were on the button of my jeans now. “You don’t care that you could get cancer? Lung disease? Any one of many other illness that could shorten your life? You don’t care about that?”
“Nope.” He took a final drag and flicked the butt into the night. “Not everyone dreams of living to a grand old age, Shadow.”
“What? Why not?”
