“Your relationship is weak at best,” he fired back. “She doesn’t even know you’re an artist.”
“Because I’m not.”
“Really? Didn’t realise you could just decide to turn off part of your heart.”
“Well you can. I turned off all of mine the day you left me.”
“And that right there is how I know you don’t love her.” He grabbed my chin as though he had a right to. “You can’t, Ry, because your heart belongs to me.”
This time, I did shove him away. I had to. Another second with his hand on me and I might do something stupid to shut him up. Like punch him.
Or kiss him.
“Tell me you don’t love me,” Dom demanded. “I dare you. I fucking dare you.”
I tried. I did.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Triumph flared in Dom’s eyes at my inability to say it. To confirm what we both knew would be a lie. But my next words doused it. “It doesn’t matter, Dom. Love isn’t enough.”
He laughed harshly. “Love is enough for everything.”
“Not for me,” I said honestly. “I’ve had a lot of time toreflect since we were together. I know what’s important to me now. Reliability. Communication. Security. Honesty. Respect. That’s what I want, and what I need.”
“I can be those things for you,” Dom said. “Please, Shadow, just give me a chance.”
“You had one,” I said bitterly. “Every day for the past ten years that passed without you picking up your phone. It’s too late now.”
“I couldn’t have called you earlier.” Dom sounded haunted. “I had to be sure that I’d grown up enough. That I could be the man you deserve. I wasn’t him ten years ago. Or five. Or even four? But three years ago? That’s when I was sure. That’s when I started planning. It wasn’t because I found out about your…engagement.” He spat the word like it was poison. “It was because the time was finally right.”
“You could’ve reached out,” I whispered in disbelief. “Do you haveanyidea what I’ve been through while you’ve been gone?”
His eyes widened. “Shadow?—”
“No, you don’t.” I was more than ready to be done with this conversation. Behind me, my engagement party was in full swing. That was where I needed to be, not out here, rehashing the past with Dominic like it could do anything but bring me more pain. “Because you never called.”
“You would’ve hung up,” Dom whispered, shaking his head slowly. “You wouldn’t have taken my call.”
There was no humour in my laugh as I stepped away. “Guess we’ll never know now, will we?”
7
Ryan
Kate slumped in the passenger seat and sighed heavily. “Thank god that’s over.”
Privately, I agreed with her. I’d half expected Dom to leave after our talk, but he hadn’t. Instead, he’d planted himself against a wall, watching me from the shadows.
As for me? I’d thrown myself into the role of doting fiancé. Kate had reappeared a few minutes after I did, her face darker than I’d ever seen it before. When she’d seen me, she smoothed it away, pasting a bright smile in its place.
I found myself doing the same.
“Certainly was a lot of hand shaking and talking,” I said as I drove us home. I thought about my next words carefully, but decided it would be weirder if I didn’t mention it. “Few unexpected guests too.”
Kate turned her head to look out of her window. “I’m sorry about Rafe.”
“God, don’t apologise. Is everything… Are you okay?”
