The difference now was that it never got out of control. We’d always calm down and, most importantly, talk it out.
Our communication had never been better. Everyproblem was discussed. Every crease ironed out. Compromise was something we were both willing to do.
To be honest, there was little either of us wouldn’t do to make our relationship work. We’d both been right in that sense. Love alone was enough to bring you together, but you also needed communication. Mutual respect. Appreciation. Understanding.
Luckily, we had all of those elements in spades.
Our relationship now was unrecognisable from what it had been when we were teenagers. We’d both grown up and matured into different people. I hated that we hadn’t done so together, but that we were benefitting from it?
That, I didn’t hate.
My days looked different too. I didn’t come home to an empty flat. I didn’t go to my home at all, but Dominic’s. Don’t get me wrong, I still hung out with Xander, but I slept at Dominic’s side each night. Trips to the gym weren’t lonely—not with Dominic or Xander accompanying me. Even Max had joined me once and twice.
My relationship with my twin was…improving. I thought he’d expected to see less of Dominic now we were together, but coming between them hadn’t been what I wanted when I was eighteen, and I was determined that it wasn’t going to happen now. Whenever I went out with Xander, I encouraged Dominic to see Max. Occasionally, if Xander was busy, I’d join the two of them. Both of them made it clear I was always invited, but I felt it was important for them to have time together too.
And now I knew Dom had never wanted Max that way, jealousy didn’t enter into it. If anything, I wanted them to be closer than they were. There was no escaping the rift that Max had caused in their friendship all those years ago. He’d been trying to stop Dominic slippingfurther away from him, but the results had almost had him slipping out of his reach.
I was determined to make things right between them. Their bond was as special as the one I shared with Xander. It crushed me to think they’d lost it.
The one thing we never did was meet with Xander and Max together. Their relationship had started out rocky, the foundation growing shakier with every passing meeting. I had no idea why, either. Xander had been able to forgive Dominic. Hell, I’d been able to forgive Max.
But, for whatever reason, Xander couldn’t let it go. It wasn’t even his past, but he held on to his grudge for all it was worth. I didn’t know if that was why Max disliked him so, or if there was something else there entirely. Whatever was going on between them, it wasn’t getting resolved any time soon. Or maybe ever, realistically.
Another difference had been me stepping down from the Blackthorn account—a decision that had not gone down well with Dominic.
I got it, I did. Neither of us wanted another person to take over their account. It’d affect my sales target in the long term, and Dominic had been looking forward to lots of ‘meetings’ with me. But I’d been running a risk with the conflict of interest in the first place. Now that we were together? I couldn’t make that fly.
Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me as much as I’d thought it would. I think returning to art had a large part to play there. Dominic had come home one night, buzzing about a local college he’d been investigating and all the art classes they offered for adults.
I’d been reluctant to go to my first one. Drawing Dominic was one thing, but exploring my art surrounded by others was something else entirely. But five minutes into the initial session, I was hooked.
Dominic was right. Art made me happy.
Just as he did.
There were many ways we were enriching each other’s lives. And, stood on his dad’s doorstep, we were about to embark on another.
“You okay?” I asked, side-eyeing Dominic.
“Yup.” He exhaled sharply before shaking his head. “Fuck, why is this so hard? It doesn’t make any sense. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him since I’ve been back.”
“It’s the first time we’ve seen him as a couple,” I said, drawing him into my arms. “Not counting the day we got together.”
He gave me a tiny smirk. “You mean the day you broke his porch and threw him out of his own house?”
“Meh, he forgave me.” I shrugged. “He wouldn’t hold it against us, not when it’s something that’s made us both so happy.”
“Why am I having such a hard time with this?” He leaned his forehead against mine, swaying slightly in my hold. “I know he wants me to be happy. He wantsusto be happy. But for some reason…”
“It’s hard to accept that,” I finished for him. “I get it. He spent most of your life making you unhappy. Now that you’re not, you’re scared he might take that away from you. It’s not a rational fear, but it’s there nonetheless.”
“Fuck, I think you might be right.” He closed his eyes. “Even though I know it won’t happen, deep down, I’m worried he’ll try to ruin this.”
“He won’t, but I understand. It’s hard to let someone in fully when they’ve hurt you so badly in the past.”
Dom sighed. “But you gave me a chance, so I should give him one.”
“You’ve already given Frank a chance,” I reminded him. “He didn’t fuck it up, either. But yes, if you’re askingmy opinion, I think we should go inside and have dinner. As terrified as you are, I guarantee Frank is feeling the same. Worse, even. He’s having his son and his son’s new partner around socially for the first time. A son he’s fucked up with beyond reason. Trust me, he’s got more riding on this than you have.”