“Mom, you already fed me enough food to feed a small village,” I complained. “I don’t need or want to eat another slice of pie. I swear, I won’t fit any of my jeans when I get home.” Dominic won’t find my new fat rolls sexy, Mom.

“Good, gives you an excuse to go shopping then,” Mom said, grinning, putting another slice of pumpkin pie on my plate. “You don’t eat enough.”

“I eat plenty,” I reassured her for the billionth time since I arrived back home. “Now stop trying to make me gain weight. I already gained six pounds in the last two weeks.”

“Good, then I’ve done my job.”

“Ha. Ha.”

“When are you going to come visit us again?”

I shrugged. “Not sure yet. Maybe in the summer?”

“We would love that. So would Zane.”

Zane was moody for the entire first week I was home, but the second week, he felt much better. Especially since I took him around the city and we reminisced about all the best memories from our childhood.

“If Zane wants me to come back, he has to call and tell me himself.”

“I’m sure he will. He really appreciated you spending all this time with him this winter break, even if he doesn’t admit it out loud.”

“I know.” I gave Mom another squeeze. “My flight is in six hours. I should finish packing.”

Mom wiped a couple tears from her cheeks. “Don’t let me stop you, honey.”

After I finished packing, I came downstairs with my overstuffed suitcase (I’d bought a few souvenirs for Nate and Dom, even though they insisted no presents), and said my farewells to my family. Two weeks hadn’t been enough, but at the same time, it’d been enough. It was a bittersweet farewell, knowing that I wouldn’t see them again for probably seven or eight months.

“Stop sending us so much money,” Dad said. “Keep more of it and move into a nicer place. I don’t want to take this money knowing what you had to sacrifice to get it.”

“It’s hardly a sacrifice. Nothing compared to what you and Mom went through to raise Zane and me.”

“I’m serious, Winnie. Get yourself a nicer place. We’re proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and we know you’re doing everything you can. We’re happy and touched by your generosity, but honestly, all we ever wanted was for you to spread your wings and fly.”

“I am flying, Dad. No, I’m soaring.” Tears pricked my eyes. I wasn’t expecting our goodbyes to be so emotional.

Dad kissed me on the forehead. “Good. We want you to shoot for the stars.”

“And the moon,” I added. “The sun, too, eventually.”

“Damn straight,” Dad said, trying to hold back tears. “You’ve always been the brightest star in our sky, and I know you’ll accomplish amazing things.”

“Thanks, Dad. You’ve always been my biggest believer.”

“Call often. And maybe you can video call us and show off that new boyfriend of yours,” he teased.

“He’s not my boyfriend. Not yet, anyway.”

“I’m sure he will be by the next time we call.”

I laughed it off. “Bye, Dad.”

I turned to Zane and gave him a bear hug. “Feel better soon, baby bro.”

Zane rolled his eyes. “Don’t call me that. I’m only two years younger than you.”

“You’ll always be my baby bro, and I’ll always look after you. If you need anything, don’t ever forget I’m just a phone call away.”

“I know.”

I kissed him on the forehead. “Talk to you soon.”

“You bet. Have a good flight, Sis.”

* * *

First thing I did when I got back was call up Dom. I’d promised I would. And I half-expected that he’d be eagerly waiting by the phone for my call. He knew exactly when my flight arrived, and he’d promised to drive me home from the airport. But I tried once. Then twice. Then four more times. It went straight to voicemail each time.

I panicked. I shouldn’t have, but I did.

Calling anyone four times in a row seemed a bit desperate.

I shouldn’t be anxious. I had no reason to panic. His phone was probably dead. No, if it was dead, it wouldn’t ring through, would it? Maybe he got the dates mixed up or misheard me. There were so many reasons. Too many to possibly contemplate. It wasn’t like I didn’t know how to get back to my apartment via public transit. Sure, the commute would be shitty, especially in the middle of a snow storm, but I’d get home, eventually. It would take three buses, and probably a lot of waiting time in between, but I’d make it home. My suitcase would get soaked, and so would I, but I’d be fine without a ride.

I just hoped Dom was all right. Nate, too. I knew how much he wanted to drop me off at the airport, and the last time we spoke, Dom mentioned wanting to bring Nate to come pick me up. They both sounded so excited that I was coming back. Dom said he missed me so badly he wanted to keep me locked up in his bedroom for the rest of the month.

So, where were they?

By the time I got home, shrugged off my jacket, kicked off my waterlogged sneakers and peeled off my soaked socks, it was already almost 10 p.m. I checked my phone one last time, hoping that Dom had called me back and perhaps I’d missed it going through a tunnel or while I was napping.

Nothing.

No texts, voicemails or missed calls.

Determined not to overthink anything, I crashed for the night.

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I scrambled for my phone. I wasn’t sure when I became schoolgirl-level obsessed with Dominic Fieri, but it definitely wasn’t healthy.

My fingers drummed over my dresser, along the wall, until I reached the bedroom door. Maybe if I went downstairs, I’d see him waiting outside with a bouquet of flowers and an apologetic smile on his face. He’d surprise me and say that he couldn’t see me the night before because his neighbor died, or his aunt got food poisoning. Some plausible excuse.

My overactive imagination only made the disappointment of not seeing Dom downstairs worse. He had gone AWOL. Or he was just ignoring me. I could reach out to the fire station and ask his coworkers, but that would be too stalker-like, right? Besides, school started up again tomorrow, so I’d see him and Nate anyway.

