Page 106 of Finding New Dreams

Gina nodded, and everyone said goodnight. Flynn stepped away from his sister as if to follow me. But I gently shook my head and walked away as quickly as I could.

I half-jogged the rest of the way home, reining in the impulse to run. When I got to my door, I looked back. He hadn’t followed me. Was I grateful he’d respected my silent request or disappointed he hadn’t demanded to stay with me?

Both.

Nothing, nothing, made sense anymore.

Hands trembling, I shut and locked the door. Then I stripped, climbed into the shower, and huddled under the scalding water.

Only then did I allow the tears to come.

* * *

“It’s open!”

I opened Gina’s door and cringed as a loud bang greeted me.

“In here!” she called from the kitchen.

Dom sat on one of their barstools and sent me a long-suffering look. “Hey, Rose. She won’t let me help.”

I grimaced. “Holy crap, Gina, did you pull out every pot and pan you own?”

Our apartments didn’t come with a lot of counter space, and all of hers was taken up with pots and pans—some clean, some dirty, some with food sitting in them. The smell of melted cheese and roasted tomatoes teased my nose.

She set a steaming casserole on a handknit potholder, banging the oven shut with her hip. “I couldn’t find the one I was looking for, then remembered I lent it out, but by then my skillet salsa was smoking—”

“Which I could’ve stirred for you,” Dom interrupted.

Gina pointed a dripping wooden spoon at him. “And I told you to go have some fun. I got this, honey.”

His lips pinched, so I quickly butted in. “Hey, Dom, want some dessert first while I help your mom finish up?”

His expression softened a bit as he eyed the covered pan in my hands. “Is it that chocolate raspberry cake thing?”

“Yep, flourless chocolate raspberry torte. I’ll slice you a piece.”

He nodded, and Gina shot me a grateful look while she tended to her casserole. I unearthed a clean plate and dished out a decadent triangle of my dessert for Dom.

“Thanks,” he said before disappearing into his room.

“Dinner in a few minutes!” Gina called after him. She sighed explosively. “He’s been in such a mood lately. Wanting to help me, take care of me, but he’s down. I can feel it. And I just want to take care of him. But he doesn’t want to be babied.”

I frowned and gave her a quick side hug. “You’re doing the best you can, Gina. And your best is pretty damn amazing. Don’t forget that. I know Dom never will.”

Her chin crumpled a bit, but she nodded. “Thanks, Rosie. Now, um, let’s just clear out a spot on the counter.”

Smiling, I helped her tame the mess enough for us to have space for dinner. Her phone pinged as I set out plates.

She chuckled and showed me her phone. “Leo’s bragging about the lasagna he made using our family’s old recipe and the dish I forgot I lent him. He says Flynn and Wyatt have eaten almost half already.”

I forced a laugh at the picture of Leo, Flynn, and Wyatt posing with huge forkfuls of lasagna. Flynn was smirking, and my heart clenched. He looked so relaxed…happy. I felt like a mess.

Gina slipped her phone back into the pocket of her blue palazzo pants. “You can’t fool me any more than my son can, you know. I saw that same look on your face last night after the movie.”

“We really don’t have to talk about it, Gina.”

“But maybe you should. I want someone to talk to me,” she added with a glance at Dom’s room.

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