Sunglasses cover my eyes as the wind whips against my cheeks. Tilting my face toward the sun, I enjoy the heat as it warms my skin. It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon. Dominic sent his car for me three hours ago, and we’ve been out on his sailboat ever since. On a beautiful September afternoon, when the sun is high and bright, and there’s nary a cloud in the sky, there’s no better place to be than floating on Lake Michigan.
Dominic bought the house fifteen years ago, so this place has always felt like home. There are many happy, cherished memories here. Childhood memories. Memories of my parents. Of the four of us together. Mom and Dad may be gone, but I believe they’d be happy about how much time Dominic and I spend together. That we’re still a family and tighter now than we were before.
That thought brings me a lot of comfort. Everything I do is with my parents in mind. I still want them to be proud of me.
Eyes settling on Dominic, I watch as he stands at the controls from my sprawled-out position on the padded bench up front. Aviators cover his bright blue eyes. His blond hair is shot through with silver. The way it blends makes him look even more handsome.
Chloe’s words from yesterday ring unwantedly through my head.
“You about ready to head in?”
I shrug. “Sure.” Honestly, I could stay out here all day. I enjoy spending time on the water. Living so close to the ocean was one of the things I loved best about Seattle. The Pacific Coast, especially in that area, is gorgeous.
Wooded, rocky, and wild.
Breathtaking and powerful.
“I thought we could have an early dinner out on the patio. Maria is preparing fresh salmon. I know it’s one of your favorites.”
“Mmmm, that sounds delicious.” A home-cooked dinner with restaurant quality cuisine sounds heavenly right now. My mouth is already watering in anticipation.
I enjoy cooking, but don’t have much skill in the culinary department yet. Living in the dorms didn’t afford many opportunities. I’m learning, though. I’ve tuned into a few cooking shows but it’s hard to find the time to experiment with recipes. With school and volunteering at the museum keeping me busy, I live on things like macaroni and cheese or frozen pizzas. Sometimes Maria sends leftovers home with me. I’m hoping that once everything slows down, I can try cooking a few meals that my mom used to make.
We stay out on the water to enjoy the sunshine for another thirty minutes, before heading back to shore. The marina where Dominic rents a slip is about ten minutes from his house. As we make our way through the parking lot, he surprises me by tossing his car keys in my direction.
When I stare at him in question, he says with an easy grin, “I thought that maybe you’d like to drive home.”
My jaw drops. “Are you kidding?”
He laughs at the look of disbelief on my face. A few years ago, Dominic bought a Ferrari. It’s a gorgeous, sleek machine. I’ve drooled over it many times. It’s red with a black leather interior. I’ve begged to take it out for a spin. The answer has always been a resounding no.
I couldn’t be more stunned that he’s now giving me the green light. This car cost him a small fortune. Even though my parents had money, they never drove anything extravagant. They were much too practical for that. My mom drove a Subaru Outback, and my dad had a Buick Enclave.
I clutch the keys tightly. “Are you serious?”
He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Sure, why not?”
My breath stalls as I stare at the metal in my hand. Voice dropping to a whisper, I ask, “What if I crash?” I think he’d strangle me if something happened to his baby. Unwilling to contemplate the idea, I thrust the keys back out for him. “Maybe another time.”
Wrapping an arm around my waist, he holds me close as we continue walking towards the Ferrari. “It’ll be fine. I trust you, Gracie.”
I gnaw my bottom lip in silent contemplation. I’ve always wanted to take his car for a spin, and after three years, he’s letting me do it. I should be jumping up and down with unbridled excitement. Instead, I continue to hedge. “Are you sure?”
Pulling me along, he chuckles. “Positive. Now, come on. Let’s go. I really thought you would be more excited about this.”
Yeah… me too.
Now I’m an anxious ball of nerves.
He opens the door for me, and I climb inside. Inserting the key into the ignition, I turn it. The car purrs to life. Still nervous, I wrap my fingers around the steering wheel, throwing a glance at Dominic, who is now seated next to me.
“You still want me to do this?”
He’s wearing his aviators, and I can feel him roll his eyes at me. “Drive. You know you want to. You’ve been begging me for years,” he reminds. “So just do it.”
