Bad Boy Dom (3 page)

“Okay,” I tried, looking for my clothes and realizing that he took most of them off in the living room. I wrapped a blanket around me like a toga and walked down the stairs, looking for my tank top. Tears welled up in my eyes and I felt my throat knot to a close when I realized he wasn’t going to come after me. I spotted my crumpled jeans on the floor and dropped the blanket around me, squirming into my clothes.

There was no sound coming from upstairs, and once I was dressed all the way I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave and miss saying goodbye to Domenic, but I didn’t want to confront him either. All of the alcohol from earlier was catching up to me, and my skin felt inflamed and itchy. I lay down on the couch, pulling a blanket over me, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

Hours later, I woke up in the darkened living room. Someone had placed a pillow under my head and covered me with another blanket. My eyes blinked in the unfamiliar darkness, and I had a pounding headache. There was a piece of paper folded and resting on top of my chest, and I grabbed it with a trembling hand, using the light of my iPhone to read what Dom had written.

As I read, my throat tightened up and I felt myself begin to quake with rage.

That bastard. I never want to see him again
.

Present Day, Six Years Later

I walked out of the boarding area and scanned the baggage claim nervously, looking for my dad. It was the day before the wedding, and I somehow knew he was going to be late picking me up. Still though, it was a small town and I could run into anyone from high school. I dreaded those meetings; everyone was somehow so shocked to discover that I’d gone to college and matured, just like everyone else.

After that afternoon with Domenic, I never saw him again. He left school, and later I’d heard that he accepted a baseball scholarship at Arizona State. For the rest of the year, I’d kept my head down and moped enough to screw up my grades, but I still went to the state university, pre-med. And then had the fortune to graduate in the recession, so instead of med school, I was working as a temp for a data company.

And now, our parents were getting married. I couldn’t believe it either, but it happened. After we both had gone off to college, his mom started asking my dad over for dinner, and somehow…it happened. They both hid it for a long time. I was suspicious when I came home over break and saw perfume and a pink toothbrush in his bathroom, but he lied about it until my senior year. Then he said that they weren’t going to get married, but just live together. I was
always
worried about running into Dom, and I never told my dad why. The idea was horrifying, and I knew that learning his future stepson de-virginized his daughter would be too much for him.

Then, six months ago, Dad called me. He and Sandy were on a cruise to the Bahamas, and I think he’d had a few drinks too many and popped the question. But they decided to actually go through with it, and here I was.

The small airport was busier than I remembered it ever being, and I didn’t see my dad anywhere. With a huff, I pulled out my cell and dialed him at home. He answered in two rings.
 

“Hello?”

“Dad, it’s Michelle.  You were supposed to get me from the airport.”

“Oh, god, honey. I am so sorry. I’ll be right there, okay?” I heard a muffled squelch as he put the receiver against his hand, calling out to someone in the house.

“Dad, who’s there?”

“Sandy,” he said, laughing at something she’d said. “Michelle, I’ll be right there.”

“Okay, Dad. Bye,” I responded, hanging up and dropping my phone in my bag.

That night, Dad, Sandy and I went out to dinner. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her; she looked exactly the same as she had when I was in high school, if not younger. I felt uneasy as I realized her features were a more delicate, feminine version of Dom’s. And she was so warm, I couldn’t imagine how her son had turned out to be such an asshole.

“So, Michelle, your dad tells me that you’re thinking of re-applying to med school now that you’ve worked for a couple of years,” she began, taking a sip of wine. “Are you looking forward to that?”

I laughed, shortly. “Not really, I mean the application process is such a pain. But it’ll be good to be in school again,” I said, blushing. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just kind of a stressful time.”

My dad smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “That’s my Michelle,” he beamed. “Always working so hard.”

“You deserve all the best, sweetie,” Sandy added, reaching out and putting her hand on top of my dad’s. I smiled uncertainly; my head was filled with lots of uncomfortable holiday dinners with Dom and me at the same table, glaring at each other.
Maybe it won’t be so bad,
I thought.
Maybe we can trade Thanksgiving and Christmas every year or something
.

