Page 48 of Dual
"Thank you," I whisper.
"For what?"
"For loving all of me. Even the parts that make it complicated."
His arms tighten around me, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. "It's not a choice, love. It never was."
We dance in silence for a while, letting the music wash over us. For this moment, at least, everything feels perfect. There's no shadows, no complications, just Domhnall and me in a room full of twinkling lights and Christmas music.
"I spoke with Dr. Ezra this morning," I say suddenly, the words tumbling out before I can reconsider.
Domhnall's steps don't falter, but I feel a slight tension in his shoulders. "Oh? How did that go?"
I take a deep breath. "He thinks we're making progress. The journal is helping." I hesitate, then decide to push forward. "He suggested I try some new techniques for staying... present. Even when I feel myself starting to slip away."
"That sounds promising," he says carefully.
"It is." I pull back slightly to look at him. "I want this to work, Domhn. I want to be whole for you, not fractured into pieces you have to navigate."
His expression softens, and he brushes a strand of hairfrom my face. "Anna, I love you exactly as you are. All of you."
"I know. But I want to be better. For both of us."
The music shifts to something faster, and other couples around us adjust their steps. We follow suit, but our conversation has created an intimate bubble around us that the change in tempo can't penetrate.
"Dr. Ezra also suggested..." I trail off, suddenly uncertain.
"What is it, love?"
I swallow, gathering my courage. "He suggested we might want to set a wedding date. That having something concrete to look forward to might help ground me."
Domhnall's eyes widen slightly, but then a slow smile spreads across his face. "I've been ready to marry you since the day you came back to me."
Relief washes over me. "Really? You wouldn't mind if we started planning?"
"Mind?" He laughs, the sound rich and warm. "I'd marry you tomorrow if you'd let me."
"Maybe not tomorrow," I grin. "But soon. Summer, maybe? At the end of May, before it starts to get too hot?"
His eyes shine in the dim light. "May sounds perfect."
The song ends, and he bends down to brush his lips against mine—at first just a brief, chaste kiss that still manages to make my heart race.
I deepen it, fingers gripping the shoulders of his tux. My stomach swoops, and I feel such longing. We've triedexperimenting a couple more times like we did in the library, with the same result.
I pull back, not willing to risk a switch on a night like tonight.
Only to blink up into Domhn's eyes and find his expression is so full of love that it makes my breath catch.
"You've made me the happiest man alive," he murmurs.
Before I can respond, Jessica appears at my elbow, apologetic but insistent. "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but the mayor just arrived and would love to meet you, Anna. He was very impressed with the literacy program proposal."
I look at Domhnall, who nods encouragingly. "Go ahead. I'll find you in a bit. I should check in with some of the board members anyway."
I squeeze his hand before following Jessica across the room. The mayor is a tall, distinguished man with silver hair and a booming laugh. He greets me warmly, immediately launching into praise for the gala and the charitable initiative.
As I talk with him about the program, explaining how it will provide books and reading resources to underprivileged children throughout Dallas, I catch glimpses of Domhnall across the room. He moves with easy confidence among the corporate elite, his shoulders straight, his expression attentive. Occasionally, his eyes find mine, and he offers a small smile that makes my stomach flutter.
