Page 49 of Blind Spot
“Oh, I thought I would be playing the role of bartender tonight,” she stated, grabbing her glass and plopping down on the opposite end of the couch from me.
She stretched her legs out the long way and rested them in my lap. I rubbed her ankles as I sipped from my glass. “Nah, I figured you might need a break from the everyday role you play.”
“Tell me what’s on your mind, Dom.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
“My family has been putting it out there that they know about us.”
She stiffened and sat up a little from reclining against the armrest. “And? What are they saying?”
“What I figured they would. We belong together. You and he were never supposed to be.”
“Who said it though?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does.”
“Joaquin and Avriella.”
“That’s not the same as your parents. That’s who I’m genuinely concerned about, and your grandmother.”
“I haven’t talked to them lately.”
“Right, because you know that they’re not going to like this one bit.”
“I don’t know that, Charly, and neither do you. All I know is they want us there for Thanksgiving.”
“Are you out of your mind? I’m not about to go there on Thanksgiving of all days. That’s tantamount to someone trying a new recipe on Thanksgiving. You don’t mess with the macaroni, turkey, or ham on Thanksgiving. You don’t introduce taboo relationships on Thanksgiving.”
“Taboo? Who the hell said we were taboo?”
“Hello? I’m your brother’s ex-girlfriend, and now I’m with you.” She waved her hands in front of my face as she stretched her neck forward and widened her eyes.
“The only shit that was taboo was you and him in the first place. This right here . . .” I pointed between us. “This is right. Our relationship is what it was meant to be. We’re going to my family’s house on Thanksgiving, Charly, and that’s the end of it.”
“Funny how you only see us as being right when it suits your needs.”
I sighed. “What’s the problem, Char?”
“I tried to get you to see a long time ago that we were meant to be, and then again right before you went away to jail.”
“And neither of those times was right. The first time, I thought I was having a baby. I didn’t want to drag you into that crap. The second time, I was on my way to prison. Why would I do that to you?”
She lowered her head, and I reached out to lift it again. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
“Hey, don’t cry.”
“I want this thing between us, Dom. I just don’t know if we’re strong enough together to handle the scrutiny that might come our way.”
I gathered her onto my lap and wiped her tears. Kissing her eyelids, nose, and then her lips, I replied softly. “Don’t worry about that. I’m strong enough for the both of us to handle whatever comes our way.”
Chapter 16
Charly