“Is everything okay, honey?” My dad asked, looking at me with curiosity. “You just made a weird face.”

“I’m fine,” I blushed, looking down. “Just really tired from the travel.”

“Get a lot of sleep tonight,” Sandy advised, pointing her fork at me. “Tomorrow is going to be a long, tiring day.”

I gritted my teeth, forcing a smile. “I’m sure it’ll be fun.” Neither Dad nor Sandy heard me; they were busy cooing at each other and playing footsie under the table.

In the car on the way home, my dad turned down the music and turned to me. “Sweetie, I know this has to be a little weird,” he admitted, shadows flickering across his face as we drove through town. “I know it’s weird that I’m remarrying.”

“It’s not,” I protested, looking out the window. My stomach churned and clenched, I knew there was no way I could ever tell my dad about Domenic now.

“Well, I understand if you want to talk. Or if you don’t want to talk,” he added gently, patting me on the shoulder.

“Sure, Dad,” I replied, managing a smile. “It’s good to see you happy.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said, putting both of his hands back on the wheel. “So, whatever happened to you and Domenic? I remember y’all used to be so close.”

“Oh,” I blushed crimson red to the roots of my hair. “Nothing. I mean, we just drifted apart.”

“That’s too bad,” my dad said, his voice sounding heavy. “That’s a real shame, Michelle.”

“I’m fine, Dad,” I muttered in annoyance. “I’m sure he’s fine, too.”

“Well, he’s had some tough times, honey. He had an injury in school and had to drop out, but I heard he’s taken up art again, just like Sandy.”

“He sounds fine,” I replied, sharply. Tears were welling in my eyes.
I wonder if he’s still fucking someone new every week. Want to tell me that, Dad?

“Well, you should be a little more empathetic, Michelle. He’s an old friend of yours.”

“He’s not that great, Dad.”

My dad slowed down, turning and looking at me in his seat. “Michelle, did something happen? I’ve never heard you sound so upset before.”

“Dad,” I said, rolling my eyes and trying to breathe. “It’s fine, okay? I didn’t mean to be rude, I’m sorry.”

“Maybe I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” he muttered under his breath. “You’ve got some temper on you, kid.”

Great, now my dad still thinks I’m a bitchy teenager
. “Sorry, Dad,” I mumbled, flushing again. “I’m just tired.”

That night, I slept in my old room. With a lump in my throat, I realized that I’d barely been back since graduation. I dreamed about Domenic all night, everything we had done that afternoon and more. I saw him carrying me up the stairs and tossing me on the bed, ravaging my body with lust. I saw myself bringing him to the edge of pleasure, over and over again. I felt his hands, his touch, his kisses all over my body.  Every time I woke up, I’d breathe hard and try to find a less-sweaty spot on the bed, desperate for relief. But he kept haunting me, over and over and over again.

The day of the wedding dawned cold and clear, and I had a lump in my throat while I got dressed. Sandy and her friends had come over practically at dawn, and she was doing her makeup and gossiping happily with the other women in the living room. I shrugged into my dress—a pale pink sheath dress with cutouts in the back—and pulled my hair into a chignon, applying only a touch of makeup. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt disappointed, but maybe Domenic wouldn’t notice me.

Fat chance
, I thought miserably.
We’re sitting at the same table
.

Luckily, the atmosphere in the house was so frantic that almost no one noticed me. I slipped outside, standing in the front yard and marveling at Domenic’s house next door. A ‘for sale’ sign was stuck in the yard, and with growing dread, I realized that Sandy was moving in with my dad. Our house only had three bedrooms; it was easy for me to imagine exactly where Dom would be sleeping. The thought made my whole body tense, and I squirmed in my dress, eager to be done with the whole trip.

“Honey, we’re getting ready to leave for the venue,” my dad called from the front door. He was wearing a gray tux and he looked handsome, but nervous. I nodded and walked around to the passenger seat of his car.

