Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooke
I was lounging in bed, reading a book while Dom sat at his desk sketching. We’d fallen into a familiar routine and ended up at his apartment most nights so we could avoid the clan of roommates at my place. At least at his, we only had to worry about scaring Matthew. He’d learned early on to spend a lot of time at Josh’s.
“What are you grinning at over there?” Dom asked, looking up from his sketch.
“Nothing,” I said innocently. My book was making me squirm. It wasn’t like we hadn’t had sex an hour before, but I was already raring to go for another round.
“Brooke?”
“Hm?”
“What are you reading?”
I grinned. “The same thing I was when you told Josh to learn how to knock.”
Dom growled and was on the bed next to me in two seconds. I squealed as he grabbed my kindle and threw it onto the nightstand. His hands ran up my ribs and I started laughing.
“Quit tickling me.”
He grinned and wrapped his arms around me tighter. “There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Okay, but if it has anything to do with leaving this room right now, the answer’s going to be no.”
He grinned. “Come to Thanksgiving with me this year. I know you normally go back home, but stay here and go to Rockdale with me. My mom already asked if you were coming. She’s excited to see you since we haven’t visited this semester.”
I shifted so I could see his face. “Are you sure? We’ve only been together for a few weeks.”
“Do you really think I’m worried about that? My entire family loves you already, and Raquel can’t wait for us to visit.”
The corner of my lips tipped up in a smile. “I love your little sister.” I wiped my sweaty palms down my jeans and went for it. I’d already been thinking about how to ask him anyway. This just gave me the perfect opening. “How about this? I go with you for Thanksgiving, and you come home with me to North Carolina for Christmas?”
A wide smile slid across his face slowly. “Really?”
I bit down on my lip, fighting back my own smile. “Yeah. If we’re doing this, let’s go all in.”
His expression was so serious like we were discussing gun control or DACA, not talking about where to spend the holidays. “Okay, Thanksgiving in Texas and Christmas in North Carolina.”
I could hear the joy in his voice as he answered. It was stupid that I was nervous to ask him, but it was important to me. My parents could live if I skipped one holiday, especially if they knew I was spending it with Dom’s family.
“Is it okay that I’m nervous?”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. My parents already love you, probably more than me, and they are thrilled that we’re dating.” He kissed my forehead. “I think it’s adorable that you’re nervous, though.”
I pinched his sides. “Don’t be condescending. Give me the girlfriend rundown, not the best friend list. I need to know everything about your parents—”
He rolled to his side and put his hand over my mouth to stop my rambling. “Obviously I’m going to have to think of ways to distract you between now and then.”
I ran my hand over his bare chest, resting at his boxers. I grinned up at him. “Yes, please.”
***
Sofia Torres was a tiny woman, but damn was she fierce. She ran her household with an iron fist. Her husband and kids clearly loved her unequivocally, but seeing them all together was amazing. I’d spent time in their house over the years as Dom’s best friend. His parents always encouraged him to bring me when he made the fifty-minute drive home. I was scared that might change now that I was the girlfriend, but that notion was erased quickly when Sofia wrapped me up in one of her huge hugs.
It was amazing someone so small could hug so thoroughly.
“Brooke, we’re so happy you’re here. Come, sit, tell me about your last semester. Did you finally choose a major?” She took a breath. “It’s been so long since Dom’s brought you home, I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
I should’ve known better. It wasn’t awkward at all. If anything it was less so because she didn’t feel pressured not to make the mistake of calling me Dom’s girlfriend.
“School is good. I did actually pick a major. It’s business. I think I want to work in HR when I graduate, but I’m leaving my options open for now.”
Sofia smiled like a proud momma. “I like it, and it suits you perfectly. Now we just have to get Dom to quit with those art classes. They make him work twice as much.”
“Stop, Momma. It’s not gonna happen. I love those classes,” Dom called from the kitchen. “Mess with me, and I’ll drop pre-med.”
Sofia made the sign of the cross. “Don’t even joke, mijo.”
I smiled. “He loves them, and he’s incredibly talented. I say if he’s not crying uncle, then he’s fine.”
She winked and patted my hand. “Says a smart woman.”
