Page 77 of You're The One
It doesn’t matter even if he did.
My stomach rejects that idea, pinching painfully. I wonder again if my doctor can fit me in when we’re in Chicago—something is definitely up with my insides.
He shakes his head, looking genuinely hurt. “How could you think I’d do that?”
“You don’t owe me anything, Dom. You’re dating those other women. I’m just…” My voice falters. “Just the matchmaker. Just your friend.”
“No.” His expression hardens. He steps in, hands settling on my hips, his grip steady. “You’re notjustthat.”
My breath catches.
“I didn’t kiss Victoria. Or anyone. The kissing curse? Still going strong. And honestly? I like it that way. Because you’re the only one I want to kiss.”
His gaze drops to my mouth, and mine to his, purely on reflex. Neither of us moves. His lips are fuller than I realized, soft-looking. Nice. Even with the mustache.
God help me, I think evenit’sgrowing on me.
“Don’t say stuff like that, Dominic. It’s… confusing,” I stutter out.
His eyes dart back up to meet mine. “It’s the truth. I won’t do anything with them?—”
“No. Stop.” I already know whatever he’s about to say, it can’t be true. Not here. Not in this situation. “You can’t promise that.”
A part of me wishes he could.
He doesn’t stop.
“If you’d let me talk the other day on the beach—about that awful date with you and Emma—you would’ve known Icouldn’ttell her there was nothing between us…” He exhales and steps closer, close enough that I can feel the heat coming off him. “Because…fuck, there is. Or at least, Iwantthere to be.”
Even if he wants to explore whatever this thing simmering between us is, he still has to finish the show. He still has to date the other women. And let’s be honest, there’s a good chance he’s going to fall for more than one of us.
Has he already?
Isn’t that how it always goes on this show? They fall for multiple people. They make hard choices. They’re shocked by how deep their feelings run.
And where does that leave me?
Exactly like the girls I rolled my eyes at—led along, waiting to be chosen bythe bachelor.
I already struggle with uncertainty. With the unknown. I’m not built to sit in limbo, hoping things work out. My mind always jumps to the worst-case scenario. And this situation is the opposite of safe. It’s chaos. It’s cameras and competition and feelings I can’t predict.
This isn’t the kind of setup where someone like me finds love.
I had a plan.
I can’t do this.
My heart starts to race, the familiar edge of panic creeping in. It stutters—once, twice—those subtle, off-rhythm thuds I know too well.
thump… thump-thump… thump… thump-thump-thump…
“Mia.”
thump
“Are you okay? What do you need?” His voice softens, gaze searching mine.
I can feel the hum, the buzz, pulling at the edges of my mind. Thoughts I can’t catch, can’t quiet, can’t stop.