The drive to the venue was uneventful; my dad was practically shaking in his shoes.

“I’m nervous,” he muttered, tapping his hands against the steering wheel. “I’ve only done this once before,” he joked.

I laughed dryly. “Dad, you’ll be fine. You’ll be a pro, I’m not worried.”

“Her friends think I’m an uptight jackass,” he mumbled, bouncing up and down in his seat.

“They’re artists.” I wrinkled my nose. “Don’t worry about them.”

“Me and my little left-brainer,” he teased, ruffling my hair.

“Hey!” I jerked back, smoothing my fingers over the now-messy chignon. “Dad! Thanks for that!”

Dad looked at me and started laughing and finally, I relaxed. This was going to be a long day, but maybe it wouldn’t be that painful.

All of the happy relaxation that I’d felt in the car with Dad came to a screeching halt when we reached the venue. I spotted Domenic immediately. He was perched on the back of a flashy red convertible, wearing a gray tux like my dad’s and grinning, on the phone with some invisible bimbo. My expression darkened and I looked away, staying in the car as my dad hopped out to go greet Dom, oblivious to my discomfort. From my seat, I watched as they hugged. Domenic was practically a full head taller than my dad, and he looked even better than he had in high school. His blonde hair was a little longer than was socially acceptable, and it swooped away from his brow. He was wearing aviator sunglasses, but they weren’t enough to hide his tan from view, and I saw that his teeth were still perfectly white and even. He looked genuinely happy to be talking to my dad, and despite all the hatred I felt for him, I couldn’t help but react to his presence. He spread his fingers out on the dashboard, showing my dad something on his hands, and I suddenly thought of his fingers rubbing me to a frantic orgasm. My whole body twitched and I felt hot.
Stop it, Michelle
, I thought.
Don’t be so perverted
.

Domenic and my dad stopped talking, and I looked up to realize they’d spotted me in the car. Dom’s face was frozen in a grin, and my dad looked confused. He nodded at me to get out of the car and join them, and I rolled my eyes. My legs felt like lead as I opened the car door and stepped out into the parking lot.

“Hi, sweetie!” My dad chirped, oblivious to my discontent. I smiled, and slowly forced myself to walk towards Dad and Dom.

“Hi guys,” I said, turning my eyes to my dad and not taking them away. “This is a nice venue.”

“Sandy loves it,” my dad assured me, clapping me on the shoulder. “By the way, honey, I didn’t tell you, but Dom is staying at the house while we’re on that cruise. I didn’t know how long you’d be in town, and this way I don’t have to hire a sitter for Rex. Isn’t that great?”

Ohmygod
. “Um, yeah,” I replied lamely, kicking at some gravel with the toe of my heeled sandal. “Great, dad.”

Domenic cut in, his voice like melted butter. “If it’s going to be trouble, I can just stay at home, Archie. The buyers don’t want to close until next week anyway.”

“It’s fine,” my dad said firmly, a small crack beginning to show in his steely resolve. “Michelle will behave herself.”

“I’m sure she will,” Domenic said with a smirk, raising his eyebrows at me and walking away. I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing myself not to start crying out of frustration.
 

“See, honey,” my dad said, grinning at me. “I told you he’d be happy to see you.”

“Oh Dad,” I said, softening. “This is your day with Sandy, and we’re going to have fun celebrating it.”

The ceremony was brief, but nice. I couldn’t really pay attention though; I kept sneaking looks at Domenic. He had invited a date, this gorgeous redhead in a skin-tight emerald bodycon dress. She looked hot, but really out of place and I could count her false eyelashes from my carefully measured distance of four rows. She kept leaning over and whispering in Domenic’s ear and stroking a finger down his cheek. To his credit, he didn’t look fazed, but I imagined he was probably used to women throwing themselves at him by how. He’d been good enough six years ago, but thinking about the notches on his bedpost now gave me chills.

