Page 128 of You're The One
My sneaker catches on something, and I stumble, but Dom steadies me with an arm around my waist.
I glance back at the offending root. It’s ironic, isn’t it? The thing I’ve been running from—roots—is the very thing I’m going to ask for. But only from him. I’m not even sure I could want this with anyone else.
“Mia?” His voice is gentle, laced with worry. His brows pull together. “Are you feeling okay? Should we head back? How much water have you had?”
The last question makes a smile pull at my lips. What is it with men and their obsession with water intake? If only H2O could really fix everything.
“Sorry. I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.” I tug his hand so we don’t fall too far behind Summer, who seems happily lost in her own happy world.
As if she can sense us dragging, she glances over her shoulder and calls, “Let’s go, slowpokes!”
I manage to make it to the waterfall without raising any further suspicion from Dom.
As soon as we arrive, Bodhi steps in with instructions, like we’re blocking a scene from a play. Which, honestly, isn’t far from reality.
“Okay, the three of you are going to go for a swim. Summer, you pull Dom aside. Mia, you look upset. Dominic, you follow Summer but keep sneaking glances at Mia. That shouldn’t be hard,” he mutters.
“Then you turn to Summer and say you need to talk. You’ll walk over here—” He strides to a perfectly framed spot with the waterfall in the background. “Then you end it. Summer, look sad. Et cetera, et cetera. Got it?”
“You said I could take creative liberties…” Summer reminds him, brows raised.
“Sure, whatever. You know the result we’re going for. Deliver that.”
“Ey, ey.” She salutes him, and he shakes his head.
Everything goes according to plan, until it’s time for the “breakup.” I have to bite my cheek to keep from laughing as I stand off to the side with Bodhi.
“Summer, I—” Dom starts.
“How dare you?!” she shrieks, the sound carrying through the dense foliage.
“Cut!” Bodhi strides over. “Summer, wait for him to at least say the line.”
She gives an apologetic nod. “Sorry. Got a little overzealous.”
“You think?” I laugh.
“I heard that,” she tosses over her shoulder before stepping back into place. “Okay, I’m ready. Lay it on me. And make it good.”
Dom tries not to smile. “I’ll do my best.”
Bodhi gives the signal. We’re rolling.
“Summer, I’ve enjoyed my time with you, but my connection is stronger with Mia?—”
“Cut!” Bodhi yells, not even bothering to walk over this time. “You’re supposed to say ‘theother women.’ Remember suspense?”
Dom scowls but gives a clipped nod. He repeats the line, this time sticking to the script.
Summer doesn’t scream this time. Instead, she collapses to the ground in a dramatic sob, her hair fanned out across the dirt path.
“How could you?” she chokes out between heaving breaths.
“Fuck,” Dom mutters, rubbing the back of his neck.