He’s right. I have been dying to get behind the wheel. “Okay,” I sing song, “You had a chance to put an end to this madness.”
He chuckles. “Enough talk, put the pedal to the metal.”
I step on the gas, revving the engine a few times while giving him a bit of side-eye, daring him to change his mind. He sits beside me with a bored expression.
“How about you stop being a cheeky bastard and we actually get out of this parking lot?”
Nerves melting away, I laugh and hit the clutch, shifting into first and stepping on the gas. Then, smooth as can be, we’re pulling out of the marina and onto the road. Since both of my parents’ cars were automatic, Dominic taught me how to drive stick when I was seventeen years old. Normally I prefer automatic since it’s easier. But when you have a sports car like this, stick makes driving it more fun.
We cruise along at about forty-five miles per hour. I’d love to take this out to the country and open it up. Hit a hundred and twenty miles per hour on an open stretch of empty road. In a car like this, it feels like a necessity.
Sooner than I’d like, I steer into Dominic’s circular driveway. By the time I turn off the engine, I’m grinning from ear to ear. That was so much fun! I hope he realizes that he just opened a huge can of worms by finally allowing me to get behind the wheel. Once will never be enough now that I’ve had a taste.
Removing his sunglasses, he smiles knowingly. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“So amazing,” I agree in a rush.
“And my car made it home in one piece. See? It’s a win-win for everyone.”
“Guess that means you’ll let me drive it more often.” I wiggle my brows. “Maybe even take it back to the condo.”
He laughs as we exit the car. “Let’s not talk crazy, okay?”
Slipping his arm around me again, we head toward the house. Right now, everything feels right. Light and happy. I’m content with how my life is unfolding. I love spending time with Dominic. It’s nice being with someone who knows me so well. Someone I have a history with. Someone I trust.
I never have to explain myself because he already knows what I’m thinking or feeling. He gets it. He gets me.
Making our way inside the two-story, front entryway, I head for the curving staircase. I feel windswept from being out on the boat for the past couple of hours. My hair must look like a rat’s nest.
“I’m going to shower and change before dinner.”
“Take your time, sweetheart. Everything will be ready and waiting when you’re finished.”
One look at the enormous soaking tub in the bathroom, and I quickly change my mind, deciding on a bath instead. Once it’s filled, I settle inside. There are a ton of bubbles. My eyes drift shut as I enjoy the warmth of the soothing water. I barely lift my eyelids when there’s a knock on the bathroom door.
“Are you decent?”
I’m submerged up to my neck in hot, sudsy water. “Yup.”
Dominic comes in bearing a glass of white wine. “I thought you might want a drink after your shower, but this is perfect. You can enjoy it in the bath.”
I reach for the stem and settle into the water again. A contented smile tugs lazily at the corners of my lips. Today has been great. I love being at Dominic’s house. It feels like home. Sometimes with his work schedule and everything I have going on lately, it can be challenging to find the time to get together.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes. Take your time. Don’t rush.”
I sigh with pleasure, feeling drowsy and relaxed. “Perfect.”
Heading toward the door, he asks, “Need anything else?”
“Nope. Nothing at all.”
“All right then, I’ll see you downstairs in a bit.”
Forty-five minutes later, I’m dressed in a cozy sweater and jeans. The evening air is a shade cooler than it was this afternoon. The temperature will only continue to drop as the sun sinks further in the sky.
I love summer, but I’m looking forward to the change in seasons. Believe it or not, I can’t wait for winter. I love when freshly fallen snow clings to bare tree branches throughout the city. But I know that as beautiful as it can be, it quickly turns into a slushy, gray mess from traffic.
When I enter the kitchen, I find Dominic already sitting at the table on the patio. Joining him after an afternoon of sailing and then a nice, relaxing bath feels like the perfect way to end the weekend.
Pulling out a chair, I take a seat beside him. My eyes settle on the horizon. The pinks and purples painted across the sky are stunning. As I take in the view of the lake and sunset, a sense of rightness blankets me.
