Chloe
I WAKE SUDDENLY, with a sense of panic, wrapped up in a strange bed, but my nerves quickly settle when I realise that I’m still at Dom’s. I can’t find it in myself to move it’s so comfortable. For some reason, it gives me a feeling of security knowing he’s here. The smell of bacon drifts through the door and my stomach lets out a loud growl telling me to feed it. Stretching I slowly sit myself up and check out my surroundings. The room is small but it’s decorated tastefully in simple florals. There’s a full bedroom set in a beautiful oak and a TV set on top of the armoire.
Dom must have finished washing my clothes because they are set folded on the dresser. I swing my feet over the edge of the bed and make my way to them. I definitely need to get some more clothes from my place if I’m going to be staying here for a while. And from my talk with Dom last night, I’m not going anywhere just yet. I’m really scared they’ll find me, but I’m even more scared of putting Dom and his family in danger. But for the moment, I’m not left with much choice. I’ll have to get in touch with my father and hope that he can take care of everything, and quickly with Patrick Smith.
Cautiously making my way down to the kitchen, I turn onto the hall and come face to face with Dom’s nan. ‘Good morning, ma’am. I’m Chloe. Dom let me stay the night last night.’ The scowl on her face tells me that he didn’t tell her I was here. ‘I’m sorry if I’m intruding. He assured me it was alright.’
‘Dommm,’ she screeches and I jump back. He comes rushing around the corner, spatula in hand. ‘Dom who’s this in my house?’ She asks him as he stands next to her.
‘Nan, I told you I had company last night. I’m making us all breakfast right now.’
‘You did?’ She stares at him a long moment and then her eyes light up. ‘Oh yes sugar, I remember now. You gave me quite a fright, young lady. I’m sorry my memory isn’t what it used to be.’ She moves towards the dining room and takes a seat at the table leaving Dom and I standing in the entryway.
‘I’m sorry about that.’ He waves his spatula towards his nan.
‘It’s ok. I completely understand and I hope I’m not intruding? I can go, just as soon as I give my father a call…’
‘No, no it’s ok. She just didn’t recall that I told her. She’s knows I’m a grown man and am able to see women if I want.’ A warm blush creeps along his face. ‘That came out wrong… that’s not what I meant…I don’t bring women here all the time. Well not ever. I don’t have women here.’ I giggle as he stumbles over his words.
‘Calm down there, Romeo. I get it. Is something burning?’
‘Oh shit.’ He turns and bolts back into the kitchen to tend to whatever is stinking up the place. I follow him and can’t help but laugh as he smacks the toaster upside down into the sink to dislodge the bread.
‘Thank goodness it wasn’t the bacon,’ I say while laughing. I pick up the spatula off the counter and move to tend to the eggs. ‘I’ll just finish cooking the eggs while you deal with your burnt toast issue.’
‘Burnt toast issue, huh?’
‘Ahhh!’ A jet of cold-water lands right on the small of my back and rolls down my butt crack. ‘Oh my god I can’t believe you just did that! It’s on, Dom, now it’s war!’
His eyes connect with mine ‘Challenge accepted.’
***
Dom
I didn’t sleep too good last night so I’m tired. I wanted to get up early and make sure I was up and ready before Chloe got up, I don’t want her to feel awkward around the house. And honestly, I wanted to make sure she didn’t up and disappear. She seems a little different this morning, her attitude maybe? Not so scared. But I’m not an idiot I know it will take a while.
‘You sleep okay?’ I ask as I serve up our plates. Nan is in the living room so I prepare to take hers in to her. But I wait for an answer first.
Our eyes meet and she smiles. ‘I did, I slept like a baby.’
I laugh. That saying confuses the fuck out of me. ‘You know that saying is all wrong, babies don’t sleep too good they have their parents up all night long.’
She giggles. ‘I guess you’re right, I’ve never given it much thought.’
I’m an idiot. Why the fuck did I even say that at all? Now she’s going to think I’m a smart-ass.
‘But I did sleep really well, thank you surprising really considering… everything.’
‘Good. I’ll be right back just going to pop a plate in to my nan.’ She nods and I leave the room. Finding my nan already starting to nod off in her chair.
‘Hey, nan, I’ve made you some breakfast.’ Her head bobs up and she smiles.
‘You know, Dominic you don’t have to cook for me. I should be cooking for you, you’re such a good boy.’ I smile and wonder how old the version of me is, she’s referring to right now.
‘I like to take care of you, Nan you know that.’
‘I know. Is your girlfriend joining us for breakfast, Dominic?’
‘Um, yeah Chloe is my friend, she’s in the kitchen you want to come sit with us?’
