Page 110 of Sweet Shots

The last thing I want to do is disturb Mikah’s life. I don’t want to ruin it. And if what he needs to be comfortable in his own home is for me to leave, then I’ll do that. It’s only fair.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Mikah

Zach actually threatened me. He told me if I didn’t get out of his house, he was going to kill me. That was two days ago, and I’m still here… and alive. At least, I think I am. Looking around his trailer, this could be considered hell, I guess. Or maybe it’s heaven, considering I’m currently alone. Who knows?

What I do know is that I can’t leave. I can’t go back to that house. Maybe it’s the coward’s way out, but I’ll live with it. There is no way I can go back to that house and face Dominic. I just can’t. I’m too devastated over what happened, and I’m only going to believe the lies he tells me if I do. I won’t do that to myself. Zach is just going to have to deal with it.

Dominic isn’t quite like my mother, but the sentiments are the same. It all ends the same. I believe them when they’re nice because it’s what I want. I’m not strong enough to call people out on their bullshit and I know that’s ridiculous, but it’s just who I am. I’m a fucking pushover. There, I said it.

I grab the blankets and pull them up to my chin. I’ve spent the day in bed and don’t plan on moving anytime soon. I doubt Zach will come home and kick me out. So I close my eyes, ready to go back to sleep, but then I hear shouting from outside. The walls of this place are so thin, you can hear everything. Shouting and screaming outside isn’t uncommon, but the voices sound close and one of them sounds like Zach.

There are no windows in this room, so I get up to head outside. I don’t bother putting shoes on, just head out in my sweats and t-shirt. When I open the door, I’m not sure what I expect. To see Zach arguing with someone, I guess. Someone like one of his siblings or neighbors. Not Dominic.

Which is exactly who he is fighting with. Not physically, but verbally. They’re shouting at one another, and I’m stuck here, still as a statue because fuck, he looks so good. And I missed him.

No, moron. This is the problem!

Yeah, this is the problem. The problem is I’m so desperate for good things that I look past the bad to get it.

“I’m telling you, this isn’t the answer!” Zach shouts.

“I don’t really care what you say. It’s my decision, and it’s done. Now let me—”

He steps past Zach, looking up and catching my gaze. We lock eyes and he stops dead in his tracks. I swear I see hurt in his eyes, but it’s all bullshit.

“Mikah,” he breathes out, wide eyes still on me.

I grit my teeth and hold my chin up, refusing to show weakness.

“Dominic,” I return.

He steps forward, rubbing the back of his neck. “I came here to talk to you.”

“It’s a bad idea,” Zach grits out. “Don’t do this.”

I frown, looking at Zach. “Do what?”

Dominic turns enough to look at Zach but is still facing me. “I will tell him.”

“Tell me what?” I blurt out, already getting that nervous feeling in my chest.

Dominic turns to me, and I can’t help but look him over. There’s short scruff on his face that makes him look a little older and a lot darker. More dangerous. The leather jacket, tight jeans and boots aren’t helping. Fuck, he’s so hot. I hate it.

Stop being so desperate.

“Tell me what?” I ask again, this time walking down the steps. Because as usual, that voice isn’t as strong when Dominic is around, and this is exactly what I was afraid of—why I didn’t want to go home.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Zach mutters, moving past us and going inside. The screen slaps the frame after him, echoing around us.

“Is there somewhere we can go that’s more private?” Dominic asks. “You can meet me there if you don’t want to drive with me.”

“I’ll go with you,” I say too quickly. “Just let me get my shoes.”

He nods and I hurry inside to put my shoes on. There’s a rack there, but no one uses it. All the shoes are in a pile on the floor in front of it.

I get into Dominic’s car, and I direct him to a park down the street. It’s small and hardly used. There isn’t much here, just an open field with a few benches. It’s so boring, even the teenagers don’t want to hang out here.

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