The expression on his face suggested otherwise. Silence stretched for a moment before I broke it with a sigh. “How did we get here, Dom? We were having a fairly calm conversation, and now, once again, we’re at each other’s throats.”
“Why don’t we sit?” Dom nodded at the table. “I’ll behave if you will.”
“I don’t know what it is about you,” I grumbled, dropping into my seat. “You just bring out the worst in me.”
His flinch had me wanting to take the words back.
“I don’t think that’s what it is. I think we get angry because it’s easier than dealing with the other emotions we’re feeling. For you, anyway.”
“I’m not feeling any other emotions.”
Dom chuckled. “Sure, Shadow.”
I tensed, waiting for him to push, but instead he asked me another question. “So that’s how Frank saved you—he found you and got you to hospital.”
“Partially. But it was more what he said the next day.”
Dom raised a brow. “He visited you in hospital?”
I gave him a wry smile. “No, he stayed overnight. Even my own dad didn’t bother to check in, but Frank? He waited until I got the all-clear.”
Dom rubbed a hand over his hair. “With anyone else, I’d be jealous as fuck. I’d be asking why he was able to do it for you, but not for me.”
“But you’re not?”
“No.” He smiled. “Because it’s you. And because I should’ve been there. If I had been, none of that would’ve happened.”
His lips turned down as a furrow formed between his brows. My fingers twitched on the table, aching to reach over and soothe him. I curled them into a fist. “He followed me because of you.”
“He did?”
“Yep. Said he knew I must be important to you, given the bollocking I’d dished out on your behalf. That if he let anything happen to me, he’d never get a chance to make things right.”
I wasn’t sure why I felt the urge to share that part.
“He was right,” Dom said roughly, rubbing his thumb over his bottom lip. “I never would’ve forgiven him.”
“There’s something else.” I cleared my throat. “In mydrunken state…I accidentally outed you. Us. I’m sorry. If it helps, he’s never been a dick about it.”
“It’s fine.” Dom shrugged. “Besides, if he didn’t know about us before, the photos would’ve given us away.”
I smiled. “You saw them? The ones from sixth form?”
“I don’t even remember them being taken,” he confessed.
“Me either. Do you remember Josh? He tracked me down on Facebook and sent them over.”
“Course I remember him,” Dom said, picking up his fork. “How is he now?”
I followed his lead, picking up my own cutlery. The food was long cold now, but I barely noticed as we fell into conversation. Talking about old friends led to reminiscing about old times. Days I’d thought I’d forgotten, that I’d left behind me. That I wanted to leave behind me.
But the more Dom and I talked, the less certain I was about that decision.
When our plates were empty and night had fully fallen, I realised how long we’d been sat there. “I’d better get back and see what mischief Xander has got himself into.”
“He does seem like someone who needs a minder.” Dom smirked before giving me a softer smile. “This was nice, though. I’m glad you came over.”
“Me too,” I found myself saying. “I missed talking to you.”