“Oh yeah?” I sneered. “What’s that?”
“You love me,” he said simply. “You never stopped, no matter what you tried.”
I ground my teeth together. “That doesn’t mean anything.”
“On the contrary, Shadow. It means everything. You don’t see it now, but don’t worry. You will.”
I stormed away from him, ignoring the curious glances from passers-by. I didn’t give Dominic so much as a flicker of attention as we visited the toilets andgrabbed coffee and food, before finally going back to the car.
To his credit, Dominic was completely unfazed by my behaviour. He just followed me around, smiling serenely and humming under his breath.
Prick.
“No cigarette break?”
I frowned at him. “What?”
“You didn’t smoke,” he said. “Haven’t seen you have one since your engagement party.”
I shifted on my feet, wishing he’d hurry up and unlock the car. “I don’t smoke all the time. Just when I’m…stressed.”
Dominic smirked, leaning on the top of the car. “Aw. Does that mean you’re feeling nice and relaxed?”
The glare I gave him promised murder.
“I’m just yanking your chain.” Dom winked, finally hitting the button to unlock the car. “I’m glad you’re not smoking. You were right when you said it’d kill me. I fucking hate that you’re doing it to yourself.”
I grunted as I got into the car. What more could I say? He was right. I loathed that I had the odd cigarette. It really was a disgusting habit.
Admitting that felt too much like telling him he was right though, so I just ignored him. At least, I tried to. My eyes betrayed me more often than I’d like. My nose too, inhaling greedily whenever there was a hint of Dom’s scent.
The first few notes of “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” by Paloma Faith filled the air as my phone auto connected to the Bluetooth. I slammed the off button, and the silence rang in the air.
“No more music?” Dominic asked innocently as he drove us back onto the motorway.
“No. We can sit in silence.”
“Doesn’t sound fun.”
“Good,” I said pettily, glaring out the window. “Be miserable.”
My head whipped around at Dom’s laugh. “Shadow, I’m next to you. It’s literally impossible for me to be miserable.”
I pressed my hand against my stomach like that might crush the butterflies inside. “Well, I’m miserable.”
“You’re annoyed,” Dom countered. “But that’s okay. Annoyed, I can work with.”
“Probably because you’re used to pissing everyone around you off.”
“Probably. Came with the territory of being sergeant. Can’t be in charge and please everyone.”
I dug my fingers into my thighs. Dominic knew exactly what he was doing, dropping a nugget like that. But I wasn’t falling for it. I wasn’t.
“You were a sergeant?”
Dom’s lips twitched. “Yep. Worked my way up through the ranks.”
All my knowledge of military ranks came from Xander, but I knew enough to know that what Dominic had achieved was impressive. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