‘No, no, you don’t want an old woman cramping your style. She’s very pretty, Dominic.’ She smiles.
‘She is, Nan.’ I smirk because I know what she’s doing.
‘It’s about time you had a woman to look after you.’ Always with this, she’s relentless, she was like this with Zoe for years.
‘It’s not like that, Nan, you can come sit with us if you want?’
‘I’m just fine here, Castle is about to start.’
I nod and make my way back to the kitchen. Chloe I’m sure heard the whole thing because she is beet red and sniggering into her hand. I roll my eyes and sit in the chair opposite.
‘She’s relentless.’ I smile as I pick up my fork. ‘Sorry if you heard all that.’
‘You don’t need to be sorry she’s sweet, and she thinks I’m pretty.’ A huge smile erupts and she flutters her eyelashes as she laughs. I’m debating telling her that she is very pretty but the smile drops from her face, and I realise I’ve been staring at her for the last minute without saying anything. Fuck me.
‘She’s right.’ I tell her and shovel scrambled egg into my mouth. Her face flushes and I smile knowing I’ve affected her.
‘Um, wow. Thanks,’ she says, embarrassed.
‘Sorry, I don’t mean to embarrass you.’
‘Dominic, please stop apologising you haven’t done anything wrong, quite the opposite, I feel like I owe you a huge apology for dragging you into all this. You’ve been nothing but kind from the moment you found me. I know I would still be there if it wasn’t for you.’
I swallow the eggs and try to smile. Instead I kind of grimace and nod. But she gets the idea. ‘So I guess I’m trying to say thank you and sorry all at once.’
‘No need to be sorry I told you already you didn’t ask for this.’
‘I’m so grateful, Dom, I can’t even tell you, but I do need to get away from you and your family it’s not fair on you.’
I groan. Not this shit again. ‘Chloe, we had this conversation last night. I told you, and you agreed, you are going to stay here until shit is sorted.’
‘Dominic, I didn’t agree, you did. I just feel—’
‘Nah, you need to listen to me and stay put, you have nowhere else to go. I’m not letting you go and get hurt. Not on my watch.’ Something flashes in her gaze and I’m not a hundred percent on what it was, but I watch her for a second more until I finally see resolve in her eyes. I nod and she nods back, not presenting another argument. I watch her as she picks up a slice of toast and takes a bite. God even that is fucking beautiful. Jesus Christ, I have a problem, a case of asshole with a side of blue balls. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m acting like she’s the first woman I’ve ever seen. I pick up my own toast and distract myself.
‘Do you have a girlfriend, Dominic?’ I almost choke on my bite. Can she read my mind? ‘I’m so sorry I shouldn’t pry, I don’t know why… it doesn’t matter.’
I clear my throat and swallow. ‘No I don’t.’ I tell her watching for her reaction tilting my head I wait for something. Anything. To see if she’s interested. Chloe takes a deep breath and nods to herself, before taking another bite of her toast. And I can tell she feels awkward.
Smiling to myself I ask. ‘Why do you want to know?’ Her eyes widen a little as she tries to come up with an answer.
‘Oh no reason… just thought I’d make sure me being here wouldn’t be a problem for anyone.’
‘And if I did have a woman?’
‘Um.. well… I guess… do you?’ I grin I can’t help but feel smug.
‘No, Chloe I’m single, what about you?’
She starts to shake her head. ‘No.’
‘You’re not single?’ I ask a little perturbed.
‘No... I mean yes I am single, I meant I don’t have a partner.’
‘Okay well I’m glad we got that all cleared up.’ I grin as she bites her lip and smiles. She doesn’t look at me, instead she pushes her food around on her plate. We finish the rest of our breakfast in an awkward silence. As I place my knife and fork down onto my plate, Chloe gets up from the table and takes my plate and hers over to the sink. I watch her as she squeezes the washing up liquid into the bowl and begins washing the plates and pans I used. I put the kettle on and ask if she wants a cup of tea.
‘Yes please.’ I grab the cups from the cupboard and put the tea bags into the teapot. I make it this way because my nan always knows if you don’t use a teapot. How she knows is beyond me. But woe betide anyone who puts the teabag in the cup. I step by Chloe to get the milk and when I turn back toward her I get a face full of soap sud bubbles.
Chloe falls about laughing. ‘I told you I’d get you back!’
‘Cute, real cute,’ I tell her laughing. I take my nan her cup through and when I get back Chloe is reaching for the tea-towel. I snag it quick, twist it and flick her on the ass.
‘Ouch you… shit.’ She whisper-shouts as I dance back on my feet to take another shot.