After the ceremony, my dad and Sandy walked out to the reception hall of the venue. It was decorated with light blue and green flowers; not really ‘wedding’ colors, but still really pretty. They opened the dance floor (with “At Last”) and I sat at the table alone, as other couples slowly got up to dance with them. My dad grabbed the microphone from the DJ and clinked a fork against his glass, getting up on a chair.

“I really want to thank all of you for coming,” he blushed, and grinned, looking happy. I had never seen my dad look like this and frankly, it was a little weird. I was trying to be happy for him, but the thought of all future family gatherings was weighing on my conscience, like a brick. My dad continued, “Especially my little daughter, Michelle.”

Oh, shit. Dad, really?

“Michelle has always been my biggest fan, and she’s worked so hard to get where she is.” I flushed; I was pretty sure no one at the reception knew that I was
temping
in order to survive at the moment. “And I know I wouldn’t be half as happy as I am right now if she wasn’t here to help me celebrate.”

My dad grinned down at Sandy and I watched as she giggled and blushed, getting up and walking over to where he stood. He handed the microphone to her and I felt my mouth go dry.
 

“Hi there,” Sandy giggled again, biting her lip and looking at my dad. “I want to thank my son, Domenic. Dom, where are you?”

Domenic stood up, squaring his shoulders and facing Sandy. He was in profile view to me, and I could see his perfectly chiseled face. The gray of his tux really set off his tan, and I watched as his eyes flittered nervously around his mom and my dad. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe he was just as nervous as I was.

“Dom’s been an absolute rock,” Sandy gushed into the microphone, smiling at her son. I watched him smile and mouth something in response. By my sides, I clenched my hands into two small fists. “I don’t know what I would have done without him. And I’m so happy that he’s here today, celebrating with us. Dom and Michelle, why don’t you two come up here?”

In a panic, I glanced at Dom. He hadn’t looked at me, and slowly, I forced myself to start walking over to my dad and Sandy. This felt like a nightmare, and the realization that most of the reception was still to come was painful.

“Why don’t you two kids dance!” My dad suggested, handing me off to Dom. My smile froze on my face as I felt Dom gently cup my lower back and take my hand in some bastard approximation of a waltz.

“This is really not necessary,” I murmured, so low that only Dom could hear me. “We don’t have to do this.”

“Michelle, it’s for two minutes. Just give it a rest,” he hissed, gracefully swinging me across the room, away from Dad and Sandy. I sulked in his arms, letting him twirl me around to the song playing. Over my shoulder, I spied his gorgeous date, sulking in the corner.

“She’s mad,” I said in a low voice. “Who is she?”

“She’s my date, Michelle,” Dom said sardonically, staring past me. I watched as his perfect jaw twitched. Being around him was both making me horny and more pissed off than I’d ever been. If it wouldn’t have completely ruined Dad and Sandy’s day, I would have made a scene and told him what I really thought of him.

“I know you go through people like Kleenex,” I said, smirking at him. “But she’s pretty, be nice to her.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t talk about how to treat people,” he said under his breath looking away.

“What does that even mean?” I pulled back in his arms, making a face. “Seriously, Domenic.”

“Seriously, Michelle,” he replied, mimicking my irritated tone. “Can’t you just behave for a few hours? They’re our parents for fuck's sake.”

I swallowed hard, trying not to see red. He was pissing me off
so
much! “Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll behave.”

“Good girl,” he said, dipping me low for a schmaltzy part in the song. I felt the blood rush to my head as he picked me up and spun me around.

“Wow kids,” Sandy said, coming up behind us. She handed each of us a flute of champagne; Dom downed his all at once and she beamed at him like he was a picky eater who had just finished his first dinner.
 

“Hi Mom,” Dom grinned, pulling her in for a hug. “I was just dancing with my new sister.”

I flushed, pushing his arms away at last. “We were catching up,” I said, trying to smile. Inside, I was groaning.
Sister? Really, Dom?

Sandy grinned at me, winking. “I know he’s a devil,” she said, standing up on tiptoe to ruffle Dom’s hair. “But he’s family now!”