I pulled him to the side. He had the nerve to be annoyed. “What, Maeda?”
“I’m not comfortable with Dolly staying at your house when you have company, especially not with her,” I spoke harshly, but I was fuming.
Tristan pointed at Nikki, “Like you’re one to talk!”
“Nikki never spends the night.”
“Are you guys even really dating? I never even see you kiss.”
I avoided the question. “You’ve been badgering me about moving back in and us being a family. Meanwhile your side piece is in your bed? How long did you even wait before you moved her in? A week? Two days?”
Tristan shook his head. “You’re the one I want. It’s just sex with Dom.”
“Oh, my god.”
“I’m serious!”
I fixed him with a look, “Is that what she would say if I went and asked her?”
The panic in his eyes was my answer.
“Exposing Dolly to someone you think is just temporary is cruel. Flaunting your mistress in front of me is twisted. Begging me to come back to you while Dom thinks you’re in a relationship with her is just fucked up. Dolly should just come home with me.” I was firm. Even though Dolly was excited to go, even though I had planned on a quiet night and a slow morning on my own.
“Fine, I’ll drop Dom off at her place,” Tristan grumbled, but I didn’t believe him.
“Okay then, I’ll take Dolly to the house and wait for you there.”
“Are you for real right now? What are you, my mother?”
I could have slapped him. “I’mhermother. Don’t fucking play with me Tristan. I’m sure if Dom is just a friend, she won’t mind.”
Tristan’s shoulders slumped, and he nodded. We walked back over to Dolly, Dom, and Nikki. Nikki gave me a questioning look, and I rolled my eyes in response. She nodded like she understood.
Tristan spoke to Dom. “I’m taking her to the jump house tomorrow. Dolly loves the trampolines.”
“Oh, that will be so fun!” Dom said.
“So, I’m going to drop you off at your place. I just want to make sure Dolly gets a good night sleep.”
Dom deflated a bit. “Oh, sure, okay.” Then, she squatted down and gave Dolly a hug, which Dolly reciprocated. Which confirmed to me that they knew each other well enough to hug.How many times had Dom been around?“You did so well at your dance, Dolly!”
“Thank you Miss Dom! Are you coming to the jump house tomorrow?”
Dom looked at Tristan, who looked at me. I shrugged. It seemed there was already a familiarity there.
“We’re going to drop Dolly off,” I told Nikki. “Is that okay?”
“Sure thing,dolci,” she said, using her nickname for me.
Tristan and Dom walked away to their car. When Dolly was buckled up, I went over to Nikki and wrapped my arms around her. I whispered in her ear, “Thank you for everything.”
She held me tightly. “Of course. Anytime.”
For as long as I could remember, I had been trying to be soft but armored. Resilience was the only path I knew, and it was the constant thickening of my skin that made me strong. Yet, something about Nikki always showing up, always being there for not just me but Dolly, too. Hurting her was my one regret, but I had to leave before I got left. After my parents refused to acknowledge my sexuality, I was already on thin ice of losing them. I didn’t know it at the time that I would end up losing them anyway.
I don’t know what possessed me to do it. I would say it was for the ruse, but no one was watching.
“Can I kiss you?” I whispered.
