He had his back to me, almost doubled over, leaning on the railing. His shoulders shook with sobs.
I bit my lip, letting the pain centre me. If I let it take over again, I’d be in the same state as Dom. He didn’t need that right now.
One of us needed to be strong. I could do that.
For him.
When my hand touched his back, he tensed. He choked out two words between sobs. “Go inside.”
“No,” I said softly.
“Please, Shadow.”
I ran my hand up to cup the back of his neck and squeezed lightly. “Since when do I let you tell me what to do?”
He let out a wheeze that almost sounded like laughter.
“Come on,” I said gently, tugging on his arm. “You owe me a dance.”
Another wheeze followed by a sniff. Then Dom was finally facing me.
And that expression on his face?
I prayed I never saw it again. I recoiled as fresh pain lanced me.
“I must look a state.” Dom sniffed again, misreading my horror. “Sorry.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” I pulled him into my arms. I didn’t put us into a traditional hold, instead locking my hands behind his neck. His arms went around my waist, holding me tightly. Our foreheads touched as we shared breath. “I thought I was doing the right thing by telling you that.”
“You were.” Dom shuddered. “I’m glad, really.”
I smiled thinly. “Yeah, ‘glad’ is the emotion that’s just rolling off you right now.”
“It’s true,” he insisted. “I knew there was something you weren’t telling me. We couldn’t move past it if you didn’t tell me what it was. Now I know…”
His voice trailed off, so I finished the thought for him. “Now you know, you can suffer even more? Because that’s not what I want.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did want that.”
“It’s not,” I breathed. “It’s fucking killing me that you’re hurting, Dominic. I wish I’d kept my mouth shut.”
“I wish I’d never left.”
We shared a bittersweet smile.
“What is this song?” Dom asked as we turned in slow circles. “I don’t think I know it.”
“It’s called ‘Reckless Driving’ by Lizzy McAlpine and Ben Kessler. Kind of makes me think of you.”
He slowed his steps as he listened to the lyrics. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”
I laughed softly. “It’s about two lovers who are different. One’s more careful, the other’s reckless. Their love meets a terrible end.”
Dom flinched. “Yeah, it’s definitely not a good thing.”
I hummed. “I’m not so sure about that. See, the carefuldriver insists that she’s worried. That she knows the end is coming. But she never gets out of the car.”
“You’re going to have to spell it out for me, Shadow,” Dom said ruefully. “English was never my strongest subject.”