“What can I help you with?” I asked as she led the way into the spacious kitchen. Most people always say they want their kitchen to be the heart of the home, but the Torres’ was. Every time I was there, everyone was always gathered around the huge island while Sofia made delicious food. They made me miss my family.
“There’s a bottle of wine I’d love some help drinking. As for the food, it’s all done. We’re waiting for Linc to get here with his mother, and we’ll eat.”
I was impressed. My mother was a hot mess when she cooked. We always made sure there was a fire extinguisher close at hand for holiday disasters. Sofia’s kitchen was as clean as it always was, though. She was also showered and dressed with makeup on. It was the complete opposite at my house. I loved my mother dearly, but Martha Stewart, she was not.
Dom handed each of us a glass of wine. He stepped beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. I leaned in closer and Sofia sighed in happiness as she looked at us.
“You two are going to give me beautiful grandbabies.”
I stifled a giggle.
Dom’s mouth dropped open. “Mom!”
She shrugged innocently. “What? I speak the truth.”
Yeah, I had nothing to worry about coming here.
***
I was so comfortable and stuffed full of food I was surprised I was still awake. After dinner Dom had pulled me onto the couch and cuddled us together. My head rested on his chest, and his arms wrapped around me possessively. It was unnerving how quickly we’d adjusted to being more intimate with each other. Matthew and Raquel were sitting on the opposite couch, almost as relaxed as us.
Sofia, Raquel, and I had cleaned the kitchen after dinner. Raquel took advantage of the fact I was stuck there to ask me a million questions about my relationship with Dom. I noted that while Sofia wasn’t asking, she sure didn’t tell Raquel to stop. The most prying of her questions being when I thought we would get married. I’d almost choked on my wine with that one. It took me a few seconds to stammer out a non-committal response. To my relief, Dom came in shortly after that and told his little sister to mind her own business and leave me alone. Now we were here fighting sleep and spending the rest of the evening with his family.
I never expected the transition to happen so easily. Just thinking about where we were a few months ago made me emotional. We’d almost given this up.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Dom cocked his head so he could talk to me.
I wrapped my arms around him tighter. “Nothing. I’m just happy that I’m here.”
The smile he rewarded me with made my insides all gooey.
“Will you two stop it? It’s bad enough that I have to hear you at the apartment. Now I have to see it too?” Matt teased. “I’ve started sleeping with earplugs. You two are so loud.”
I blushed so hard I could feel the roots of my hair turning red.
Dominic laughed. “Says the manwhore who brought home a girl two weeks ago that the cops got called on.”
I started laughing. “Where was I for that one?”
“Girls’ night. You were at your apartment.”
Linc shook his head and fought back a grin. “I thought I raised you both better than that.”
Dom raised an eyebrow. “If I had a nickel for every time I walked in on you and Mom in some inappropriate way, I’d be a rich man. You two have no room to talk.”
Raquel groaned and waved her hand around like she was trying to clear images from her head. “It’s even worse now that you two are gone. I’ve started making noise any time I leave my room so I don’t go blind by walking in on something.” She shivered dramatically. “I’m incredibly excited to go to college next year.”
It was refreshing seeing two people so openly affectionate. My parents had a much more sedate love. Not that they didn’t love one another, but the passion had left long ago. There was no chance of me or Josh walking in on them making out on the couch. Or worse. The idea made me a little queasy.
“I think it’s sweet.”
Dom, Matt, and Raquel groaned.
“Don’t encourage them,” Matt said, running a hand down his face. “Just wait until you go to get a piece of pie and catch Dad’s hand on Mom’s ass.”
I laughed as Matt kept ranting.
Dom leaned down to whisper in my ear. “We’ll be the ones that our kids catch in the act in a few years.”
My mouth parted. Dominic Torres talking about kids.
I stared up at him, and his lips quirked. He was fighting off a grin. The bastard liked leaving me speechless.
Dom’s dad stood up. “I think it’s time for that pie Matt talked about.”
Sofia jumped out of her seat. “I’ll help you, honey.”
We watched them go into the kitchen, but none of the kids followed. Laughter flowed from the other room and a hissed stop it, the kids are going to see, then we’ve scared them enough. I could only imagine what was going on in there. Dom grinned into my neck. I loved this family.