Dominic took a careful step back, putting a few feet of distance between us. My throat felt thick again. I knew why he was doing it. Hell, heshouldbe doing it.
I just wished it didn’t feel like rejection every time he did it. Logically, I knew it wasn’t, but logic had left the conversation a long time ago where Dominic was concerned.
“Actually, Ryan and I are going to see Caffeine Daydreams,” Dominic said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We’ll meet up with you after, okay?”
Max turned his back to me slightly as he drew nearer to Dominic. He dropped his voice low, but I had no issue hearing the hissed words. “What about us spending time together, man?This trip was meant to be about us. The last celebration of our freedom before?—”
“Enough.” Dominic cut him off, glaring at him in a way that threatened murder.
Unease tickled at the back of my neck. Freedom? What the fuck was he on about? Getting a job, or whatever they were planning, didn’t mean they weren’t free anymore.
Max’s shoulders were tense, his hands in fists at his sides. The unease ticked up. I should’ve known better when I’d thought Max was okay with me being here.
He’d never be okay with it.
Just like he’d never be okay with me and Dom being together.
Dominic took a deep breath before squeezing Max’s shoulder and smiling at him. “We’ll have lots of time together, okay? Amy’s here as well as Ryan. You go enjoy her company, and we’ll catch up later.”
“Fine,” Max ground out. “But no ditching me, Dominic. I mean it.”
“Understood,” Dominic said.
We both watched my brother storm away. I turned to see an inscrutable expression on Dominic’s face, his fingers twitching at his sides like he was fighting to keep still.
“You can go after him,” I heard myself say. “Max is right—I’m totally gatecrashing. You shouldn’t ditch him.”
“I’m not,” he said, but there was reluctance in how he tugged his gaze away. “But I’m not letting you miss out on Caffeine Daydreams either.”
He shot one final glance in the direction Max had disappeared in before extending his hand to me with a smile. “Come on. We’ve got a barricade to find.”
What followed was,without a doubt, the best day of my life.
Dominic got us to the barricade as confidently as he’d claimed he would. Surrounded by strangers, there was nothing stopping Dominic bracketing me in against the barrier. His front was plastered to my back for the whole set as we sang and danced. It took me a while to realise that he wasn’t just doing it to be close, but to stop anyone jostling me.
I swear, I fell more for Dominic with each hour that passed.
Our voices were hoarse by the time we found the others, but so were theirs. Amy and I fell into step as we made our way to one of the many food places, giving Max and Dom some alone time.
The two of us continued hanging out as the afternoon made its way to evening. By silent mutual agreement, we peeled off on our own, exploring the various vendors before catching another set from a band neither of us had heard of.
Hanging out with Amy was no hardship. With Max and Dom both being in relationships, I knew they were missing this time together. I thought Amy knew that too. And, as much as Max might have believed I wanted to come between them, I didn’t. That wasn’t me.
I just wanted Dom to be happy. For him to see that he could have us both in his life.
I’d never make him choose between us. It wasn’t necessary.
Max might if he finds out about the two of us.
I smiled at Amy wanly as she tried on a jester hat. Yeah, he probably would, but that was why he wasn’t going to find out. Not yet, anyway. Besides, if Dom and I were going to be long-distance come October, then it’d be easier to hide. We wouldn’t be spending all our time together but restricted to nothing more than mere brushes. I wouldn’t see him as often, but the time we’d have together would beours. Best of all, we wouldn’t have to hide.
The unease from the train finally vanished. Whatever Dominic was planning didn’t need to affect us. We’d known all along that I’d be going away for uni, and I’d resigned myself to us being long-distance a while ago. Whatever happened, at least we’d be together.
And hopefully one day, we’d be together all the time again, living in a world where we didn’t have to hide. Where Dominic wasn’t being torn between Max and myself. Where perhaps I could even be friends with my twin again.
It seemed fantastical, but I could dream.
When evening came, Dominic finally appeared back at my side. “Hi. All okay?”