Maria serves us fresh pesto salmon that has been grilled on a plank but is now nestled on a bed of wild rice. It’s paired with an arugula salad topped with shaved almonds.
Mouthwateringly delicious.
There’s just no other way to describe it.
We chat about Dominic’s work, my school, and what the next couple of weeks look like schedule-wise. I tell him about the spring break trip I’m hoping to take with Chloe, and he’s quick to say that it won’t be a problem. Dessert is a sliver of cheesecake served with fresh berries. By the time we’re finished, I’m completely stuffed.
Night has fallen, and Dominic turns on the long, rectangular-shaped gas fire pit. The clear glass crystals lining the bottom give it an elegant look, and the heat is nice and toasty. Feeling content, we sit together on a large outdoor couch.
I don’t want to leave, but I tell him, “I should probably head home soon. I have an early class tomorrow morning.”
“Why don’t you stay at the house tonight, and I’ll make sure you’re home by seven o’clock. It’s been such a lovely day. I hate to see it end.”
I feel the same way. Boating. Dinner. Hanging out and enjoying each other’s company.
When I remain silent, Dominic slides an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. “Want to stay over?”
The thought of heading back to my empty condo doesn’t hold much appeal. We’ll need to head in soon, but I want to make this moment last a bit longer. “Yeah, I think so.”
He seems pleased by my answer. “Good.”
We’re both quiet. Almost contemplative as we watch the dancing, twisting flames.
“I hope you know that your parents would be proud of you, Gracie. They would have loved how you’re making your dreams come true.”
Ripping my eyes from the orange blaze, the edges of my lips lift a fraction. “I really hope so.” His words mean everything to me. Not a day passes when I don’t think about Mom and Dad. When I don’t miss them. Their absence has left a huge, gaping void in my life. One that can never be filled. I know Dominic is trying to be there for me, to offer guidance when needed, but it isn’t the same.
“There’s no question about it,” he says firmly. His words offer the reassurance I so desperately need right now. “They would love that you’ve come back to Chicago and that you’re pursuing a career in something you’re so passionate about.” His next words cause a thick lump of emotion to form in the middle of my throat. “And they would be relieved to see that you’re moving on, that you’re finally putting the accident behind you and living your life again. They would be proud of you for not allowing your grief to consume you the way it did in the beginning.” He pauses before adding softly, “It was difficult to watch, Gracie. There were times when I didn’t know how to make anything better for you.”
I blink back the tears his words bring to my eyes.
The months following the accident were the hardest. The scariest. It felt impossible to climb out of the deep, dark hole I had fallen into. Sometimes I’m amazed that I was able to claw my way out of it. Where I am today, two years later, is because of the man sitting beside me. Without him, who knows how I’d be doing. Who knows if I would be here, working toward turning my dreams into reality.
I owe Dominic a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.
“I have you to thank for where I am,” I admit. “You were always there for me, no matter what. Your support has been unwavering. Without you, I don’t know where I would be.” Tears burn the back of my eyelids.
In the blink of an eye, the layers of armor I wear for the world, get stripped away. All that’s left in its place is bone crushing honesty.
His eyes pin mine in place. “Your father was my best friend. I loved him like a brother. Your mother like a sister. She was the sweetest, kindest woman. She was a good wife and a fantastic mother.” He pauses, and I feel the emotion rolling off him in thick, heavy waves. As difficult as it is to bring them up, it’s also like a balm for my soul. I cannot not talk about them. “And you… you mean everything to me. Don’t ever question that. There will never be a time when I’m not here for you. It’s just you and me, kiddo. Against the world.”
Those words make a small sob rise within me. Closing the space between us, I throw my arms around him, squeezing as if I’ll never let go. There are times when I want to tether myself to Dominic so that I don’t float away on the breeze. Because that’s the way it feels sometimes. As if I’m aimlessly floating. Without my parents, there is nothing, no one, to ground me. It’s the loneliest feeling in the world.
Dominic’s words cocoon me in comfort. As long as I have him, I’m not alone. I have someone who loves me. Someone who cares about what happens to me.
“You’re stuck with me.” I sniff.
His lips curve. “We’re stuck with each other.”