Instead of moping around and letting my imagination run wild again, I decided to spend the day deep-cleaning and reorganizing my closet, pantry, and just about every organizable space I had in my tiny apartment. New year, new resolutions, new attitude, right? All that cleaning managed to kill about three hours. After that, I went for a jog and took a shower. Killed another hour. Read, or tried to read a book.

It was sheer agony not knowing what was happening on Dom’s end. If he had decided at some point in the past few days that he didn’t want to be with me anymore, he could’ve at least given me a heads up. Or was I being petty for thinking that I even deserved one? Had we ever been anything more than a one-night stand?

Yes. Yes, a million times, yes.

We’d spent the past two weeks talking on the phone every single day. For hours.

He must’ve cared, at least a little. I refused to believe he didn’t like me, at least a little.

After I finished prepping my materials for back to school, I slept early, and hoped that when I saw Nate the next morning, his father would have an explanation for his behavior.

* * *

“I have no excuse,” Dom said as soon as he saw me the next morning. “None.”

I shot him a warning glare, as if to say not here. “Welcome back,” I said with a big smile. I bent down and greeted Nate. “Did you have a good winter break?” Did you miss me? I wanted to add. Are you okay?

Nate just shrugged, as if he didn’t know who I was. I arched a brow at Dom. Dom shook his head sadly and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Listen, I gotta run. Can we chat…later?”

I gave him a quick nod before moving on to greet the other kids and their parents.

The day dragged on, seemingly indefinitely. My heart was not in Circle Time or counting ducks or the alphabet. My heart was singing for a man who had the ability to squeeze it until it popped like a water balloon. My heart craved the touch of a man who could snap me like a violin string.

I wanted Dom.

I needed Dom.

At three, when Dom came back to pick up Nate, he whispered, “Meet me in the parking lot in fifteen.”

I hated the hiding and whispers, but I knew it was for my protection. I took my time packing up my bags, and stayed a few minutes to mark a few assignments. Then I hobbled to the parking lot, laden with a heavy cross body bag filled with homework I still needed to mark, and a couple textbooks. I saw Dom and Nate waiting by their car, deep in conversation.

I wanted to be mad at them, but how could I, when my heart did a happy dance every time I saw the two of them? They’d quickly become an integral part of my world, and I couldn’t imagine how life was like before them. It felt as if we were already a family, which made Dom’s behavior hurt all the more. Why hadn’t he returned my calls?

When they were a few feet away, I feigned anger and said to Dom, “You had me worried sick. I thought you were hurt or dead! You could’ve at least called or texted me.”

“Nate’s mom died from cancer two days ago,” Dom blurted out. “I know it’s no excuse. But it is an explanation.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “We went to visit her at Austin Oaks down in Austin. It took almost four hours each way because a jack-knifed semi was stuck in a ditch on highway 35,” Dom continued. “Nate got a bit of motion sickness on the way back. Didn’t feel very good for the rest of the day. The next morning he began violently throwing up. I took him to the ER. They said he was dehydrated and must’ve caught a stomach bug, too. I was looking after him and totally forgot to pick you up. I left my phone in the car overnight and didn’t even think to check it.”

How could I possibly get mad at Dom for being a good dad?

His wife was dead, holy shit. What was I supposed to say? He hated the woman…but was I supposed to offer my condolences anyway?

“Are you feeling better now, Nate?” I asked. The poor boy did look worse for wear, and he’d lost his smile, probably back in Austin. Did he miss his mother? Was he grieving?

Nate gave me a slight nod before hopping into the backseat of the Highlander.

“Want a ride home?” Dom offered. He scanned the parking lot. “No one’s around to see you get in.”

“I’m not—I’m not embarrassed or anything to be seen with you two. It’s just…school policy…”

“I know, I know,” Dom said. “Hop in.”

“Thanks.”

Once I was inside the car, I blurted out a confession of my own. “When I couldn’t reach you, I pictured the worst, Dom. I was so scared of losing you two, it made me feel physically sick.”

“She loves you, Dad,” Nate translated. Despite the weakness in his voice, his humor was not lost on us.

Dom laughed. “Is that true, Winnie? Do you love me?”

I chewed my bottom lip and tasted my berry lip gloss. “I don’t know about you, but I do love Nate.”

Nate cracked a smile, and it was like sunshine peeking through clouds. “She loves me, Dad.”

“And I love you too, buddy,” Dom said.

“Do you love Winnie?” Nate asked.

“What do you think? Should I tell her?” Dom asked Nate.

“Tell me what?”

“Tell her!” Nate said. “Or I will.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Tell me what?” I repeated.

“Tell you that we both love you,” Dom said, leaning over and giving me a deep kiss. “We love you so much, Winnie.”

“Is it true?” I asked Nate. “Do you two boys really love me or are you just saying that so I won’t stay mad at you?”

Nate nodded vehemently. “It’s true. Honest. You’re all dad ever talks about. It’s always Winnie this, Winnie that. He’s crazy about you. Head over heels.”

“In that case,” I said, beaming, “I love you both as well.” As soon as I spoke the confession out loud, I felt happier than I had all winter break. We loved each other, and true love was unstoppable. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I finally belonged. Dallas was finally becoming a place I could call home.